Confidence is cool, but then what is cool?
I was talking to someone else about this the other day
and I was like, I find, you know, someone waiting in a line,
outside my gig for like an hour with a pride flag.
I think that they're the coolest person ever.
With glitter on their face, you know.
They're cool when they're themselves.
It's weird because, you know,
a lot of people think that this person is cool, you know.
There's like, cool that appeals to everyone,
but then there's like a, maybe this is actually what's cool.
Like what even is cool?
And being cool doesn't even matter.
I'm writing a song about cool,
but it's like cool means nothing.
Like don't even, I'm just contradicting myself.
I don't actually give a heck about being cool.
This is just ridiculous.
"Cool" happened
in the little studio I've been making all of my music in,
in New Zealand, called Golden Age.
And I worked with my producer, Josh Fountain,
and a guy called Djeisan Suskov.
It was just going in
and wanting to try something kind of new and funky.
I like the whole kind of
self-deprecating approach to songwriting.
And I think that that's kind of what I was doing
with this one.
I was actually writing about a couple of artists,
musicians that I think are really cool.
I had like this very clear image in my head
when I was writing this song.
And I think it was very much like
a kind of story that I was making up.
Definitely inspired by a couple of like female artists
who I think are just like fucking cool.
I was kind of imagining like a lady,
walking into a party with a velvet, red coat or something.
And everyone's just looking at them.
They look fine as hell,
and they're just cool.
And they look super chill.
And I was just thinking,
I don't understand how people do that, you know,
like when I get to a party,
I sit outside and wait until I can find someone that I know
or it's no go,
I don't freaking, I don't go in, you know.
It totally happens, there are people like this, you know,
who you see kind of rock up to events or whatever,
and they just look cool,
and they look very much, like they're just
super comfortable with themselves.
And I think that's something that I definitely admire,
but I also kind of envy because it's like,
why can't I be like that, you know?
It's kind of a weird song
'cause it does kind of sound
like I'm wanting to be someone else.
But I think it's more like the dip into your life is
maybe that I just want to get a taste
of what it would be like to not be anxious
or to kind of, you know,
to be able to go outside and not have to stress.
I can't go to a shop by myself without being anxious.
I have to bring someone with me, I'm ridiculous.
But I, you know, there are so many people
who, even some of my mates
go to the supermarket by themselves and they chill as,
and I'm like, "What's wrong with me?"
So I think it's more like,
I'd like to taste what this life is like
being a chill independent woman.
You hear people talking about anxiety
and then you suddenly, it comes into your life
and you're like, "Woah, I understand."
I really wanted to incorporate the word steeze,
'cause it's something that everyone here says in New Zealand
They're like, "Oh yeah, that goes steezy as.."
Or like, "Ooh," they see a cool skirt and they're like,
"Ooh, she's steezy."
Yeah, I was definitely kind of thinking of
imagery that I could kind of weave in here.
And I think that it was just about painting this picture
of this person who dresses cool.
They kind of know they're cool.
Everyone thinks they're cool.
Everything just seems really cool,
but then, do you actually, do they think they're cool?
Maybe, maybe they do. Maybe they don't. Who knows?
This is the prairie.
The prairie kind of is now talking about myself,
who often stays at home.
I am a homebody.
I like to party sometimes, but I am,
I do enjoy my alone time.
And I think that that's also comparing myself
to someone who is a socialite
like just, you know, social butterfly.
They just feed off
like meeting people and going to events and mingling.
And some people are really good at it.
Some people got a fire...but me, I don't know,
I sometimes would prefer to stay at home.
So badass was kind of having some badass.
Cause kind of, you know, I am actually meaning this.
Like I am saying that they're cool.
But at the same time, it's like badass is a funny word.
Like it doesn't really matter.
I think this is maybe when the kind of sarcasm comes in
where I'm kind of just like,
"Fuck I wish I could be like.."
'Cause it's kind of like, "Ahh"
but then it's like, "No, I actually don't."
I had a lot of fun singing this
with pretty much all of the music I've made recently,
it's like a matter of me having my lyrics written down
and then going in and freestyling.
And I think that this was,
it was just like, this just came out
when I heard the beat
and I was trying to record the chorus vocals
and I kind of just, you know, it was like,
I was just screaming it, I was like,
"Fuck. Fuck I wish I could be like you."
I'm pretty bad at saying something in an interview
or meeting someone who I admire
and just saying something really really dumb.
And then just thinking about it for months.
And then there will come a time when I'll be like,
"It doesn't matter, nothing actually matters that I say."
If someone is gonna judge you
for something dumb that you say, it's like,
yeah, there is plenty more where that came from
so we're not gonna get along, you know.
Everyone's always like,
"Well, Alice, who do you wanna meet?"
I'm like, "None. Straight up."
I don't want to meet anyone who I love
'cause I will say something silly.
I think that this is probably, you know,
a verse that a lot of listeners can relate to
thinking about artists they love.
I think there's this weird thing
where you can become so obsessed with an artist
then think, "They don't even know who I am,"
which is a horrible feeling.
Like they could be under a spell.
It's this weird thing that artists kind of do have
this effect on humans, you know.
People will kind of forget that they're human.
I remember I supported Lily Allen
in New Zealand when she played a show here
and she came around the corner
and I had never really seen anyone, you know,
like any kind of star before.
And she walked around the corner
and I said something so dumb.
I was like, "Holy crumble cakes,"
or something just so like, are you five?
It was just really awkward.
And I was like, "Right..."
That's the end. I'm gonna go into a hall
and stay there for a little while.