Princess Nostalgia, the Roman-born, New York-based electro-pop artist, is breaking the mold with her genre-blending sound, capturing audiences and pushing boundaries. Recently dubbed “the forefront of a new wave of music” by Wonderland Mag, her latest single, “FUNCOOL”, sees her embracing her Italian roots, blending Latin rhythms with a club-ready dance track that’s unapologetically her. From the seething electronic track “Astroturfing”, mastered by Grammy-winning Emily Lazar, to her virtual avatar’s enigmatic online presence, Princess Nostalgia proves she’s more than just a singer-songwriter-producer — she’s a one-woman show challenging convention. In our exclusive interview, we delve into her creative process, the return to her cultural heritage, and the audacious energy that makes her music resonate across pop, funk, and R&B. Get ready to enter the world of Princess Nostalgia, where tradition meets innovation, and where every beat is a statement.
“Gestalt Switch”, is the first release on your upcoming EP, “NO GURU”, and is accompanied with visuals that match the eerily entrancing vocals on the track. When speaking on the tack, you mention the horrifying uncertainty that nightmares are made of. Are you interested in sharing the nightmare that inspired the tack and how this fits into the overall vision of “NO GURU”?
I studied philosophy in university and found it to be a very arrogant medium. Life is full of contradictions and mysteries that can never be explained away with man-made concepts. It’s terrifying to embrace the unknown, and it’s one of the bravest things we can do. I am not impressed by the word puzzles philosophers use to explain away the chaos. Life is a nightmare unless you can humble yourself in the face of darkness.
Being a uniquely independent artist, this EP marks the first release since your collaboration and mentorship with Grammy-Hall-of-Fame engineer Dave-Hillis. Can you speak on your journey through the process of collaboration, and any memories that stand out to you?
After producing music on my computer for years, working with Dave in a professional studio gave me a lot of confidence. It was like, oh yeah, I do know what I’m doing – I can keep up. I learned a lot, but the most important lesson was that there are no objective rules in music production. No matter how experienced a producer is, the experimentation never stops and the happy accidents never end.
Written and produced by you, “Gestalt Switch” feels like Princess Nostalgia, it breathes an authenticity to the vision that is reflected in the fluidity of the tack. Who is Princess nostalgia to you and what is your relationship?
All of my favorite art makes me want to laugh and cry simultaneously. Princess Nostalgia lives at the meeting ground between the sacred and the profane. And she unapologetically embodies all the parts of me that I struggle to accept.
Congratulations on today’s release of “FUNCOOL”! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song and what it means to you?
I was listening to Rosalía’s MOTOMAMI on repeat when I produced this track. Naturally, the elements of minimalism and surprise were at the forefront of my mind. I was having so much fun in my home studio and my only hope is that listeners can feel that.
Being born in Italy and moving to the US at the age of 8, how has your Italian heritage influenced your music and your artistic expression?
The earliest dream I can remember was of my mother being crucified. It was pretty visceral and violent. There were shrieking demons flying all around me as I looked up at her mangled body on the cross. Suddenly the demons transformed into angels and began chanting in unison that everything was going to be ok. I think I was 5 at the time. I was raised agnostic, but my parents both appreciated the aesthetic value of Roman Catholic art, so we visited all the churches. We always lit a candle for my Nonna Rosa. And my father insists that catholicism is buried in my psyche whether I like it or not. I’m not sure what exactly this reveals about my creative process, but I know for a fact that it was a unique blessing to grow up in close proximity to such powerful ancient archetypes. And that moving from Rome to the rustbelt of Pennsylvania gave the feeling of Nostalgia a whole new meaning.
The song’s catchy hook, “non sono una bambina, sono una ragazza,” (I’m not a little girl, I’m a young woman) has a powerful autobiographical background. Can you share the story behind this line and how it shaped your identity as an artist?
At the seasoned age of five years old, an old Italian baker dared to call me a little girl. “Non sono una bambina, sono una ragazza,” was my seething response. As a child, I always resented the fact that the adults around me didn’t treat me as an equal. I sensed that they were hiding things from me and their condescension made me mad. I think kids pick up on a lot more than people think. That energy of being an old soul trapped in a young body is the driving force behind the song.
You’ve mentioned a personal preference for rapping in Italian over English. What impact has the process of creating “FUNCOOL” had on your artistic process, has it in any way changed your approach to music?
Writing in Italian for the first time feels like I unlocked a secret code. All the music I made before this transition suddenly feels irrelevant. Feminine rage has always been a significant force in my life, and the attitude that comes with channeling my Italian heritage has allowed me to access that energy in a much more direct way. I’m finding my voice in Italian and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Any upcoming plans to perform in Europe?
I will be in Europe this fall and am planning to book some shows in Berlin specifically. I moved there for a little while before lockdowns and am looking forward to returning. Stay tuned on my socials for details.
