Before setting out on her South American tour with Linkin Park, Poppy sat down with Spotify for an episode of the streaming service's Day In The Life series. In between tea tastings, playing with her cat/best friend Pi, and scrapbooking, the singer-songwriter discussed music, life on the road, and her upcoming album, Empty Hands, during a day off in Nashville, Tennessee.
She explains what draws her to this particular music genre:
"I'm somebody with a softer voice. I think that's why I like heavy music and rock music so much: there's no time to be apprehensive. You have to commit to it. Pedal to the floor."
While getting her makeup done, she explains what drives her high-energy performances:
"The time you spend on stage is maybe only an hour and a half and everything else is leading up to that one moment. The people that are witnessing me are here and they want an experience. There's no whisper, there's no veil, it's 110 [percent] for me."
Between shows, Poppy prefers to keep things more lowkey. A more standard stop like Nashville—her birthplace—finds her splitting time between tea shops, stationary stores, and a cat lounge. "Anything to keep me from being sad on the road." The same holds true post-show.
"After the last note of the song is played onstage, I'm going to my room, either reading, listening to music, or writing about the day. You're around so many people at all times, it's important to carve out time that you are entirely by yourself."
Naturally, music is a part of her after-show ritually. But maybe not the music some would expect. She says:
"I listen to a lot of instrumental music. Omni Garden, Radiohead of course. I don't listen to a ton of metal in my downtime."
The post-genre darling admits she's not immune to the stresses of tour life:
"Tour's a challenge where you're uprooted. You know when you shake out a blanket? That's what it feels like."
The Grammy-nominated singer soon dishes on her upcoming album, Empty Hands and its creation:
"It leans into the feeling of what I enjoy playing live and elaborates on it. At the beginning of an album creation process I'm always trying to stay open to 'What if?' and not shut any doors."
Talk of scrapbooking reveals further insight into her creative process:
I don't think too hard about it, I just lean into what I find pleasing... I think about creating in the way that I think of taking a ride. Accepting the ride for what it is instead of pushing against it will take you to a more interesting and fulfilling place. A lot of the things that used to make me a bit uncomfortable about myself when I was younger end up being the things I'm most bold about now. I like to be 1 of 1.
The first two singles from Empty Hands, "Unravel" and "Bruise Sky" are out now all streaming platforms. Fans can also check out her recent collaboration with BABYMETAL, her hit single with Amy Lee and Courtney LaPlante, and her cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas." Her new album, Empty Hands, comes out January 23 on Sumerian Records. That same month Poppy will kick off her Constantly Nowhere Tour with supporting acts Ocean Grove, Inertia, and Fox Lake.
Check out the full video and podcast below.
Her album Negative Spaces is out now on Sumerian Records. Read the Nu Metal Agenda's review here.
Constantly Nowhere Australian Tour with Ocean Grove and Inertia:
01/20 Brisbane, AUS @ The Fortitude Music Hall
01/21 Sydney, AUS @ Roundhouse
01/22 Melbourne, AUS @ Form Melbourne
01/24 Adelaide, AUS @ Hindley Street Music Hall
01/26 Fremantle, AUS @ Metropolis
Constantly Nowhere European/UK Tour with Ocean Grove and Fox Lake
03/04 Glasgow, UK @ Galvinizers SWG3
03/06 Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz
03/08 Birmingham, UK @ 02 Institute Birmingham
03/09 Bristol, UK @ Electric Bristol
03/10 London, UK @ Roundhouse
03/13 Eindhoven, NL @ Headbangers Parade
03/14 Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
03/15 Paris, FR @ L'Olympia
03/17 Zurich, CH @ Komplex 457
03/18 Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
03/19 Munich, DE @ Backstage
03/21 Vienna, AT @ Raiffeisen Halle im Gasometer
03/22 Budapest, HU @ Barba Negra
03/24 Prague, CZ @ SaSaZu
03/25 Berlin, DE @ Huxleys Neue Welt
03/27 Warsaw, PL @ Klub Progresja
03/29 Frankfurt, DE @ Batschkapp
03/30 Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
04/01 Luxembourg, LU @ den Atelier
04/04 Hamburg, DE @ Grosse Freiheit 36
04/05 Copenhagen, DK @ Vega – Musikkens Hus – Store VEGA
04/07 Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene
04/08 Stockholm, SE @ Fållan
04/10 Helsinki, FI @ House Of Culture
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