In Conversation With #123 - Abbie Ozard
Manchester singer-songwriter Abbie Ozard provides us with another doze of fuzz-pop delight with her EP ‘let’s play pretend’. She took a moment to talk to us about cookie dough, social media and how the EP came together.
Hey there Abbie, so your new EP is out today - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
It feels amazing!!! I’m kinda proud of myself for creating a body of work whilst the world is basically coming to an end. Kinda nervous about the new tune ‘breakdowns’ too as it’s different from other stuff I’ve released so i hope people love it.
It is titled ‘Let’s Play Pretend’ - what is the meaning behind that?
Each song in the EP is me adopting a character. I didn’t realise until after writing the EP that during the writing process of each song I was romanticising everything that was happening at that point in my life. In 'pink sky' I was pretending that a relationship was perfect when it just wasn’t, in 'tv kween' I’m dreaming that I’m something better, in 'true romance' I’m pretending to be in the best film ever and in 'breakdowns' I write about how people deal with their problems online, migrating them into a separate world.
Where was the EP recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from that experience?
So 'pink sky' and 'true romance' were recorded in Parr Street studios! 'tv kween' was actually recorded in my bedroom and Rich’s home studio via FaceTime during the first lockdown which was v fun. 'breakdowns' was recorded in my friend Ben’s house in Hyde Park in Leeds.
There is a track on the EP called ‘breakdowns’ which deals with the subject of social media and how it can affect our lives - can you tell us a bit more about this?
Yeah, everyone is absorbed into their phones, including me. The song is kinda ironic in the sense that it deals with people announcing breaks and going on social media to announce that they’re taking breaks from social media haha. The song is based around Generation Z, and I’m talking about how being 20-something is a difficult age as there is pressure coming from every angle and a huge lack of direction. People are living at their parent’s houses as they can’t afford to move out. I wanted to put my own spin on the situation by chucking in a bit of irony. My aim is for people to find comfort in the fact that this generation is all going through the same thing. I’m sure I’m not the only person who finds the word ‘breakdown’ relatable at the moment. I just want everyone to feel comforted.
Do you feel Covid-19 lockdown rules have pushed the music world to being more ‘online’ so to speak? Is this a good thing?
COVID-19 has 100% pushed us to be more online based. As we really have no other option - we can’t showcase ourselves physically. I think it’s both a good and a bad thing, it’s really difficult to find motivation when you’re spending all day just staring at a screen trying to showcase yourself, but at the same it’s amazing that we have this other world that we can use to promote ourselves. The internet has discovered so many artists that may not have been discovered without it, so in that way it’s a sick thing.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
Romanticising reality and characterisation. I guess it’s influenced by this year and it’s a body of work that has helped me deal with everything that’s going on by making these stories up inside my head, it’s like a form of escapism from what’s happening at the moment.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
“You remind me of cookie dough ice cream, top tier nothing like I’ve seen”
It sounds cool and cookie dough ice cream is well nice. There are obvs lyrics that have a deeper meaning on the EP but given everything that's happening right now this just sums up my feelings rn, and I guess ignorance is bliss isn’t it.
Now this EP is out there, what next for Abbie?
Obviously if we’re allowed, lots and lots and lots of gigs. I want to just keep writing, no matter how many people are listening. I want to create another big, cool conceptual body of work to help people get through life. If I’m helping someone through music then I’m doing my job right.