Artist Of The Week #328 - Little Dog Star
This week's Artist Of The Week is north Manchester-born, London-based artist Little Dog Star - who has just released her new EP 'Something Infinite' via Hunger/Polydor Records.
Little Dog Star is the project of Izzy Steele, whose music sits at the intersection of restless honesty and careful craft. Named after one of the smallest but brightest stars in the sky, the project began to take shape as Izzy made the move south from her hometown, a decision that also marked her exit from a nearly decade-long acting career that began in childhood and defined much of her teenage years.
Across its four tracks, Something Infinite is a confident step forward for an artist defining her own path. Named after one of the smallest but brightest stars in the sky, Little Dog Star is the project of Izzy Steele, a north Manchester-born, London-based artist whose music sits at the intersection of restless honesty and careful craft.
She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
Hey! I’m doing great thanks. I love releasing music and I’m so happy it’s out. This EP feels like me right in this moment and I’m really proud of it.
It’s always funny sharing music that has felt private and unfinished on my phone for ages. I enjoy finally letting go and listening for the joy of it and like I’ve never heard it before.
It’s like showing someone a film you love and watching it with them as if you are them, you see it through a whole new lens.
It is called 'Something Infinite' – what is the meaning behind that?
It’s one of the song titles but felt like the right name. The song is about the frustration that comes with ambition and more personally, the transition between my job as an actor and where I am now. Lots of questions, not a lot of answers. Shame and embarrassment being turned into drive and something powerful within me. Ultimately naming the EP that, was acknowledging both those things - you can want the world but also go bright red admitting it.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
The ‘Something Infinite’ EP was recorded at MANTA’s studio in east London. And then he moved and we finished ‘put some miles on it’ and ‘who I was looking for’ in his new one. When we were writing & recording radio show it was actually round the corner to the real radio show I worked at earlier in the year that inspired the song - it was cool being back in the same area with a new purpose.
What are the key influences behind the EP?
At the time I was listening to Dominic Fikes new album ‘Rocket’ and ‘colour theory’ by Soccer Mommy. I used to write a lot on piano when I was younger so I wanted to that style back into the music, heavily inspired by Elton John. I remember making a conscious decision to do that after I wrote the piano part for the pre chorus on radio show.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
Lyrics are so much about how they are delivered so they never look as good written down! But I do lean towards the final words on the project, the end of ‘who I was looking for’ I say “It’s what it represents, I had everything but I didn’t feel it. Really felt the burn, now I’m in return, I can feel it” I don’t know there’s just something about it. It really encapsulates everything I’ve said in the EP. Seems to simplify what had felt like very complex things I’ve been exploring and writing about. I wrote that line on the train to the studio and put down one vocal take to show manta what I’d written and it was done, it just worked.
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
If it was a film it would be Little Miss Sunshine.
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
It’s a great question! I have so much more music to share and two headline shows coming up in September which is huge for me. I just want to keep going, I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had.
