We had a chance to talk Joey Pappas on her latest release So Cold
Congratulations on the release of your new single So Cold! Can you tell us what inspired this song?
Thank you very much! I've always been an all or nothing person and over the years I feel like I've given so much and felt so much that I now struggle to trust anything as real. The irony of this song is that I say I struggle to express my feelings while writing them into a song for the world to hear. I wrote this song to myself, admitting things I was almost afraid to say out loud, and I hope it helps others feel seen.
What was the writing process like for this song, did you write it through your emotions?
My producer Kirby and I made the beat for this song a while back and it sat with me for a while and I tried to write to it a few times and nothing stuck. One day I came home, feeling incredibly low and tired, put the song on and wrote the whole thing from start to finish in one go. The words came out of me almost in a cry for help, it's one of the most transparent songs I've written as it's not about anyone but me, something I find hard to talk about.
Who did you work with to bring So Cold to life?
I have produced all my songs with Kirby, he is extremely talented and an incredibly patient person which was so much needed as I am such a young artist. It allows me such a safe space to create my vision while also bringing such a unique twist to my sound. I also created my debut video for So Cold with my super talented brother, Jonny Pappas (Backlit Media). I had a distinct vision for the video and we created something we're both incredibly proud of. I am very grateful to be able to work with both Kirby and Jonny!
What do you want your listeners to hear and feel from So Cold?
I felt, even when I was writing this song, that I was desperate to connect with people. Even though I felt so numb, the human need for connection and to feel loved still exists beneath the emotional ice, walls and pain. I hope this song allows others to feel validated even in their isolation and that maybe, just maybe, we won't always be cold and alone.
You grew up in a religious cult, can you give us more insight into how you had access to listening to music growing up?
I did indeed. It was something I spent a long time angry about and was the inspiration for my first single 'Insane', but now I have a deep appreciation for where I came from and how it helped shape the person I am today. I wasn't actually allowed to listen to mainstream music, I had very limited access to the radio, we didn't even have a TV in our house. I sang a lot in church and music was always a big part of my life, just not mainstream music. I remember when I started my first job at KFC there was a TV in the restaurant area and it played music videos on it all day and I was obsessed with it. Being a singer was all I wanted to be, even back then, when I was cooking chicken for the masses.
Who is your favorite music artist right now and why?
I'd say it's a tie between Tate McRae and Billie Eilish. I love the lyrical honesty they both show and their sounds are so incredibly unique. They also intrigue me on a deeper level. Despite both being incredibly huge artists, they are so private and I love that. They show such deep emotion in their songs, but you never know what they're really doing and they always level up, which I find really inspiring.
How do you want to make a difference in the world and the music industry?
I feel strongly that my purpose on this earth is to help others feel seen and appreciated. I've always felt quite isolated and for want of a better word 'different' and if I can help people feel safe to express who they really are, then to me, that's success. By singing about my experiences, I am able to reach a wider audience and in turn live in alignment with my purpose in the best possible way.
If you could share the stage with any artist living or dead, who would it be?
Taylor Swift. Not a doubt in my mind. This woman has helped me in every phase of my life. I hope one day to meet her, I have no doubt she is just as genuine and compassionate as you can feel through her music.
What's next for Joey Pappa?
To perform baby!!! I'll be dropping more singles over the next couple of months, but ultimately I'm just so excited to get on those stages and connect with as many people as I can. Melbourne and Brisbane are my targets before the end of the year.
Thanks for your time, is there a message you'd like to share with your fans?
THANK YOU so much for interviewing me and listening to what I have to say. I would like to say be kind to yourselves, everything happens as it should. You can't rush art or love and you are full of both. All my love to you, yes you, who are reading this, have this, I believe in you.
