Pale Waves’ latest album, Smitten, is full of sincerity, skill and chemistry. It showcases the music they create best together and contains extremely vulnerable lyrics that allow listeners to connect and find solace.
It encompasses fun pop tunes and slower, loving songs that will have you reminiscing the times you may not want to remember and the ones you do. In an interview with mxdwn, Heather shared her inspirations behind the lyrics, creative processes and what she hopes fans gain from her music.
mxdwn: Smitten is full of authenticity and reflection, bringing a little bit from each past album on some songs, but it also has its own, different aesthetic that feels like a new space for the band. What did the creative space for this album feel like and embody compared to previous albums?
HBG: I think it definitely has a pinch of each record, kind of combined into this one to kind of make it what it is, but I would say it has probably the most similarities to the first record. It has those ’80s dreamy and anthemic guitars and the twinkly synths and the big choruses, and I think that’s just what we do best. So it was just naturally the kind of music that we wanted to write and what we write best.
mxdwn: Yes, definitely. It was also written, I saw, over two years while in the US and UK. How did that play into the creative headspace for you and was that on purpose or chance?
HBG: No, it was on chance really. I was just living in LA at the time and I started writing the record and I met one of my co-writers, Simon, who I did a lot of the songs with, like half of the record with, and we just hit it off and we kind of really complement one another. And then I was writing songs with Hugo and Ciara as well, and Hugo was in the UK at the time, so we kind of like bouncing back and forth, like I’d wake up in the morning and have something from him and then vice versa. So, it was kind of interesting doing that way, writing it kind of over the internet in ways. But then we came together at the end in person and kind of finessed it even more, but then we recorded the album in the UK.
mxdwn: That is interesting. That’s cool though. Do you find it therapeutic when it comes to writing about personal themes in your music? Or is it a little unforgiving during the process, but meaningful and beneficial in the end?
HBG: I think it can be quite stressful, but at the same time it’s kind of like a release and it can kind of give you clarity, even more clarity on the situation. Whereas when you’re in your head about something and you’re just going over it again and again. You kind of make more sense of it when you start writing a song about it because you kind of have to think about it even in more detail. Like, oh, okay, how would a stranger understand what I’m trying to say about the situation?
mxdwn: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. How did you like self-directing the second single release “Glasgow”?
HBG: It was really fun. I mean, Kelsi, my girlfriend, she mainly did all that hard work to be fair, but I like kind of as much control that I can get because I feel like when you work with a big team of people, it naturally- your idea gets diluted and they start to throw in their opinions and their style and their taste and it’s just not yours. And I hate when that happens. So I actually preferred doing the two music videos with a team of four people versus, you know, “Gravity” and “Perfume,” which had these huge teams. I much preferred the smaller teams.
mxdwn: Yeah, I could definitely see that for sure. So, “Kiss Me Again” is a fun song about like getting caught up in a moment and not caring if it’s just a one night stand and just enjoying the time and company. Can you tell me about creating that song and the process behind it?
HBG: So, I think I was in the studio, writing another song, I can’t remember what song that was at that point, but Simon, he went out to get some lunch and then he came back and I had the idea started on the acoustic guitar and I played it for him and he was just like, wow, we need to finish this right now in this moment. So, we voice noted it and we got the verse and the chorus. Then the next day I came back and we finished the song and it was just kind of in the spur of the moment it started and then it blossomed into this like really fun energetic pop song. Then he sent me the demo of it when I was driving back home and I actually screamed out loud because I was like, wow, this is so good. I’ve never done that for a song.
mxdwn: Yeah, it is really good. “Last Train Home” is a slower song on the album and starts with the lyrics, “When she touched me I looked the other way/ always thinking what others would say/ I wasn’t ready and she was upset.” And it also talks about all the little things that you miss and remember about someone and regretting letting that person get away. What would you say to fans who are going through something similar and how did it feel to kind of relive those feelings while writing the song?
HBG: It was strange to be in that moment again. It’s crazy how you can kind of place yourself in that moment and remember all the little details again. I would say that it may hurt in the moment, but I think you just kind of trust your gut and trust your instincts and it’ll probably all work out in the end. And just to kind of let time, you know, time is a healer and it might feel very dramatic and very awful in the moment, but you know, as the days and weeks go by, you start to heal from it all.
mxdwn: Yes, that is very true. Time is a healer. I always try to remind myself that and it is very hard to remember and accept in the moment.
HBG: Oh yeah, definitely {laughs}.
mxdwn: Yeah, it’s something you don’t want to hear {laughs}.
HBG: No.
mxdwn: “Miss America” also just really resonates, referencing memories of meeting someone new and kind of talks about being patient despite someone else’s flaws and loving them anyhow. And I feel like some of the things you mention like being crazy and not even realizing it kind of comes from, you know, new love when you’re younger especially. However, it then brings up being older and the reflection and realizations that come with that, and it is something that I feel like a lot can relate to- growing up, looking back at past actions and then also just having another person accept who you are. Can you talk about the songs inspiration and that pivotal point of cognition?
HBG: Yeah, so “Miss America,” it was kind of how my past behaviors weren’t great, I had not been the best partner to someone and I think in the moment I would justify that and give it reasoning. But I think being older and being able to reflect and now I can hold my hands up high and be like, no, I definitely was in the wrong and I should have done better, but I think in the moment I wouldn’t have admitted that. So, I think it’s all about reflection and being able to kind of admit when you are wrong and when you’ve not done right.
mxdwn: Yeah, and it speaks a lot, it’s hard to admit that and I can totally relate because I’ve been in a similar situation. Yeah, I really like that song. Then also “Hate To Hurt You” is also an idea that I think a lot can connect with as well. Hurting someone is never enjoyable and I think it’s not written about as much as say, being the hurt one, which is understandable, but can you tell me how the song and its theme came to be? Like how did you decide to write a song about how unpleasant it is to hurt someone?
HBG: I think just because I’ve been in that situation where, you know, I’ve really respected someone, but at the end of the day I’ve just known that it just wasn’t working out romantically. I had a lot of empathy for them and I didn’t want to break their heart, but at the same time I was kind of being even worse, you know, because I was starting to look the other way and look at other people and I just wasn’t into it anymore. So, it’s kind of like a difficult thing to get to, but I think being honest in the moment and upsetting them in the moment is way better than dragging it on just being a terrible partner.
mxdwn: Yes, I completely agree. I’ve been in that situation and it almost hurts as much as getting hurt and you like, don’t really think about it or realize that, but yeah, it’s just that empathy, that empathy that gets to you, I feel like.
HBG: Exactly. Yeah.
mxdwn: Yeah.
HBG: It’s tough.
mxdwn: Yeah, it is tough and it’s really weird, weird feeling. How did the tour with PVRIS go? What were the highlights?
HBG: It was really fun. They’re such nice people and down to earth and don’t take it all too seriously. I think the highlight was that we really bonded and we all kind of started a friendship and they’ll be friends forever now. Brian came to our festival the other day because he lives in the UK and we all just got along really well and just had a fun time with it.
mxdwn: That’s awesome. I could definitely see, I mean, I guess maybe just from listening to the music, I can definitely see that and that’s awesome that you guys got close. I love that.
HBG: Yeah.
mxdwn: What was it like when you saw the Smitten debut single “Perfume” open as BBC Radios 1’s hottest record?
HBG: It’s always really fun and it’s always really strange when you hear yourself on the radio. It always kind of surprises you or catches you off guard, but we’re very happy and pleased that Radio 1 and BBC keeps supporting us, you know, they’ve supported us from day one and we’re very lucky that we have that support from them.
mxdwn: Yeah, that’s awesome. Yeah, I don’t even like hearing recordings of my own voice, so I can’t even imagine what it would be like to hear yourself on the radio but it’s probably just as strange {laughs}.
HBG: Yeah, no, it is really strange. I hate listening to myself talk, but I don’t mind myself singing, but it’s when I’m talking I’m like, no, turn it off.
mxdwn: Yeah, same. I hate it too, but yeah you definitely shouldn’t hate listening to yourself singing because you’re amazing. But yeah, listening to you talk, I feel like everyone’s just like, uh, no.
HBG: Yeah, it’s awful. I’m like, turn it down {laughs}.
mxdwn: No, same. I’m like, why do I sound like that?
{Both laugh}
mxdwn: So, the band has a lot of performances in the works with its headlining tour, which includes Manchester’s Neighbourhood Festival and London’s Outernet. What are you looking forward to the most when it comes to touring?
HBG: I’m looking forward to playing to our own crowd and people that are there to listen to Pale Waves and be with Pale Waves. We just got off like a six week tour with PVRIS and that was really fun, but it’s not our own shows with our own fans, so you just constantly miss that when you’re on a support tour. I’m excited to just connect with them and just to see and hear them screaming the lyrics back to me.
mxdwn: Awe. Yeah, that’s probably so exciting. What do you hope fans take from your music when it comes to self-acceptance and harnessing the power that comes from living outside of society’s box?
HBG: I hope they just listen to it and I hope it helps them in some way, whether that gives them more confidence or gives them more clarity on a situation or for them to feel seen. I just, I hope that it can help them in any shape, way or form.
mxdwn: Oh, that’s awesome. Well I think your vulnerability in the songs and really just letting your personal experiences- and I know I don’t know you personally, but I just feel like your personality kind of shines through the songs, whether you notice that or not. I feel like it definitely should be able to help people.
HBG: Oh, thank you. That’s really nice.
mxdwn: Yeah, of course. It’s awesome. I love the music and it’s a great record. It’s been an absolute pleasure talking to you. Thank you so much for doing this interview.
HBG: Of course.
mxdwn: Good luck and have fun on your tour.
HBG: Thank you so much.
mxdwn: You deserve it.
HBG: Thank you. Have a great day.
mxdwn: Of course, you too. Thanks.
HBG: Bye. Thanks.
Photo Credit: Mauricio Alvarado
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