As Prima Queen celebrates the launch of their ethereal and eclectic debut album ‘The Prize’, the duo radiates excitement and joy. Best friends and bandmates Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden form what might seem like an unlikely pair at first: Louise is from Bristol (UK) while Kristin comes from Chicago. However, as Louise recounts, since their serendipitous meeting at a songwriting course in London, the two have become nearly inseparable.
“We’ve lived in various places in southeast London, but we try to limit how far apart we can be… we like to stay within a 10-minute distance!”
Like many successful partnerships, the members of Prima Queen share more than just a passion for making music together.
“We’re like life partners – we joke that we’re more than married,” Kristin laughs.
“It’s like having a business with your best friend, and in some ways you’re siblings, and you’re also married…” Louise elaborates, and Kristin adds, “And you have a child: the music!”
There’s a lot of playful banter between the two during our conversation, with Louise and Kristin finishing each other’s thoughts and exchanging ideas seamlessly. This dynamic offers a glimpse into their creative process, which has produced a genre-bending and carefree musical style. Their deep friendship is fundamentally linked to the Prima Queen project.
“We try to separate our friendship and business at times, but they are really intertwined,” Kristin explains. “We aim to have moments where we don’t discuss the band since it’s important for our relationship. Yet, our friendship enhances our working relationship immensely. I don’t think we could manage it without the closeness and openness we share.”
Their strong friendship also informs their songwriting process.
“Knowing each other’s stories so intimately allows us to help each other narrate them… this is crucial to our songwriting collaboration,” Kristin clarifies. “Our songs are quite vulnerable and revealing, and we typically understand that context about each other already.”
“If you’re writing alone, you can control how you present yourself and the story,” Louise adds. “But sometimes, you can overlook significant aspects without another perspective.”
“We encourage one another to express things we might hold back because it represents both of us,” Kristin adds. “So while it offers a degree of protection, it’s also empowering to say, ‘I’m voicing this with my best friend. Bring it on!’ There’s a unique strength in that, and it feels less daunting knowing someone who loves you supports you.”
This method requires substantial trust and a rare level of confidence to critique one another’s ideas. However, the vulnerability inherent in songwriting can still complicate the process of sharing and refining ideas.
“The concepts we work on are often quite raw, as they’re still unfinished, and we deeply care about each other’s opinions, probably even more than any outside input,” Kristin admits. “It’s a lot!”
This demanding yet affection-filled journey has resulted in ‘The Prize’, featuring 12 tracks that reflect years of friendship and life experiences, “spanning from Mexico to Glastonbury to ball pits and spaceships.” While most of the album was recorded in 2023, it includes songs from various points in the Prima Queen timeline, and the title track was written after the album was considered complete. Louise and Kristin describe the album-crafting process as “liberating.”
“Our songwriting includes many diverse elements,” Louise notes. “When you’re just releasing singles, it’s tough to incorporate that diversity. It felt like this time we could be bolder,” she continues.
“I think this is the first time we’ve entered the studio with songs that were really fresh – that hasn’t happened much before,” Kristin adds.
This freedom of experimentation also allowed producer Steph Marziano (whose experience includes work with Grandma’s House, Sam Smith, Mumford and Sons, and Hayley Williams) to inject her creative input and influence the album.
Louise and Kristin label the album creation process as “playful”, but they clearly approached it with intentionality and thoughtfulness, aiming to denote a new chapter for Prima Queen. Now that their contributions are complete, they have clear aspirations for how listeners will connect with the album.
“We often say a major theme is empowerment. Even in the more vulnerable tracks, there’s a sense of strength, and you can see our growth as individuals and as a band throughout the album,” Kristin states. “We were deliberate about the songs, especially the singles… we wanted them to empower listeners and help them feel better about themselves.”
“We reflected on music that has uplifted us – those specific tracks you turn to when you're feeling down and they instantly elevate your mood! That’s what we cherish about music, and we want to provide that for others as well.”
“We want listeners to see themselves in our stories,” Louise expresses.
Both band members exude pride in what they have created together and are equally eager to share their work with live audiences.
“We
Returning to the nation where label founder Samy Ben Redjeb commenced his record-hunting journey, Analog Africa’s newest release features 25 tracks of
Irish artist Maria Somerville has released a new single titled 'Spring'. Her upcoming album, 'Luster', will be available on April 25th, marking her first significant project in over...
Rising UK rap talent BXKS has released a new single titled 'Flashing Lights'. The rapper from Luton is highly anticipated to make a significant impact this year, especially with her recent tracks.
Aziya is back with a new single titled 'Diamonds'. The artist received widespread praise for last year's 10-track mixtape 'BAMBI', which blended club elements with his soulful style.
Although the Manic Street Preachers are not primarily associated with self-doubt, lyricist and bassist Nicky discussed this topic in an interview with The Observer earlier this year.
UK rapper Manga Saint Hilare is back with his latest single, '140 World Problems.' The London musician plays a crucial role in the development of grime, which is a fundamental aspect of the genre.
As Prima Queen rejoices in the launch of their beautifully diverse debut album ‘The Prize’, the duo is brimming with enthusiastic, festive vibes. Lifelong friends