Indie Pop Singer Janelle Kroll on How to Steal Her Style Vibe
Singer Janelle Kroll released a pretty radical EP last month full of songs that pull at those damn sentimental heartstrings, leave you listening to the same tune for hours, and crying over that boyfriend you don’t even have.
Her EP, Outsider, is a full spectrum of emotions from powerful and delicate, to beautiful and sexy. Janelle herself describes it as salty caramel, which if you’ve had it, makes for a delicious dessert.
Besides her tunes being addicting and perhaps dessert-craving inducing, her fashion is pretty on-point too. From Timbs to the perfect crop top, the Outsider singer has style and music on lock.
Your first single from this EP was “FVR”, if you were to imagine it on ANY movie soundtrack what would it be?
That montage in Dirty Dancing where Johnny Castle and Baby are in the flow rehearsing their dance moves.
What other musical artists inspire you and your sound?
Lauryn Hill, John Lennon, Fiona Apple, Yung Mariah, Janet, James Blake, Roberta Flack, Joni Mitchell, St. Vincent, Frank Ocean.
You write all your own songs, what are some things that inspire you to write music?
Hope, failure, emotional in/dependence, sensuality, sense of be/longing. I recently went to an event for the Museum of Broken Relationships. The objects there are imbued with an emotional gravity that could inspire a thousand songs. More than anything though, music inspires music for me. If I’m in the studio, once I hear the right texture or progression, I want to start singing and it often starts out as a half intelligible lyric. I follow the stream of consciousness and deliberately build from there.
Tell us who you are listening to right now! Who do you love?
Solange, Moses Sumney, Blood Orange, Erykah Badu (I keep going back to Mama’s Gun these days), Frank Ocean, Mitski, How To Dress Well,morgxn
If you could collaborate with any musician alive or dead, who would it be?
John Lennon.
If you were to describe your sound, like Cyndi Lauper meets Guitar metal, what would it be?
Someone on Twitter just said I’m like Cyndi Lauper meets Stevie Nicks so there’s that. Otherwise I’d say salt meets caramel.
I always feel this question is pretty telling of what kind of person you are, if you were on a desert island and could only have three items, what would they be?
Free wifi that works, a charged laptop, and my best friend for some lols.
If you could play an acoustic show with covers of other artists songs, which ones would you choose?
“Nothing Even Matters” (Lauryn Hill + D’Angelo), “I Love Every Little Thing About You” (Stevie Wonder), “Down To You” (Joni Mitchell)
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?
“Let’s continue to stand up for those who are vulnerable to being left out or marginalized.” -Hillary Clinton
Let’s talk about makeup! What are your top five makeup products at the moment?
NYX’s Macaron Lippies (especially the gray lipstick, also they’re only 6 bucks!)
Laura Mercier undereye concealer
Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in black
And we can’t forget about fashion. What is your current go-to concert outfit? Shoes? Makeup look?
I just started collaborating with my friend @artfreaky aka Lauren Hirshfield on custom OUTSIDER denim jackets that have hand-stitched lyrics, so that’s a new staple. I’m also a sucker for a good crop top (Mystique Boutique in NYC is my jam) with a high-waisted jean or short. I just got these 90s high-waisted suede pants from Ann Taylor in Joshua Tree that are pretty powerful. High pony. My Timbs. And there’s a jacket Rebecca Minkoff gifted me that’s gotten plenty of wear. I lean towards black and white but occasionally I’m in technicolor.
Tell us who you have a crush on. Who’s hot?
Aubrey Drake Graham.
Let’s talk future, where do you think you’ll be in a year?
I have too many god damn songs to share with people. It’s going to be an intense release schedule. A year from now? Some place I’ve never been playing for people I’ve never met.
Most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you while on tour or while performing?
How about a throwback story. When I was 6 (or 7?) I was in a kids show and my microphone pack fell off during the song. I thought it was best I “stay in the scene” so I just let the thing drag on the floor during the entire song. WRONG choice. I felt HORRIBLE afterward. Lesson learned, suspension of disbelief works only if there are no distractions of the actual environment. Magic isn’t real. Performance is a simulation of life. The audience will be transported somewhere else so long as the curtain doesn’t fall. As in life, when shit goes wrong, deal with it and move on!
Are you excited to start performing live?
I’m gearing up for shows in LA this month.
How can we stalk you?
@janellekroll EVERYWHERE
Download Janelle’s EP, The Outsider, here: www.smarturl.it/OutsiderEP
