It's only been a few days since Poppy, Poppy Ajudha’s second album, was released — and we’re already obsessed with it. Her voice is one of those that becomes instantly recognisable when you hear it for the first time, if that makes any sense: it sounds like a classic as it caresses your soul. Thus, she invites us into her world, in which, this time, we find reflections on friendship in the brand-new single Lean On Me, on her inner voice and self-determination in My Future, her fearless manifestation of romance in Somebody to Love, or a high dose of honesty on Ready, among many other chapters of this album.
She certainly took time and effort not only to create these songs, but also to find the final, perfect vessel for them, as she has been back and forth to Los Angeles as many times as she has needed to work on the production of her new music. This perseverance seems to be inherent to her work and her persona, and it has certainly paid off: Rolling Stone, Clash, and The Guardian have already praised Poppy’s high quality this past week.
“I really put everything into this album, it is a reflection of my growth over the last two years, an outward pouring of my raw vulnerability, the inner workings of my chaotic brain and the deep desire I have to challenge myself with everything I do. I’m really proud of what we made, and I hope that when you hear it, it means something to you too,” explains the artist as she unveils her new music to the world.
She started writing songs at the age of eight because it was her “way of understanding the world.” Poppy’s new music offers insight into her personal life and relationships, while broadening her sound and direction through a fair share of urban soul and pop music. And that adds up to her nature as an artist, as she explores and shares about important themes and societal topics.
Poppy Ajudha is already thinking about her next album, but before that, we found some time to talk to her about the development of these new songs and her artistic scope, her plans for a UK tour next year, and some of the details that make Poppy such a great album.
Hi Poppy! How are you!? Your new album, Poppy, is literally being released as we speak. How do you feel?
I’m good, thank you! Overwhelmed, excited — I’m on an emotional rollercoaster at the moment. It’s surreal to have the project finally out, and it’s been so nice to hear everyone’s response on listening to it.
Some people say that the sophomore album is the most difficult to make as the audience already has some expectations. Did you find there was more pressure?
I just make music that I love. The beautiful thing about being an independent artist is that I can make whatever I want — no one can tell me otherwise. So, I never felt pressure to make music that was similar to my previous work. I went to LA on my own and made as many songs as I could, challenged my songwriting, and built a project I could be proud of. That’s all that really mattered to me.
“After numerous trips back and forth from London to LA, millions of revisions to perfect each song and a lot of moving the track listing around, I’ve made an album I’m so in love with.” You mention on the press release for Poppy how important was the production and the result of these new songs. Was there any song or any part of a song that you found more difficult to get done?
Every song manifested differently. I think I produced My Future a million times, but Candy was made in one day, Crossroads is such a stripped back song that it took me a while to articulate the story and the melodies to fit that story. If you believe in a song, you just have to persevere with it until it’s done, whether it’s days or months — it’s always worth it in the end.
Lean on Me is the most recent single, and it seems like a great example for what people will find in the album. The song seems to talk about friendship in times in which more and more people are reclaiming the importance of it over other types of love. How did this song come about?
After a painful breakup, I sought advice from a close friend. Even though he was grieving a loss himself at the time, he talked me through my chaos, and it really meant something to me. The next day I had the session for Lean On Me, and naturally, the power of friendship was at the front of my mind. I wrote that song about how meaningful people who show up for you are, because in our darkest moments, we can’t get through shit without our friends.
My Future contains such a powerful message: “Am I selfish if I let you know love comes second to my future?”. What is the story behind the song and why did you decide to release as the lead single from the project?
I wanted to release it first because I think it represents my ethos towards life the best. It’s a song about choosing yourself, knowing your path and not letting anyone get in the way of your vision, no matter how big it is. I think I was feeling stifled at the time, restricted by my relationship and its pressures, I wrote this song as my outlet and as a realisation to myself of my priorities.
The videos for this era directed by NWSPK reinforce what you’re singing in the different singles. The dance routines, the fashion, and the colour, they perfectly accompany you singing this song. They almost make little chapters of this new chapter that is your sophomore album. How was working on them?
I love making music videos. They are so fun and such an amazing way to extend the story of the music. Learning choreography for the first time was super challenging but I loved it too. I can be a bit of a control freak, and NWSPK were so amazing to work with — they always listened to me and welcomed my creative input, so the process was beautifully collaborative.
Songs like Girl Next Door, Bestie Breakup, Ego Boost or Candy shape the album’s sound, and I think it fits perfectly into the sound of what British music is celebrated for: honest lyrics, real stories and this genre that mixes pop and other urban styles. Somehow it reminds me of the work of Raye, Lily Allen, Jorja Smith or Lianne La Havas. Is there any musical influence that has inspired you specifically for this album?
I think I was listening to a lot of King Princess, Ariana Grande, SZA, Troy Sivan, and Doja Cat around the time of making this album. I try not to pull direct references, but it definitely would have influenced my sonic world.
You have a very beautiful voice, it’s quite unique. When did you discover singing could be what you wanted to do? And how do you normally take care of it?
Thank you! I’ve wanted to be a singer for as long as I can remember. I started writing songs when I was around eight, it was always my way of understanding the world. My voice is quite sensitive, so I do have to look after it… usually I steam every day for a week before a show and do my warmups, I don’t drink alcohol often and always make sure to drink lots of water.
“Why is everyone always telling you to smile? That’s going to get really irritating” is a sentence that I loved in the Letter to your younger self you recently wrote for Polyester. I know this question may seem like a cliché, but I think unfortunately it is necessary to keep asking women like you if you find that things have been extra difficult just for being a woman.
The patriarchy still exists, and women are not yet perceived equally to men in many ways. There are so many biases that people carry around what a woman should or could be, and that influences so much of our opportunities and safety and freedom to choose. I think we still have a long way to go.
I loved your Sofa Session with Jo Whiley! When talking about making this album you said to her that “being a songwriter is emotionally exhausting.” I wonder if it is also a therapeutic process for you, in the sense that if by writing songs it helps you put things in perspective or make more sense of them.
Yes. Music is my therapy. It’s how I make sense of the world and process my emotions. The exhausting part can come from revisiting those feelings every time you perform or listen back to a song.
You were recently invited by Naomi Campbell to perform at her Fashion for Relief event. Also, you have opened Virgil Abloh’s Figures of Speech exhibition, and have worked alongside brands such as Dior, Delvaux, and Nike. What is your relationship to fashion?
I love fashion. I love creativity in all its forms, it’s a beautiful thing to express yourself creatively, fashion is so inspiring to me. What designers can conjure from their imagination, and how everyday people throw ideas together to make something new will always be powerful and compelling.
The Holidays is around the corner, and I just found out about your groovy cover of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas for a new Pepsi ad. How do you enjoy singing covers? And what are your plans for next Xmas?
I love to sing classic songs. It can bring a different energy to my voice and it almost feels like playing a character when I sing someone else’s song. This Christmas I’m gonna be with my family, and then I’ll head off to LA to start writing my next album. I’ve been writing a lot and I need to get it recorded.
You’re going on a UK headline tour in March 2025. What can your fans expect from your future live shows?
I have my tour in March, which I can’t wait for. I can’t wait to play this album live and connect with people in real life, I think that’s so important.
