Miss World is a London based artist that easily transports you into the mall culture of the late 90s and 00s. While you may feel like you are listening to the Clueless soundtrack, there is a bit of a modern flavor. She releases her debut album, Keeping Up With Miss World – Out September 28th on PNKSLM. Until next week we have the video premiere of the new single, Don’t U Wanna Be Me Sometime? I asked Natalie Chahal aka. Miss World a few questions about the inspirations behind her glossy nostalgia pop.
You’re super inspired by the early 00s. Why? and what musicians inspired your sound?
I love pop culture. 00’s memes are having such a moment right now, but I’m more comically rather than sonically connected to that era. This record is inspired by filthy garage Nuggets from the 60s. Some 90s grunge pop, post-grunge, riot grrl stuff especially. And the present day. I love Ariel Pink. I actually love so many styles and eras of music it’s hard to pin down. I’m inspired by the people I’ve met and turning the overdrive up on my laptop. I think we’re all fascinated by other people which is why reality TV and Instagram are so popular. I love Madonna and Frank Black and Rivers Cuomo. I like songwriters with a twisted sense of humour that write incredible pop music.
Why choose LA for this video?
I was in LA last week and just came up with the idea. It was pretty chill. I was thinking about the ‘influencer’ lifestyle, selfie hotspots and the neon pink outfit Kim wore to Kylie’s birthday. I was wondering which online store was going to debut the replica.
What are the best/worst fashion trends of the time?
Our time right now? The best trend, in my opinion, is that the big designers are now replicating the bootleg, made in China, knock-off designs. Like the ‘GUCCY’ bag. I love how that has come full circle. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. Juxtaposing the high and low is what keeps things fresh and brings people together. I like to think about that high/low juxtaposition with my music and visuals too. The worst trend….. is probably those boots that segregate the big toe from the rest of the toe family.
What are you conveying with your music? Describe the vibe?
I like to think of this record as one very elaborate selfie. I wrote every song and played the instruments. I made all the art and videos. It’s DIY. It’s kind of annoying that you have to drum that point home as a female because the general consensus would never just assume it to be that way. I knew I wanted to express a feeling in the air with this record. I spent a lot of time traveling and I noticed the same conversations happening everywhere.
I met people of all different ages, backgrounds, lifestyle choices but absolutely everybody had a opinion on plastic surgery, on internet dating apps, on social media, on memes, etc. I would just drop these subjects in and see what happened. It was funny. The concepts behind each song feel super modern to me. Musically, I wanted to make something that was raw, immediate and flawed. Also, short and straight to the point. I felt like my attention span was narrowing by the minute. I wanted it to hit people in the face and have it be over before they got bored and put on Trap beats.
If you could be on any soundtrack, which one and why?
The nostalgic inside me would say ‘Jawbreaker’. The first time I saw that movie was a life changing moment for me as a kid. I remember the opening scene soundtracked by Veruca Salt. I was blown away. I waited and waited for it to come on TV again so I could record the song. I also taped the closing credits so I could track down all the music used in the movie. This was back in the days where you had to go to HMV to find a record. It took me months to find the CD. Finally, on a school trip to Canterbury, I sneaked away to the HMV and the soundtrack was there. The feeling was so unbelievably good. I was totally elated. I dunno if kids get that feeling anymore now music is so damn accessible.
Keeping Up With Miss World is set to drop on September 28, 2018 on PNKSLM Recordings.
