Words by Erin Daly
Last week, ASBO Magazine spoke with Sheffield-born music artist Precious Pepala ahead of the release of her EP, Dark Days, on May 2nd. At just 20 years old, Precious has already captured the attention of thousands, with just over 200k listeners on Spotify, features on BBC Radio 1 and social media recognition from big names, such as SZA. Her music bridges the gap between the pop and alternative genres; her overall aesthetic reminiscent of 90s pop icons Destiny’s Child and Aaliyah. Precious describes her discography as ‘dramatic, cinematic and grand’ and I couldn’t agree more. Her most-streamed track, ‘Pls Cheat On Me’, is the epitome of that with its thrashing drums and prominent bass notes. Even the slower of her songs are riddled with punchy bridges and expel a rollercoaster of emotions. Her latest single ‘First Love’ particularly stands out in the emotion department, exploring feelings of love, grief, guilt and jealousy, written from the perspective of a child finding out they’re not their parents’ firstborn. However, in pursuit of being universally relatable, it has a somewhat misleading, duplicious nature and could easily fit into a textbook romantic relationships’ narrative. The track was co-written with Eg White (best known for his work with superstar Adele). Working with White was an overwhelming prospect at first, but nerves aside, Precious threw herself into the track’s production. From recording the track’s vocals spontaneously, to getting to work in White’s incredible studio, she soon learnt of the comforting environment creatives strive for; united by their goal to make good music. ‘First Love’ follows the release of January’s ‘Lullaby’, a song dedicated to introverts and is a raw reflection of Precious’ introverted traits.
Despite the chaotic nature of the music industry, Precious holds onto her love for solitude and peace by taking it slow, setting boundaries and finding people who bring her comfort – something she learnt the value of coming out of the early stages of her career. Speaking of which, hasn’t always taken the straightforward route either. From starting her journey in a school band, to being thrown into label life, to now working as an independent artist, Precious has learnt a lot, but mostly to trust your gut and not be influenced by outside noise. Being in her own space was something she prioritised during her recent support tour with Victor Ray. Her pre-show rituals entailed working with her vocal coach, staying relaxed, practising affirmations and of course, drinking plenty of water! The tour was a great learning exercise for Precious, taking inspiration from Ray’s stage presence and discography, but also fostering friendships along the way. She’s been listening to his song ‘Hearts Break and People Change’ on repeat since, and would love to open for him again one day. It’s not just Ray from whom she takes inspiration, either. Beyonce’s name popped up a lot in our conversation, as well as the likes of Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey and Sheffield rockstars the Arctic Monkeys. Plus, Precious has recently become a big Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd listener, seeking out those big names who were ahead of their time in music.
For Precious, music is an avenue of vulnerability. Growing up, it helped her frame difficult conversations around religion and queerness, and gave her a space to heal. The upcoming EP, Dark Days, is centred around those conversations and feelings. And, despite how some artists have trouble digesting the ‘your music saved my life’ statement, Precious doesn’t. She finds it hard to comprehend that fans connect so deeply with her lyrics, but is honoured by the notion. Though she writes for herself, knowing her music provides an outlet of support to others motivates her to keep making music. Whilst the EP incorporates some raw emotions, she describes how recording its music was effortless, easy, and the DIY approach they took – including recording vocals in a villa in Tenerife – made the whole process fun. Precious is particularly excited for fans to hear its title track ‘Dark Days’. Despite some tiny pet peeves, like crowbarring lyrics, which perhaps don’t fit, into melodies, Precious has an incredibly positive and mature outlook on making music, and I’m certain that will take her places. It is clear she loves getting her hands stuck into the music business, ensuring her brand is an honest perception of herself and aligns closely with her vision. Precious has already experienced several ‘pinch me’ moments, such as singles clocking up over a million streams and Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes sharing her gig poster, but is in no way complacent. She’s driven; hoping to conquer the live music space with sold-out shows across the UK and, perhaps, even pay a visit to her US fans one day. Precious Pepala’s EP, Dark Days, is out now and available to listen to here.
