FEMME can be considered many things: an alluring fatale with pink hair, a nonchalant fashion icon with chandelier earrings, and a burgeoning popstress. But not in the contrived sense – her retro futurism aesthetic is authentic. It takes a cerebral mind to hark back to one of the most influential eras in music. “There’s a lot of charm in ’60s girl-groups that’s very inspiring. There’s something very human about it, it’s very accessible.”
Born Laura Bettinson, the singer, songwriter, producer and video director is probably out for world domination from her south London base, and rightfully so. She’s riding high (pun intended) on the coattails of her most recent single, ‘High’, which got an exclusive debut on Vogue’s website, and after closing her European shows she’s heading overseas to smash the US by opening for Charli XCX.
The thing that stands out most with Bettinson, though, is that she’s not afraid to be pop. She’ll indulge her fans with Andy Warhol-like music videos (‘Fever Boy’), and break out into a one-two step both on and off the stage.
“The previous shows [in the UK] were full of teenage girls who, I don’t know if they’ve been to previous shows, or they watched the videos online, but they were doing the dances!” It’s as though she’s adding blocks of bright colour to a rather dark musical climate. “I’m doing this for a laugh. I wake up every morning and I’m amazed that I can do what I love like this. You’ve gotta be able to laugh at yourself.”
For music purists, to be pop can allude, to some, to selling out, despite the fact that many of the world’s greatest, and most gifted music stalwarts were, in fact, pop: Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Debbie Harry, and Lady Gaga.
“Pop doesn’t have to be stupid. It is pop music that I make and it’s not absolutely mundane, stupid clickbait. I’d like to think it’s something that will be around a bit longer than that.”
– – –
– – –
WHERE: South London via Rugby
WHAT: Retro-futuristic pop princess
GET 3 SONGS: ‘Fever Boy’, ‘High’ (video above), ‘Educated’
FACT: She’s big on collaborating with fashion. Check her vintage-inspired designs with Fumbalinas and tees with Young Blood Apparel.
– – –
Words: Safra Ducraey
Photo: Ash Kingston
Fashion: Shirley Amartey
Buy Clash Magazine
Get Clash on your mobile, for free: iPhone / Android
