Poppy Jean Crawford’s sound is anything but ordinary. With influences as varied as Portishead, Blondie, and Massive Attack, she has crafted a unique musical identity that fuses raw, underground grit with the catchiness of pop hooks. Her latest project, The Takeover, produced by James Dring, marks a bold new chapter in her journey. In this interview, Poppy shares how London’s gothic scene, her passion for visual self-expression, and unforgettable tours with bands like Starcrawler have shaped her path. Dive into her reflections on creative freedom, collaborative magic, and the unconventional allure that defines her artistry.
Recording The Takeover was a truly amazing experience! Before the start of recording, I was a bit lost; it was post-pandemic, and I wasn't sure what direction to take. One day, I got a call from Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) about working with James Dringe… I was over the moon when I got the news that I’d be flown to London to work with this phenomenal producer. Of course, being in a new country for the first time in my life inspired me! I was on cloud nine. The second I met James, I knew we’d get on well. It was very important for me to make every moment count, and we sure did! I’d be playing James AM gold classics back-to-back with Massive Attack and Katy Perry / Televison. Overall, it was just a lot of fun, trust, and MAGIC!
I’ve always been drawn to counterculture and the underground. I suppose if you’ve always felt a bit out of place, you’re drawn to the out-of-place! Going from city to city and country to country has shown me more than ever how much music and art shape a scene and culture. I would say since moving to London, I’ve been more drawn to and inspired by goth culture as a whole. Everything from my coffin guitar case or my dyed jet-black hair and white face powder.
I guess that’s just what comes naturally to me. I’m Influenced by so many different kinds of artists and genres that it’s hard to just pick one lane and stick to it. I love the sounds and textures of underground rock. The noise, the rawness, and the feeling. On the other hand, I love the accessibility of pop music. The hooks and the anthems. I guess you can say I blend the two.
I look at myself as a sort of canvas. I’m constantly playing with my look and style. I’ve had a new hair color every other month since I was ten or maybe younger. I do admire that in goth culture as well. How it starts with oneself. Making yourself the art and reflecting to the world with your makeup and style who you are / what you believe in.
I am honored that someone so special believes in me and wants to help share my music with the world. When you work with other artists, they don’t want to hinder your creative expression. I’m mostly anxious and excited to see what comes about from this release. Angel heard a demo I did years ago with metal producer Ross Robinson and fell in love with it. I never thought I’d release Glamorous… So now that it’s coming out, I’m curious to see how people respond. It’s much heavier than my previous releases.
Those were two incredible experiences for me… They were my first two tours! Both of those 100% taught me how to be a better performer. Like going to rock’n’roll college. Arrow, the singer of Starcrawler, is one of the most amazing performers. She’s so commanding and knows how to move… I might’ve written a couple down in my book.
What I meant by being accidentally good is that I never set out to be a guitarist shredding on stage. I mostly just picked up the guitar so I could write songs. Then I started taking guitar lessons from my friend Guy Blakeslee that I learned the beauty of lead guitar. He taught me how fun it was to loop and noodle <3
My first stomping ground was The Smell, an iconic underground all-ages venue. I used to volunteer there. I loved it so much… I did everything from making coffee to learning sound and DJing vinyl. I was around 14, and it taught me everything I needed to know. Sometimes, though, I felt a little stuck in the scene. When you’re learning everything all at once, you tend to fuck up a lot… And I felt, in ways, it stopped me from growing. I’ve experienced a beautiful transformation since I’ve started spending more time in places like London. Free to grow and be a new person.
I’m drawn to those particular artists because they are cool, sexy, rock’n’roll bitches. They are tough and feminine and write catchy tunes, just like me.
Glamorous is about the facade of the rich and famous and how out of touch one can become while surrounded by all the glamour. One inspiration was Sharon Tate. I picture her walking around the pool, completely unaware of the fate that she inevitably met. On what my fans can expect… I HAVE NO IDEA!!!! I suppose that’s the fun of it.
