On your recent single ‘Tequila (To Kill a Single Girl)’, you talk about your relationship with tequila and alcohol – what led you to quit?
Tequila was a problem, there were so many regrets in the morning. There’s nothing worse than apologising for something you don’t remember, and on top of that, really hurting someone. So I was just tired – I have no problem with telling the truth, but tequila just gave the truth unnecessary thorns. I decided I needed to be in control, so I dropped tequila and I was like: “I can remember everything now, and I can stand by what I said.”
Of course, sex positivity is a big part of your music – on the first two songs of your album you sing about your booty. Why is it so important to you?
I’m just writing a love letter to my favourite body part – my ass – because it’s been with me through thick and thin and it helps me shake the world, and at the same time, liberate it.
2024 was a turbulent year, with Donald Trump being re-elected as US president and the far right riding a crest across the world. Are you fearful of what the future holds for women’s rights?
It’s crazy. The last song on my album, ‘I Was The Biggest Curse’, is actually talking about my sacrifices and having the choice to terminate [my pregnancy]. I terminated four times. For my kids, I’m pushing and making sure that I get a home for them, but still following my dream and not forgetting the dream. So the song is all about the sacrifices that are part of it. I don’t know where I would be if I had the other four – I don’t know, I’m a fighter, but it would have been a different route. I can’t even imagine when people don’t have choices – at this point, women are still going to the back room [to get an abortion]. Abortion being legal protects women, because there are so many different reasons why people can’t have children and don’t want children at any point in time.
The black market will always exist, so this puts women in more danger – making abortion illegal is like saying: “Tell us you hate us without telling us you hate us.” Because you can’t really force us to have kids, you know? We should have a choice. There’s going to be a lot of problems when it comes to women’s fertility. Women will be shunned, they will go to the back rooms, or now have a family, or they can’t have babies – who is the problem? You. So I don’t know why men are making decisions that are not great for women. You’re literally stepping on your own pussy. It’s worse in America – dreams, whatever, it’s more like a nightmare when it comes to things like that. Women aren’t protected.
