K.Flay

Name, where are you from?
Kristine Flaherty, but I go by K.Flay for music. I’m originally from outside of Chicago.

Describe your style in three words?
Right now: purple, elementary school, cute.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The best gig I’ve ever been to was a Liz Phair show in 2008. she played 'Exile in Guyville' - one of my favourite records of all time - from start to finish at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Everyone in the crowd was either twenty at the time or had been twenty when the album originally came out, so there was this cool mix of generations, all singing along to everything.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Oh wow. I'd say Queen. And Madonna in the '90s.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Well, first was West Coast indie rap. That’s pretty much exclusively what I was listening to when I started making music. After that, all types of subcultures - indie rock, punk, weird 909 electronic music. Especially recently I love listening to music that I have NO IDEA how to make. It feels like being on a new and exciting planet.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I vacillate between Barack Obama and JK Rowling. They are two of my favourite human beings and I think I’d just like to talk to them about strategies for getting up every day and living and doing the things you love well.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I mentioned it earlier, but the Fillmore in San Francisco. That’s the city where I started making music, and that venue is super iconic in terms of the city’s cultural history. On my last tour, I sold it out, which was a crazy full circle moment for me and my parents got to be there. It was really nice :)

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Kate Tempest. She’s not as well known here in the US and I just think she’s incredible. I feel like everyone should know everything she’s ever written.