Swiss live artist Natascha Polké announces atmospheric EP Into You with single “Poison Of Choice” – Out Now
Full EP out April 5th on [PIAS] Électronique
Swiss live performer/singer/songwriter/producer Natascha Polké announces her second release on [PIAS] Électronique. The first track “Poison Of Choice” is out now with the full three track EP coming April 5th.
Zurich born and based Natascha Polké joined the roster of original, significant artists on the richly historic [PIAS] imprint with recent collab “Everything Is Yours” with Felix Raphael and Coiro. Polké’s creative and unusual mix of indie/folk-pop with her ever-evolving electronica, her residency at London’s Roundhouse and previous releases on the likes of This Never Happened, Anjunadeep and Stil vor Talent as well as live performances at Club Chinois Ibiza, Scorpios Mykonos, Hamburg’s MS Dockville and Amsterdam’s The Gardens of Babylon, have made her a world name since she rose so recently from the Swiss techno underground to harvest millions of Spotify streams.
“Poison Of Choice”: a decadent, melodic but subtly sinister track – ‘you’re my poison of choice’ – with Polké’s sweet voice backed by a soft beat with an extra kick, distorted synth/guitar notes and extended bass chords. ‘A roll of the dice, into fool’s paradise’ sounds like a place to be when Natascha sings it.
“A friend used the title phrase about a drink, and it felt like a great song, but flipped to be about a person,” Natascha says. “I hate writing cheesy love songs, but this just has just that spice of darkness. You choose it, you want it, though you know it’s bad for you. I love that bad twist on it that I think a lot of people can relate to.” There will be another single before the full EP drops on April 5th.
Natascha Polké “Poison Of Choice” is out now on [PIAS] Électronique. Get it here. Next single “Heavens Will Fall” drops March 8th ahead of full EP Into You out April 5th.
For more information about Natascha Polké, go to:
Spotify | SoundCloud | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
For all press & publicity, please contact lydia@lydialawspr.com.
When this single was released, I was captivated. Although her name was unfamiliar to me, the atmosphere it created was simply mesmerizing. Her songwriting is flawless, and the music seamlessly moves from one note to the next. I went down a rabbit hole and discovered songs like “Wildfire” and “Trojan Love” have not hundreds not thousands but millions of Spotify streams. Natascha made her debut in 2021, is showcasing her extensive indie/folk-pop background, and is transcending boundaries with every new release.
I reached out to Natascha to help her promote “Poison Of Choice” and her new EP Into You. The single is out now and the EP drops on April 5. This was a lovely exchange and Polké is an incredible human being. This was a lot of fun for me and I hope you enjoy our conversation. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Natascha Polké.
Diving deep and chasing highs
I follow you into the night
You recently announced a new EP titled Into You with the single “Poison Of Choice” out January 26. Tell me more about the single and are you planning to release anything else before the EP drops?
I’m really excited to share my full EP Into You in April!
“Poison Of Choice” was the first single and is a dreamy exploration of the fine line between pleasure and destruction. On March 8th, I am dropping another single, “Heavens Will Fall,” which brings a more upbeat, sunny energy to the EP.
Why did you decide to release this single first?
I felt it matched the January vibe—somewhat melancholic and bittersweet. The next single will carry a more lively tone to greet the spring season, while Into You is likely to be my personal favourite track from the EP, which is why I decided to save it for the final release.
The songwriting on this is amazing. What is your songwriting process? Do you sit down and write until something comes out, or do lyrics just come to you in your sleep?
Most ideas come to me either during conversations with friends or during improvising over my productions or a Moog Sub 37 bass line.
Over a year ago, while I was at a bar in Stuttgart with a friend, he referred to his preferred drink as his ‘poison of choice.’ That phrase immediately struck a chord with me, and I thought, “This should be a song.” Inspired, I transformed the concept into lyrics for “Poison Of Choice,” but I made it about a person rather than a beverage. I’m fascinated by the complex emotions this simple phrase captures. It speaks to an addiction, something likely harmful, yet there’s empowerment in consciously choosing it.
You are based in Zürich, Switzerland. I have some good friends in the Canton of Zürich. What is it like living there and where are some good places to see a show?
Between the ages of 15 and 24, I lived in various places because I always had the desire to leave Switzerland. But now, I can’t see myself living anywhere else. Zürich offers so much; I live merely five minutes away from both the lake and the forest, and yet, I’m just five minutes from the city centre. There’s constantly something happening, but my neighbourhood remains peaceful and quiet.
For fans of electronic music, Hive Club is the spot. If you’re looking for a more intimate concert vibe, I’d suggest checking out EXIL CLUB or Kaufleuten. And then there’s a very special event at Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. It’s usually known for classical music, but at the tonhalleLATE event, classical and electronic music collide. Orchestra members team up with electronic live artists to create something truly magical. It’s an incredible experience!
Tell me about Cut Me Loose, your album with Felix Raphael. How did you meet and what inspired this production?
Felix and I connected through Instagram. I was a huge fan of his tunes even before he reached out. Now, whenever I’m in Berlin or he’s in Switzerland, we catch up and jam together. He’s become a close friend of mine.
For Cut Me Loose, we teamed up in Berlin to work on the production, and improvised lyrics and melodies to match our creation. The core lines emerged from a single take of improvisation, and then we tailored the main lyrics to match the sound of it.
I love working with other artists that share the same musical language.
You did the lyrics on “Loose Lips” out now on Anjunadeep 14. What was it like working with Jody Wisternoff and James Grant on that remix? That is such a great song, by the way!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Actually, I wrote and produced the original track, and then Jody and James came in to do their remix magic on it. When I was creating the original, my goal was to infuse the entire production with a maritime feel, mirroring the lyrics. To achieve this, I arranged the vocals to mimic waves and incorporated a variety of sounds sourced from ships and the sea.
You are managed by Black Stellar Music. How did you find them and what sort of support do they offer?
Natalie, who handles my publishing, was someone I already knew. When I was on the lookout for a manager to help get things organized, she mentioned her interest in management and expressed a desire to manage me. She excels in areas where I tend to struggle. I thrive in the studio and on stage, but I’m not the best at responding to messages, turning down requests, or negotiating prices. Having Natalie as a team player who understands and respects my boundaries is incredibly valuable to me.
My wife and I were in Ibiza last summer. A lot of great nightclubs on the White Island. Tell me about your show at Club Chinois Ibiza.
My dad used to take me to Ibiza, and it has always been a dream of mine ever since to play there. Club Chinois is a really cool artsy club and the whole night was such a great vibe!
Which headphones are you wearing around your neck?
(Laughs.) I love your questions! In the studio, I use AKG K872 headphones. They are absolutely amazing. They were a gift from my friend Definition, who I have released a couple of songs with.
For DJing I am using the Sennheiser HD 25. But now I mainly play live and use in-ear monitoring.
You’ve been all over Europe recently playing Berlin, Hamburg, Prague… Leipzig. When are you coming to America? Are you planning a worldwide tour in the New Year?
I’m currently in the process of sorting out my visa, so I’m hopeful that I’ll be making my way over to America soon!
The plan is to embark on a major tour as soon as my album is complete. However, I’m aiming to visit the states even before the tour kicks off. Keeping my fingers crossed for the visa approval!
There are some great nightclubs in The Big Smoke. Tell me more about your residency at London’s Roundhouse.
Reflecting on my residency at London’s Roundhouse brings back extraordinary memories. As part of an ambient electro-pop duo, we were granted access to the Roundhouse studios, providing us a unique opportunity to work alongside seasoned sound designers and to grace the main concert hall with our performances. This experience was pivotal, not just in refining my craft in live electronic music performance—well before my foray into techno—but also in overcoming the daunting challenge of integrating laptops into our live performances.
One particularly nerve-wracking moment stands out: during my inaugural show at the Roundhouse, my entire system malfunctioned, crashing merely 10 minutes before I was due on stage. This incident, which nearly induced a panic attack, turned into a profound learning opportunity. It taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability, skills that have since become indispensable in my career.
I love your voice. It just puts me at ease and I could listen to you sing for hours! When you are not working on your own material, who are you listening to? Who inspires you and your music?
Thank you so much for your kind words about my voice! I’m truly flattered that it brings you comfort. When I’m not working on my own music, I find a lot of inspiration in listening to artists like London Grammar and Daughter, especially for their vocal prowess and lyrical depth. RYX also stands out as a significant influence on my work. As someone deeply involved in vocal coaching, I’m fascinated by the myriad tones and textures a voice can produce.
I’m also a big fan of HVOB’s earlier albums. The way they blend delicate vocals with strong, minimalist beats is something I absolutely adore. Their music has a unique way of resonating with me, influencing my own approach to creating music.
Why release an EP and not a full length album?
The main reason is time. My schedule has been packed with travel, playing shows, collaborations, and so much more. However, I’m currently in the process of working on an album. It’s a wonderful journey that’s giving me the chance to dive deeper into my creativity.
The video for “Neverland” is fantastic. Tell me more about that, where you shot that, and the inspiration behind that production.
I’m super glad you liked the “Neverland” video! It came to life thanks to a team of awesome creatives, all led by the amazing Anique Wild. Her genius in conceptualizing the vision, directing, and rallying the team was pivotal. Our aim was to encapsulate a neverland that’s not only dreamy and mystical but also carries an undercurrent of darkness, playing with contrasting emotions to stir the viewers’ thoughts and feelings deeply.
Filming, however, presented its own set of challenges. We shot on one of the coldest winter days in Switzerland, primarily within the confines of a stark warehouse. The scenes involving water were particularly tough, with the cold biting sharply as we filmed in a bathtub. And the scene with the plastic? It was a true test of endurance. These moments pushed the team and especially me to our limits, but also brought us closer together, fueling our creative fire even more.
It’s the genuine emotions experienced along the way, from the highs to the lows, that truly enrich the final piece.
Do you prefer performing at large festivals or engaging in smaller, intimate nightclub gigs?
Each setting has its own charm. Having spent many years playing in clubs, I’ve recently found myself gravitating more towards festivals, particularly the ones that let me perform in the daylight or, even better, at sunset. There’s something truly special about the atmosphere and energy of a festival audience that’s incomparable.
Besides releasing a new EP, what else do you have planned this year? I’m hoping for a tour, maybe a few more singles. We need more Natascha Polké in our earbuds!
Absolutely, this year has a lot in store beyond the new EP. I’m excited to share that there will be a few collaborative singles coming out. As mentioned I’m also deep into working on an album, so, fingers crossed, a tour might not be too far off. But in the meantime, I’ll be keeping busy with shows and festivals each week. I’m truly grateful for the chance to share my music with you all.
We’ve talked about a lot today. But what else? What are we missing here?
You’ve really covered a wide range of topics today, asking some fantastic questions along the way. I believe we’ve touched on quite a bit, so thank you so much for that!
Thanks for doing this. That was a lot of fun. In all of the interviews I do I always give the artist the last word. Go.
It’s been a pleasure discussing my music journey, highlighting this exciting path and the inspiring individuals I’ve encountered. I’m thankful for the lessons and the connections music has brought into my life. Cheers to the power of music to unite and inspire us.
