Her sophomore EP, HEADSPLIT, released last year, expanded her rock sound and incorporated hyperpop and gothic elements. Meanwhile, Lindemann’s latest release, second studio album i feel everything, finds the Texas-born musician documenting heartbreak while tapping back into her pop roots — on her own terms. She admits the shift felt like a big risk, but as our interview unfolds, she reveals it’s one that paid off.

It’s the tail end of November, and Lindemann is on the Principle set for an exclusive shoot. The 27-year-old has been in town for a couple of weeks already, where she has been having fun crafting what could eventually become material for a new era. But before she can open the door to another musical chapter, she knows she’s not quite finished with i feel everything. With a new year in full swing, Lindemann will hit the road for another world tour. She also teases the possibility of releasing unreleased material from the same sessions, though she remains unsure. What Lindemann does know, however, is that she’s thriving in a new headspace that is going to impact her professionally and personally. 

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You’re back in London. You’ve already been here a few weeks and visited many times before. What do you look forward to or what stands out to you when you come over?

I just love being able to walk places. I love the environment and the people. It’s just the vibe. I love my friends here, and the overall energy feels so different from LA.

Do you live in LA? It’s very different from London.

I do. I don’t like it. No, I don’t dislike it. I do love LA. I’ve just lived there for so long that I’m sick of it.

I hear that a lot.

It’s the same thing every day, which is fine, but also… I love being here because if you want to take a trip anywhere else in Europe, it’s so quick. In LA, even New York is six hours away. It’s insane. I think I just want to be somewhere where I can experience other things and not feel stuck in California.

You’re in town to promote your new album, i feel everything. How have you felt about the reception? When we last spoke, the album wasn’t out, but you were nervous.

I think the response has been really good. I’m really happy with it, and that’s what’s most important. I was really nervous, so I’m happy with how everyone’s received the album so far.

This album leans back into a more pop-leaning sound. Has the response influenced you to make more?

Maybe. I feel like I just do whatever I feel in the moment, but it did give me a bit of relief to know people still liked it.

Had you been thinking about returning to the genre for a while?

No. Not really. After the HEADSPLIT era I thought, “I’d be interested to try,” but it wasn’t something I was set on. I’m changing every day, but yeah, during that era I considered the idea.

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Do you think it’s because the music is easier to digest over the heavier stuff?

I think so. I love rock music, and I’m going to continue making alternative and rock. But with the rise of the pop girlies again, that’s been so inspiring. It’s not that I want to be like that, but certain things have inspired my music, and that’s the direction I’ve started going. And because “Pretty Girl” was the song that really blew up for me, people thought that was my thing. But when I started making rock music people were like, “You’re a poser,” which is funny, because it felt like “Pretty Girl” was my poser era.

You led this campaign with “one of the ones,” which features a bold visual of you with blue hair. What made you want to do that? Because you haven’t continued that look since.

Honestly, that was such a random decision. I wanted to do a wig, and blue just felt like the colour of this project. I have colours for all my albums, and this one was definitely blue. I wanted to set the tone that way. I did consider wearing the wig for the whole project, but it was way too much maintenance.

Did you want to avoid it feeling like a costume?

It didn’t feel like a character-driven album. This one was so personal, and I didn’t want there to be a disconnect.

The latest single, “2022,” features Julia Wolf. You were a big fan of her song “In Your Room,” which is why you wanted to collaborate. Is that correct?

Yes, that’s how I originally found her. I saw her promoting the song on TikTok and became obsessed. I can’t remember the last time I was that excited for someone to drop something. I kept waiting for her to announce the release date. I’d mention her in sessions and people were like, “She’s such a great writer, you should work with her.” Our first couple sessions were just writing, and then I asked her to be a feature. “In My Room” was already a thing, she was already having a moment with that.

What else are you currently listening to?

I’m listening to really random music right now like Massive Attack and Portishead. Oklou too, I love her. I say that in every interview; she’s probably sick of me. Those are my top listens right now.

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Do you listen to Björk?

I have. I used to listen to her a lot more. She’s one of those artists where every time I hear a song I’m like, “Who is this?” and then it’s her and I think, “Why don’t I listen to her more?” Björk is like that for me, kind of like The Beatles. Every time I hear a Beatles song I’m like, “Oh my God, this is amazing,” and then I forget to listen to them again.

She just collaborated with Rosalía, which everyone is obsessed with.

Oh my god, I love Rosalía’s new album. I’m obsessed. That song “Berghain” especially because I’m a freak about stuff like that. I love operas and musicals. I literally just went and saw Phantom of the Opera. I’m obsessed with operatic, big orchestral music, and obviously no one makes that in modern pop. When I heard that song I was like, “Holy shit, this is for me.”

Could you see yourself doing something similar?

No, I could not. Maybe I’d do something heavy with orchestra. I want to get really experimental, but… we’ll see.

I can see you doing an Evanescence/Within Temptation kind of vibe.

I’d consider something like that. “you hold my love” on my last project kind of went in that direction with big instruments and stacked melodies. I love that type of music.

When you were making this album, you said that you were in a dark place but it doesn’t sound as heavy as SUCKERPUNCH. It definitely has a lighter tone. After pouring your emotions into this album, do you feel completely healed? 

No, I don’t think I’m healed. I think I’m healing. This experience was so heavy on me. I’m definitely not healed, but I’m in a much better place now. Even the other month, when I put this project out, it was a day-by-day thing. I think there’s more to come, but in a different way. At first I felt completely broken and betrayed, and now it’s more like, “Wow… how could you do this?” My take on things will be different. And I’m writing about other things now. It’s not going to be another heartbroken album. Whatever I do next will be more fun, because I’m in a fun era, even while healing. I’m enjoying my life, writing about fun with my friends, and coming out to London. It’s really the first time I’ve not been in a relationship and actually enjoyed it. Usually when I’m single I miss FaceTiming or texting someone, even casually. I’m just now getting back into that, but it’s a totally different feeling. I don’t need it or even really want it; it just keeps happening.

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Is it weird writing songs about people and then putting them out and everyone knowing who you’re singing about?

It is scary because I don’t usually write about people directly. On all my projects, there was never a specific person in mind, except maybe on past stuff like PARANOIA, but even then the experience wasn’t clear enough for anyone to know. I’ve written about people, but in a dreamlike way, not literally. They wouldn’t know it was about them. But writing something where everyone, including that person, knows it’s about them is scary. These are just my feelings though. I’m not trying to get a reaction or hurt anyone. It’s just my truth.

You supported Sabrina Carpenter in 2019, who has since gone on to have a huge career. If your career was to have a similar trajectory, do you think you would be ready for it?

It’s insane. I think so. Maybe. At this age, yes. When it happened with “Pretty Girl,” definitely not. I wasn’t prepared. “Pretty Girl” was my third or fourth song ever. I’d never performed or done anything. I wasn’t ready, and it showed. I couldn’t continue on the trajectory. Now it’s different. I’m ready. And when you’re younger you don’t always realise how badly you want things. I was having so much fun living in LA, moving out, being independent, that sometimes work felt less important than fun. Now, all I want to do is work.

With “Pretty Girl,” it almost felt like everyone else’s expectations were bigger than yours initially were at the time.

Yeah, definitely. I was expected to do all this stuff I had never done. My first performance was at a festival in Norway with about 90,000 people in the crowd. That was my first time singing live, ever.

How did it go?

It was horrible. Fun, but horrible. I sounded terrible. I was so anxious, shaking, terrified. It was like telling a kid, “Okay, go do this.” Some people are born performers; I wasn’t. I love singing and writing, but I don’t have that natural stage flair. That’s something I had to develop. Now I’m at a place where I could handle it, but back then it was so scary.

It’s a good job the performance wasn’t during the TikTok era.

They would’ve destroyed me, and they did. People posted it everywhere talking about how bad I sounded, and they weren’t wrong. And early on, you are immediately labelled. People were saying, “Okay, she can’t sing.” Being from online, it looked like I was an industry plant or a social media girl trying to be a singer. It was just a bad performance, nothing more.

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You’re heading back out on tour this year. I know the live shows are something you take huge pride in. How are you feeling?

I’m so excited. By then it’ll have been three years since I toured. I’m ready. It’s my second tour. My first headlining tour was really scary, and I was depressed, so this one will be fun.

You have teased before that one day you will perform “Pretty Girl” again. Is that something you can see yourself including in this set?

No. I always said if I did Coachella or a huge festival I’d do it as a joke, but not seriously. I might do that. But no, I’m not there yet.

You previously told me that there were quite a few songs recorded for this album that didn’t make the cut. Can we expect to hear those at all?

I usually don’t move songs from one project into the next, but there are a couple I really loved. However, I don’t think I’m going to put out a deluxe anymore.

How are the songs sounding?

The ones I wanted were more electronic. There were two songs that were alternative electronic, not sad but playful and fun. A little mean, but fun.

Years ago, you made your acting debut in Machine Gun Kelly’s movie, Downfalls High. Are you hoping to do more?

Yes. I take acting classes. I love acting and would really love to do something in that world.

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What would be your dream role? I can see you in a horror movie.

I’d do a rom-com. I love horror, though I don’t know if I’d be great in horror. I love comedies. I really wanted to be in this new funny scary movie coming out. I want to do something like the show Overcompensating. Have you seen it?

I have not.

I’m obsessed with it. I want to do funny stuff that’s a little raunchy.

Could you see yourself in a play?

A play? Probably not. I like watching them, but I don’t think it’d be my thing. I’m not a big theatre kid, though I did theater a little when I was younger.

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