Thit Lin
Danish artist Thit Lin has just released her brand new single “Drama Queen”.
The refreshing production is the first thing that caught my attention, as well as her soulful and magical vocals. I also noticed the brilliant harmonies that make the song stand out. Although the record is not a happy song in the first place, listening to it will make you feel good.
“Drama Queen” is a must listen. It is the second single off her new EP This Is Take One, out now.
Photo credit: Daniel Willis Photography
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hey there! I’m Thit Lin, singer/songwriter from Aarhus, Denmark and now based in Berlin. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; I think I was only 4 or 5 years old when I wrote my very first song on my dad’s guitar. I then taught myself to play piano by ear and actually initially thought I wanted to become a pianist!
However, eventually, I discovered that I was more drawn to singing, and later on songwriting as well. I’ve done many different collaborations over the years but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago I decided I wanted to go all in on creating and sharing my own songs with the world for the first time. It feels very fulfilling to finally have taken the first step on that journey now!
"Drama Queen" is your new single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
‘Drama Queen’ is about trying to stay sane in a toxic friendship. You know the ones- expectations of one another don’t add up and you feel like you are walking on eggshells all the time - and if you try to remedy the situation, the other person gaslights you by calling you ‘dramatic’ instead of admitting to their own faults. Writing ‘Drama Queen’ helped me to release and reframe some of the emotions I was still holding onto from those situations.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? What inspired the production?
‘Drama Queen’ was the first song I wrote for my forthcoming EP, ‘This is Take One’, and the first one to get properly produced. I initially produced a basic demo myself to better convey my vision to my producers, and we then used that as a base to craft the sound into what it sounds like today. In many ways, the song became what defined the overall sound and direction of the EP. My mission was to find my own sound between the pure, mainstream pop and the more dreamy/indie/shoe gaze synth pop. I wanted the song to feel a bit dramatic and unpredictable too with the different shifts in the song and the abrupt ending.
What did you feel when recording this song?
I felt empowered - and a bit cheeky! Feelings that I hope people will share with me when they hear the song. It was such a fun song to record, I love how all the synth and harp details in the production play together with my vocals.
What's your favorite lyric on "Drama Queen"?
I really like the first line “It’s like I miss a cue, you change your mind out of the blue”. For me, that captures the feeling of never knowing which version you’re getting of the other person, and not knowing if and which of your actions that may trigger a shift in the dynamic.
What made you want to release "Drama Queen" as a single?
I decided I wanted to drop my EP in phases, as each song represents a different phase of my life. I felt like they all deserved a separate momentum. ‘Drama Queen’ is the second single I’m releasing and sort of works like the “glue” that binds my first single ‘In Love With A Stranger’ together with my last song on the EP, which is way more dreamy and nostalgic.
What can you tell us about your new EP?
It’s called ‘This Is Take One’ and is, as mentioned, a collection of soundtracks to different phases of my life - because life sometimes feels like a movie, which I enjoy studying ironically through my songs. Therefore, it’s three rather different songs, all moving within the same soundscape of dreamy indie pop. The overall phases or themes of the EP are online love, toxic friendships and imagination in isolation.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think it’s exciting how accessible it has become to put your music out there, but at the same time it’s also very complex and tough! It’s especially challenging to navigate the industry as an upcoming, solo, independent artist like myself. There’s just so much to do and to learn, and you really only have yourself to rely on in the end. Combined with with the inevitable judgements you’ll receive down to every little detail of what you do, I’m learning now on my own body that the music industry is definitely not for the fainthearted. But I’m also learning that I’m here to stay!
If I could change one thing, I’d add some better terms for songwriters and some more clear communication. It feels a bit like everyone’s fighting to keep their own head above water and the efforts you put into something can easily feel taken for granted.
You are originally from Denmark and now based in Berlin. As an artist, how's it like to live in a city like Berlin?
It’s absolutely amazing. In Berlin I feel like I can be 100% myself without any judgements. It’s such a vibrant city and I find a lot of inspiration here. There’s just so much life, openness and joy, but at the same time you’re also exposed to some hard realities and rough lifestyles that keeps it very real. With all the cultural events and expressionate people here I think as an artist it’s the perfect playground for creativity.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
Beach House - Myth
Fleetwood Mac - Everything
Kali Uchis - telepatía
Post Malone - Circles
Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence War On Drugs - Pain
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better London Grammar - Hey Now
I’ve also made an artist’s playlist called ‘Soundtracks to my life’ on Spotify where you can find even more inspirations :)
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
If we all cared a bit more about the Earth and each other. And if it wasn’t a trend to spread unfiltered and nonconstructive judgements about other people. Let’s be kinder and focus more on how we can be better without it being on others expense. I hope we can find the strength to empower ourselves from within and abandon the idea of life being a zero sum game.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Phew, that’s a tough question. It’s an ongoing journey but I keep getting better at practising what I preach, and be clearer about my boundaries and intentions. To me, clear communication is everything!
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