Q&A: Cherrie B Isn’t Toning Anything Down in New EP ‘Follow My Lead’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
LONDON-BASED ARTIST CHERRIE B BLOSSOMS IN HER SOPHOMORE EP FOLLOW MY LEAD, OUT NOW—marking an exciting new chapter in her glittering world of pop electronica. Cherrie B continues to carve out a space entirely her own, a space where music, fashion and nightlife collide. From her signature hot pink hair to her expressive Y2K wardrobe, there’s no doubt that her visual identity is just as bold and expressive as her sound.
With songs that solidify her confidence and dominance within the electronic music scene, Cherrie B refuses to mute her style and sound for anyone. In her latest EP, she reinforces the idea of self-indulgence and putting yourself first. Her sound is as commanding as its title suggests, pairing hypnotic electronic production with an attitude that refuses to be overlooked. For Cherrie B, her music serves as positive affirmations, a blatant reminder to listeners to not be afraid to take up space and indulge in the person they’re becoming.
But don’t be fooled—Beneath the seven-track EP’s exterior lies a more introspective side. Through introspective lyrics backdropped against an electroclash production in songs like “Reciprocity & Respect,” Cherrie B reflects on her relationships and their functionality, offering a different listening experience for the casual listener versus the person who just wants to dance.
Each song feels like its own runway, and Cherrie B is unapologetically the only one on that stage.
The Luna Collective sat down with Cherrie B to discuss her new EP, what she’s been listening to lately, her take on being perceived, and more. Read the full interview below.
LUNA: I discovered you very recently from your single “little Miss Karma.” For other people who may be discovering you for the first time, how would you like to introduce yourself? How would you describe your music?
CHERRIE B: I’d describe myself as playful, feminine and self-assured.
A lot of my songs are about knowing and asserting yourself. They’re about relishing the parts of yourself that you might have been told to tone down—being selfish, bratty, dominant, even a little villainous sometimes. But there’s always a sense of poise to it. I like glamour and elegance alongside the attitude. I see a lot of my songs almost as positive affirmations.
LUNA: What songs are on your rotation right now?
CHERRIE B: “22” and “Idole” by Cannelle, “Jealous” and “Meet Me in the Back” by Public Appeal, “BYE #BYE” and “WAKE UP NEXT TO EACH OTHER” by Babyxsosa, “Diva” by PlaqueBoyMax. I’m obsessed.
LUNA: Your new single “Reciprocity and Respect” is out now. Can you walk us through the creative process of this track?
CHERRIE B: I made the original demo at home and immediately loved it. It’s still one of my favourite songs I’ve produced, especially structurally. The lyrical concept came really naturally because it was genuinely where my head was at at the time.
I was thinking about relationships—what has worked for me, what hadn’t and what I actually wanted going forward. When I stripped it all down, I realised my requirements were quite simple in that I wanted reciprocity and respect.
fUnlistenable took the demo to another level, and I finished writing the song with him. All in all, the song is really me talking my shit and demanding what I genuinely want from the heart.
LUNA: I also loved the music video for it! What was on your mood board going into making the video?
CHERRIE B: There’s something about the song that takes me back to a very specific time and feeling. Early morning, the sun coming up, slightly crisp air, wired earphones. Visually, the closest reference I could find for that feeling was a certain era of Tumblr with faded black/low contrast filters and muted colours.
I had things like Ellie Goulding’s “Under the Sheets” and Example’s Kickstarts” on the moodboard. I basically wanted authentic flower crown era Tumblr imagery, and then filtered that through me and my current visual world.
LUNA: I love your Spotify bio. “I’m whatever you think I am. and I can be whatever you need me to be.” How are you feeling right now? What are you feeling like right now?
CHERRIE B: Right now, I think I feel quite at peace with being perceived.
That bio came from accepting that people are always going to have their own interpretation of me. If you need me to be the villain, I can be that. If you see me as somebody who gives you hope, I can be that too.
Whatever you see in me probably says something about the story you’re creating for yourself, and I don’t really feel the need to interfere with that anymore. This is my version of being mysterious. You can read me however you want to read me.
LUNA: Your new EP is set to come out October 16. When/how do you know certain songs make up an EP and not singles?
CHERRIE B: I think there’s a point where the songs start to feel like they belong to each other. There’s definitely sonic cohesion with Follow My Lead, but it’s also more than that. The project has themes and almost little chapters running through it.
A lot of these songs come from experiencing different situations, figuring out how I wanted to handle them, and then documenting how I handle it through the music. That’s actually part of why Follow My Lead felt like the right title.
Individually they’re songs about different things, but together they almost become a form of guidance. Once I was able to see the common thread, I knew they were a project rather than just singles.
LUNA: What are some of the boldest ways you’ve been able to express yourself through music?
CHERRIE B: I think the boldest thing has been allowing myself to access parts of my personality that I might tone down in everyday life. My music is incredibly self-assured. When I’m writing, I can draw from this place inside myself that’s selfish, dominant, bratty, confident—all the things that I might otherwise soften.
The funny thing is, the more I make these songs, the more I start becoming that version of myself outside of the music too. It’s not like I’ve invented a character who has qualities I don't have. I get to access that version of myself that lives deeper beneath the surface, record her and essentially make her the standard. Then I hear her over and over again, and it reaffirms who I want to be, unapologetically. So honestly, putting that version of myself into the world at all feels pretty bold.
LUNA: Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?
CHERRIE B: I’m so so excited for people to hear Follow My Lead in full! It feels like a very honest snapshot of where I am and who I’m becoming right now. It’s so much fun—I feel like listeners will really enjoy it, and I want everyone to have a good time. I’ve learned so much through making and releasing it, and can’t wait to create more.
