Q&A: Queen Quail Turns Self-Reflection into Art on Debut EP “Narcissus”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
Photo Credit: Celeste Call
A MIRROR AND A MAP — Indie pop/folk singer-songwriter Queen Quail makes a striking entrance with her debut EP Narcissus, a six-track exploration of self-discovery and the search for home. The project balances the intimacy of alternative country with the shimmering expansiveness of indie pop. Across Narcissus, Queen Quail’s music interlaces a delicate balance of dreamy instrumentals meeting plainspoken storytelling, creating space for introspection while retaining emotional immediacy.
Produced by David Thornton, mixed by Michael Kümper, and mastered by Huntley Miller, Narcissus is both a personal and sonic journey. Queen Quail’s emotive vocals ride over lush instrumentation, carrying listeners through narratives of reflection and transformation. The EP delves into heavier topics without losing its humanity, offering a candid portrayal of her experiences and evolving identity.
“Writing these songs was my way of trying to figure out who I was becoming, and how to use my own voice without losing myself,” Queen Quail says.
What began as obsessive, solitary writing sessions during a tumultuous relationship became a refuge and a framework for self-exploration. Drawing inspiration from Freud, Lacan, and broader philosophical inquiry, her lyrics wrestle with memory, love, and the subconscious, while occasionally reflecting on societal structures like capitalism.
“At its core, this record is both a mirror and a map, looking back at doubt and transformation, but also pointing toward what comes next,” Queen Quail says.
Narcissus is a remarkable introduction: a debut that doesn’t just announce a voice, but stakes out a perspective. Queen Quail turns personal excavation into art that resonates beyond the self, inviting listeners to confront their own questions of identity and transformation.
Photo Credit: Celeste Call
LUNA: Welcome back and thank you for talking to Luna again. It's super exciting to have you back since the last time we talked in the fall before your debut EP was released. I would love to catch up and see how life has been treating you and what have you been up to since the last time we talked.
QUEEN QUAIL: Thank you for having me again!
LUNA: Now that Narcissus has been out in the world for over a month, how have listeners been responding to the EP? Have any particular reactions, conversations, or unexpected moments stayed with you?
QUEEN QUAIL: It’s been so well received. My hometown, Milwaukee, has really embraced it. I played a release show last Sunday in Milwaukee and was so moved by the people who came to support. The radio station there I grew up listening to has been playing Southside, so I’ve been getting messages from people saying they heard it on the radio. Feels very full circle.
LUNA: What sparked the initial idea for Narcissus? What themes or feelings felt most urgent for you to explore, and how did those priorities evolve as the songs began to take shape?
QUEEN QUAIL: Narcissus marks a period of my life filled with self doubt and questioning. The EP tells this story of moving away from obsessive self questioning to embracing a sense of quiet self assuredness.
LUNA: Working with David Thornton must have been such a formative experience. What was it like collaborating with him, and how did he help you unlock the truest version of your sound?
QUEEN QUAIL: David gave me such an avenue to hear my own voice and build a sonic world for Queen Quail. He helped me take these quiet, introspective songs and color them with this folky pop production, a process that was so empowering. He’s the best.
LUNA: In our previous interview, you said the story of Narcissus has always fascinated you and the EP explores how you moved beyond being consumed by self-questioning. How did you grow from that? Do you feel like you found the answer you were looking for through working on this EP?
QUEEN QUAIL: Making the EP was such a period of growth and integration. It connected me to some key people in my life, old and new. If anything, it helped me embrace uncertainty and be more ok sitting with unanswered questions.
LUNA: Do you have a personal favorite song on the album — one that feels closest to your heart or most revealing who Queen Quail is right now?
QUEEN QUAIL: “Grace.” “Grace” was the last song I wrote for the EP, which is sort of funny, starting the EP with the ending. But it's a song that opens up a path into the future for me.
LUNA: What inspires you to push boundaries within your sound? Are there any specific experiences, artists, or moments that have encouraged you to explore new musical territories?
QUEEN QUAIL: I feel like I’ve had such a diversity of life experiences at this point, taken in so much art, culture, literature and people. I would like to think that, somehow, that diversity of experience shows up pretty organically in the music. I’ve been thinking recently that, if I ever have kids, I have some pretty good mom lore.
LUNA: How do you hope listeners — especially your femme audience — can connect with or find power in this new era of music from you? What emotions or messages do you want to leave with them?
QUEEN QUAIL: I have this feeling that my music really is for a femme audience. It's an EP about self possession. I think that’s an especially important concept for a femme audience. But, mostly, I hope listeners find whatever they need in the music.
LUNA: How did you celebrate the EP release?
QUEEN QUAIL: I feel like it's been weeks of celebration. My friend Doug helped me put on a little living room show in Berlin for everyone I’ve felt supported by while making the EP. It was so sweet and intimate. I greeted everyone at the door with Glühwein. I just played an official release show in Milwaukee, and will play the official Berlin release show in February 2026.
LUNA: What is fueling your fire right now that’s pushing you into this new chapter in your career?
QUEEN QUAIL: I feel like Narcissus is just the start. So 2026 is looking pretty exciting. I’ll be touring for the first time and will continue working on my first full length album. So much to look forward to.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
QUEEN QUAIL: I am feeling relieved and so excited about what it is to come. The rest of the year will be about resting, reading books, hanging out with my family, and enjoying Lake Michigan, before heading back to Berlin to kick off the new year and get started on the next steps for Queen Quail.
Photo Credit: Celeste Call
