Irish alt-pop artist April has been booked and busy. She just released her third EP, When It Comes to You, and will kick off a UK tour this spring. Now London-based, the 22-year-old explores and displays her emotions through vibrant pop hooks and intimate vocals. We don’t only hear what she has to say, but we also experience it through her music’s captivating melodies and sounds. From self-released SoundCloud tracks to signing to Atlantic Records UK last year, she’s making songs that can feel both heartbreaking and nostalgic, yet warm and uplifting at the same time.
We interviewed April regarding the themes on her newest EP, growing up in Kildare, Ireland, her favorite lyrics, and how tour life has treated her. Read our conversation below.
Slumber: You grew up in Kildare, Ireland — how have you found the music community there? Are there any other local musicians that you love?
April: Growing up in the Kildare was funny because there was not a music scene that I knew of, I don’t know any local musicians truly. As I started to really enter the music scene in 2018 the overall Irish support was amazing from artists in Dublin and stuff like Kojaque.
Slumber: I first was introduced to your music when you opened for Alec Benjamin in Paris in late 2019. Back then, your songs were only available on SoundCloud, but today, you’ve made quite a few steps and just released your 3rd EP When It Comes to You last month. If you could give any advice to a younger April, what would you say?
April: I would tell younger me to keep doing exactly what she’s doing & go even harder. I’d tell her to not doubt herself and think she’s not cut out for music, I have to tell myself these things now as well.
“It’s the best feeling ever and always makes me super emotional when people actually tell me if my music touches them...if it helps them feel something they relate to. It’s really special and magic.”
Slumber: What would you say was the most fun song you’ve created thus far, maybe sonically-speaking or just in regard to the production process?
April: I would say “Hotel” is my favourite song I’ve made that’s out, I’ve started experimenting a lot more and trying more fun stuff, and working with producers has made the music so much fun sonically.
Slumber: What’s the ideal landscape or environment to listen through When It Comes To You in its entirety?
April: In bed with headphones [on] full blast!
Slumber: One of the tracks on When It Comes to You is named ‘Piece of Me’. This mirrors the lyrics of ‘Would you let me in’ from your EP Luna, where you sing “I’ve been looking for a piece of me, a piece that I’ve been seeing in you”. How do you view this recurring imagery through your work?
April: I like to repeat words and sayings throughout songs and also sometimes subconsciously do it when writing lyrics, the whole “Piece of Me” image is pretty strong for me because I do believe every time I’m in love with someone or even friendships, you give that person a part of you and sometimes you can’t get it back & also you can meet someone and see pieces of you in them on first meetings, etc.
Slumber: Could you tell us about one of your all-time favorite lyrics? Who’s the artist, what’s the song, and why do you like it?
April: All of the lyrics in ‘Chewing Cotton Wool’ by the Japanese House. Such strong imagery and the first time I heard it hit me in the heart & every time I listen to it years later it does the same.
Slumber: You’ve been opening for Matilda Mann, and you have your own shows coming up soon. Congrats! What’s the one thing that’s exactly like how you imagined touring life would be like and one thing that’s completely different than you expected?
April: One thing that’s exactly the same as how I imagined is how tired I am all the time hahahaha, I’m tired 24/7 anyway but touring on top of that is pretty painful. I can’t think of anything that’s too different, to be honest, I haven’t been on any crazy tours yet.
Slumber: Do you have any rituals before going on stage? If so, what are they and what’s the motivation behind them?
April: I have no rituals before stage yet except for freak out and get really anxious for an hour, and argue with everyone cuz I get stressed out : )
Slumber: Imagine you’re on a 6-hour road trip and you can only listen to one album. Which one do you choose?
April: ASMR ambient relaxing soft sounds
Slumber: I remember being struck by your song ‘The impossible Task of Feeling Complete’, both because of the emotion you put into the performance and because of how the lyrics resonated with what I was personally going through.
How does it feel as an artist to know your music connects with people? To give them a piece of you and let them enjoy or not, relate to or not?
April: It’s the best feeling ever and always makes me super emotional when people actually tell me if my music touches them / if it helps them feel something they relate to. It’s really special and magic.
“I would tell younger me to keep doing exactly what she’s doing & go even harder. I’d tell her to not doubt herself and think she’s not cut out for music”
Slumber: Lastly, what’s something outside of making music that’s been exciting you or inspiring you recently?
Whether that be a new hobby, interest, activity…whatever you’ve found happiness in lately.
April: I’ve been really busy for the last while in LA for the last 3 weeks so I’ve been meeting people and hanging out and making music mostly so I haven’t had time to even watch a movie or make some art but before I was here and I was home in London, making little movies on iMovie & painting was my solace.
Listen and order April’s new EP When It Comes to You out now via Atlantic Records UK
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