Cityscape caught up with local songstress Theia to talk inspiration, her upcoming EP Not Your Princess and working with Mike Elizondo.

We’re loving your track ‘Not Your Princess’. What was the inspo behind that? It’s a sassy song – a declaration of independence. It came about when I was in Sydney late last year and feeling really inspired from working with new people. After a pretty full on and challenging year, it was just really liberating to feel that sense of freedom.

You wrote ‘Bye Bye’ with the legendary Mike Elizondo (whose résumé includes working with the likes of Eminem and Dr Dre), and other top-notch musos – what was that experience like and did you have any fan girl moments? Mike is the kindest guy and so talented. I loved working with him. We just got stuck in and wrote ‘Bye Bye’ in a day. A few months later, I was in LA and he invited me to his studio, which was once the studio where The Jacksons recorded and what was then Death Row Records. I suppose I had a fan girl moment when we were in the studio soaking in all the history and looking at all of Mike’s gold records on the walls.

You’ve opened for BROODS and Sia, who else would you love to open for? Oh my gosh. There are so many amazing artists I’d love to open for. St Vincent, Brooke Candy, King Princess, Charli XCX … the list goes on.

Where has been your favourite city to perform? I played a show in LA once, at a venue on the Sunset Strip, and that was pretty special because I love LA and it’s always been my dream to live there, which I still intend to do. I was rehearsing for the show and I met the members of The Cult, who were rehearsing in an adjoining room. Then at soundcheck, the Foo Fighters were recording next door! So damn cool!

A Christchurch native, where is your go-to place for delicious noms and a night out? There’s been a lot of changes to the city since I lived in Christchurch but a favourite of mine that never changes is Ancestral on Riccarton Road. I try to eat there everytime I go back and I’ve eaten there since my teens.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what would you love to be doing? I’d love to work with animals or in fashion for sure.

You have a rad and unique fashion style, are there any designers who inspire that? I love putting pieces together and most of my wardrobe is sourced from eBay. I’m into vintage band tees, Acne, GCDS, Miss Crabb, Gucci and Unif.

A genie grants you three wishes…what are they? To live in LA. To work with the best in the business. Enduring happiness and love.

From the four tunes you’ve released off your second EP NOT YOUR PRINCESS, what else can we expect? Any tours on the cards? I’ve got lots of exciting things to reveal to fans in the lead up to the release of the EP. I am planning some live shows, so will have more info on that too. I’m also already working on new material, so you can expect more music! 

Describe NOT YOUR PRINCESS in three words. Sassy. Powerful. Bad-ass.

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