Words by Michelle Freya.

Michelle Freya: How would you describe the intention behind your own art.

Artemis Premier: The intention is to encapsulate my own feelings or a memory and then recraft it, so others have the chance to feel it in their way, too. It's a need to express myself. Like music-wise, it's usually a need to release and express some kind of powerful emotion. Up for interpretation but also mine to keep.

As an artist, I generally think intention can be hard to fully realize because sometimes I don't even know my intention behind a music video idea or a colour combination. But once I've made it, and I'm looking at it, that's when I see the reasons. Like pink and red. That combo started as just a fun thing, but now I see it as more of an artistic trademark of mine.

MF: What role does the essence of silliness play in your songs.

AP: Humour is such a big part of my life that even with songs like ‘Try Me’ having sad themes, at the end of the day, you just can't take yourself too seriously. Taking yourself too seriously is tied real tightly to the ego. I try to see being so down about something as amusing at times cause it's often like a visceral experience, and overdramatizing it is some sort of coping mechanism. I remember reading some quote about how your ego will make things really serious. And that's your ego trying to keep you in a box, and it'll make you afraid of things that don't have that much consequence seem super serious. In actuality, a lot of it isn't that serious, so I'm just trying to be more playful.

MF: How would you like for listeners to receive your latest single Try Me.

AP: I hope it's something people can vibe in their bedrooms to, get ready to. I want it to be relatable, and I want the video to feel silly and sexy. At the same time.

 MF: What inspired this track. Where were you in your life when it came to the mind's eye.

AP: I started writing it at 21. I'm 25 now. I had just started dating a lot more at that time in my life, going on dates, got tinder, and meeting people all the time. Sometimes when you're dating, you know, it feels like humans are just so fickle. We want what we can't have, the people who want you, you don't want them back and vice versa.

There are always layers to it, obviously, but it's like my chorus states, "There was nothing wrong with them." There is nothing wrong with these sweet boys and girls. I'm just not that into it. It would be so much easier if I were just into this person. But I'm not. "Don't try me" is a protective lyric. It's basically me saying, "don't try me for too long." I was having fun, but I was also scared of people seeing me for real. The outro is a shedding of the whole beginning part of the song. It goes into a slower, sexier beat, and it's down to the core of it all. Primal desire. Lust.

MF: What was the process of bringing the song together melodically.

AP: I would write the lyrics while walking, record my singing, and then listen back. And then add on to it. I had written the song's bones, and then my good friend and musical partner Cyrus Jordan had a beat that he showed me. He told me he didn't know what to do with it, but when he played it for me I was just like, oh shit, this is it. This is the beat for ‘Try Me’. He produced the song. He's always there and down to make stuff with me.

MF: What have you been listening to lately?

AP: A ton of Brazilian music since I recently spent a month there. It brings me back. A lot of Blood Orange. FKA's Caprisongs is such a good album.

MF: Tell us about the ‘Try Me’ music video.

AP: Me and my friend at a party were being silly under my friends' lights. She was holding me and was like, "Take a picture of us. It looks like you're Jesus, and I'm the Virgin Mary!" Like the Pieta statue. I saw the photos, and that's when the ideas for the video came flooding in.

Mixing tie-dye and neon lights with Renaissance imagery was effortlessly inspiring for me. David and God, but instead, it's two women letting energy rest in the air between their fingertips. I love playing with iconic imagery. Something recognizable with my twist on it is so fun to me.

MF: Talk about the foam roller.

AP: I told my friends about how much I was using the foam roller at the time the song was written due to my chronic pain in my hip and knee and how I sometimes found it to be something sensual and beautiful, like the epitome of self-care. They reminded me of it later, and we shot me rolling with it. I was like, "Wow, thank you for reminding me of my own forgotten idea. I love you so much."

MF: What is it like living in Vancouver as a musician?

AP: Visually, Vancouver is super inspiring. There are stunning locations at your disposal at all times. There is a ton of talent here. It's a smaller scene with a lot of new things happening a lot of the time, which is inventive. I appreciate it.

MF: Is there anything else in the works right now?

AP: I'm editing a video I shot for a song called Sweet last summer. It's on the way, and it's got a lot of ties to Try Me. They'll be with each other on the same EP.

Listen to ‘Try Me’

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