‘There’s a new path for girls breaking the rules’

After a year that saw her go from breakout artist to award-winning star, Chappell Roan has one word for what makes her stand out: “Fearlessness”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, the Pink Pony Club singer says she’s not afraid to do her own thing when it comes to her artistry.

Known for her drag aesthetic, extravagant costumes and punchy lyrics, Chappell’s also shown she’s fearless outside of her music, more than once coming under fire for speaking out on issues close to her heart.

“I think that’s so needed,” she says. “To be able to break the rules.”

And she doesn’t think she’s alone in pushing the boundaries, saying she admires the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX, who she’ll be headlining Primavera festival with this summer.

She describes the three of them as the “Powerpuff Girls” of pop.

“I don’t think that any of us were thinking of: ‘What’s going to change music? What’s going to really blow peoples’ minds?’,” Chappell, 27, says, about releasing music last year.

“I think all of us made our albums based on what blows our own minds.

“That’s why I think it works so well for all of us because we’re doing our own thing.

“Let there be a new path for girls who want to break the rules.”

The US singer’s spoken before about being comfortable pushing boundaries, telling the BBC “I’d be more successful if I wore a muzzle” after making headlines last year.

She’s also sworn at paparazzi on the red carpet, criticised fans’ “creepy” behaviour, cancelled shows last minute and was branded “disingenuous” by a music executive after calling for musicians to get more support from their labels.

But after success over the past year, she feels together with Charli and Sabrina, they can shape the future.

Chappell’s debut, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, saw her named best new artist at the Grammy’s as well as Radio 1’s Sound of 2025.

Charli XCX’s summer-defining Brat won best album at the Brits, was recognised at the Grammy’s and also earned a Mercury Prize nomination.

Meanwhile singles Espresso and Please Please Please from Sabrina’s Short ‘n’ Sweet album broke records, dominated the charts and won a grammy for best pop vocal album.

Performing alongside them at Primavera Sound in Barcelona was an unmissable opportunity, Chappell says.

“I came out of retirement to play that show,” she says.

“I was like, I’m retiring for half of the year and I decided to come out.

“It’s so cool, it’s like a pop girly festival.”

Comparisons have often been drawn between Chappell Roan and Lady Gaga.

And she says the Abracadabra singer has been a huge inspiration.

“One of the first songs I downloaded on my iPod was Bad Romance.

“Talk about fearless.”

But it was Gaga’s 2009 track Alejandro, and accompanying music video full of religious imagery, that Chappell says started her on the route to becoming the artist she is now.

“I could not believe her,” she says.

“Whenever I watched Alejandro, I thought I was doing something bad as a Christian. I was like, ‘oh my God, this is a sin’.

“And then a fire lit in me and I was like, no, this is actually heaven, this is actually where I’m meant to be.”

Lady Gaga’s just announced a tour in the wake of her new album Mayhem, which will mark her first North American and European run since 2022.

“It was Gaga, and witnessing her at the age that I was, that was a domino effect to where I am now,” Chappell says.

“Talk about turning new territory. It’s so inspirational.”

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