Getting to know London-based alt-pop artist Dirt Flirt
Hailing from Coventry, and now based in London, Dirt Flirt is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new voices in alt-pop. She grew up on emo music and you can still hear that influence in her songs — at times emotional, edgy, but polished enough to soundtrack late night walks or chaotic house parties. On stage, she’s got the kind of presence that makes a crowd feel like a family, pulling together fans who don’t always fit in.
Her debut self-titled EP (released via Final Girl Records), which dropped a few months ago, showcased her mix of sticky hooks, honest, straight-to-the-heart lyrics. Instead of slowing down, she’s already preparing her next EP, proving she’s more than a one-hit newcomer. With her fearless energy and genre-blending style, Dirt Flirt is shaping up to be one of the UK’s freshest rising starts, and maybe your next obsession.
DNü: How did you first get started making music, and what inspired you to pursue it seriously?
DF: I started making music when I discovered bands like My Chemical Romance and Green Day as a teenager. At the time all I wanted to do was be in a band and that meant I had to start writing songs. The desire to perform and make music never went away, and I couldn’t imagine wanting to do anything else with my life, so I guess that’s what made me start pursuing it seriously.
DNü: Who are some of your influences, and how do they shape your sound?
DF: My main influences at the moment are MUNA, 070 Shake, Artemas, and kwn. I just love music and artists that feel like they’re pushing boundaries within their genre, and aren’t afraid to push beyond. That always inspires me to try do the same with my own music.
DNü: What’s the story behind the name “Dirt Flirt”?
DF: It took me about a year to decide on an artist name, I was just putting words together to see what sounded good. I liked the juxtaposition – I feel like ‘Dirt’ represents the grittier, darker side of my music and influences, and ‘Flirt’ represents the more playful side of my music. Once I’d decided on that as a name, the whole project made sense to me. Sounds cliche, but I could suddenly visualise exactly the direction I wanted to go in and I haven’t stopped since.
DNü: How has your identity as a queer artist shaped the stories you tell in your music?
DF: The themes and messages in my music are pretty universal, but ultimately they’re all drawn from my own real life experiences, which are shaped by my queer identity. Accepting and embracing my queerness has helped me understand and explore vulnerability more, in life and in my music – which has definitely allowed me to dive deeper when writing songs. I feel like now I get excited writing about topics that I used to be embarrassed about or afraid of exploring.
DNü: If Dirt Flirt had a signature cocktail or drink, what would it be and why?
DF: I just released a song called PEACH, so I’m gonna say Dirt Flirt would be a super refreshing peach iced tea on a hot sweaty summer day lol
Dirt Flirt headlines our indoor festival this September. Tickets are on sale here.