Giving us Lana Del Rey “Summertime Sadness” vibes is Toronto singer-songwriter STACEY with her wistful romantic tune “DMT”. Taken from her forthcoming debut album Saturn Return, STACEY delivers a nostalgic hazy daydream of de-tuned pianos and chromatic melodies for a psychedelic pop tune with a modern twist. Accompanied by a 60s inspired video, the summer-fresh tune pays tribute to sonic icons such as the Beach Boys, Carole King and Nancy Sinatra.

Speaking on the track, STACEY said, “‘DMT’ is a fun, modern exploration of psych-pop. I wrote it with some of my favourite songwriters, Canadian duo Babygirl. We let our brains run free with melody and lyrics and of course a love for Beatles-y vibes. I’m a big psych-rock enthusiast, old and new, and was excited to dip my toe into that world.”

You may of heard STACEY’s enticing voice before, as the singer has had her music soundtrack the likes of Lucifer, Orphan Black and Degrassi. The tune follows up from her misty retro dance number “Far Away” which is also taken from her highly anticipated debut album. We caught up with the rising star talking new music, staying creative in lockdown and what’s next.

Check out the interview below….

Hi STACEY, how has lockdown been treating you? Tell us one lesson you’ve learned.
Lockdown has had its ups and downs for me just like everyone, but I’m generally alright being alone, so I’m holding it together. Simple, but biggest lesson: keep in touch. I’ve been lucky to have friends and family with virtual shoulders to cry on and I lend mine when needed as well. Staying connected has been incredibly important for my mental health. Lots of FaceTimes – we need each other!

You’re from Toronto – how has this influenced your music?
I love Toronto so much. Mostly I’d say the Toronto influence comes in the shape of the creative hands that are on my project, writers, producers, mixers, photographers, directors, etc. Sometimes my surroundings spark inspiration and other times it’s an experience independent of location.

Who did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to whatever was on the radio or MuchMusic. My older brothers would make me mix CDs too. My first loves were the Spice Girls, Robyn, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain! Then as a teen, I eventually found sad indie staples like Death Cab For Cutie and lots of Warped Tour bands.

Your music has soundtracked so many amazing shows – which one was your absolute standout pinch-me feature?
Honestly, I’ll just never forget the first time it happened. It was an Orphan Black placement and I was astonished. TV & film soundtracks have always held special weight as someone who grew up loving music and so desperately wanting to be a musician. It’s a really validating milestone to now be on the other side of that. Every time a placement comes it sparks a specific joy in my inner child.

Congratulations on your track “DMT” – what was it inspired by?
Thank you so much! The first few opening lines of the song are a pretty 1:1 of the eve of inspiration. As predictable as it may be, I really did want to have my own modern “Lucy in the Sky” kind of song. I wrote it with my friends Cam and Kirsten who have a band called Babygirl – who you are sure to hear more about soon! We all love the Beatles and I’m obsessed with the 60s and 70s music and fashion. We wrote it over two sessions. On the second one, we talked a lot about visuals you’d see on “DMT”. We were outside, listing things for the second verse when a grapefruit fell from a tree and there were tons of butterflies around! Sometimes the universe tells you exactly what to say.

And you produced the music video during lockdown – it’s really trippy, retro and cool – how did you come up with the concept for it?
I knew I wanted collage art with a lot of colours, so I spent a few weeks on Instagram hashtag wormholes, searching for a collage artist and animator. I’m so lucky to have found Sara Serna, the director! She is so talented. I generally gravitate to anything and everything retro, so I had a mood board going and already had all the outfits in my wardrobe. Part of this came because of the limitations of lockdown. My hair and make-up artist Christina Spina is the first person I let into my quarantine bubble in order to make this! We have a special creative partnership. I ordered a green screen and we shot all the footage on my iPhone, and FaceTimed in some gaffers to help us with the lighting. Then Sara took the lead on the video. We had creatives in Toronto, LA, and Peru all work on it from afar. I’m really proud of the work and can’t believe how lucky I am to have such talented collaborators. We had some blueprints but it all came as we went!

And your debut album Saturn Return is coming out – why that name?
The songs reflect different experiences occurring within my Saturn Return – which I am still in now. It’s a time of deep change and growth, often marked with challenges. I love astrology.

Where did you pull most of your inspirations for it?
Life experiences! I quit a full-time job and moved to Los Angeles. Had some entanglements along the way – romantic, existential, psychedelic, philosophical. Also an infinite supply of nostalgia for everything.

How do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?
I really hope they feel a moment of joy or healing. That is what music is all about to me.

What’s next for you in 2020? What are you looking forward to this year?
Another single! Then I’ll be creating some more music videos, putting finishing touches on the record and making more songs. I’m obsessed with making things so I’ll just be doing that until there’s live music again. Then I will see you all!