POLLY Opens Up About Recent EP, ‘Daddy Issues’, Healing Through Music and Working with Top Producers

Rising Melbourne-based pop artist POLLY is baring it all with her deeply personal new EP, Daddy Issues, a genre-spanning, emotionally raw collection of tracks that blend electro-pop highs with soul-baring ballads. Known for her nostalgic synth textures and diary-like lyricism, POLLY has crafted a body of work that’s both sonically lush and emotionally vulnerable. In this exclusive interview, we chat with POLLY about the catharsis of songwriting, collaborating with heavyweight producers Ben Oldland and Liam Quinn (Ruel, Peach PRC), and why Daddy Issues is more than just an EP, it’s a reflection of her past, her pain, and her power.

Congrats on the new EP! How does it feel to have it out in the world? 

Exciting and relieving! I think as artists we put so much pressure on ourselves. I tend to do head miles about changing a song slightly or the visuals or whatever it might be so to just have it finally out in the world feels really nice

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‘Daddy Issues’ feels like such a raw and personal release. Was there a moment in the writing or recording process where you realised this EP was becoming more than just a collection of songs? 

I think when I was picking the name and was looking at the similarities between 4 very different songs. There was an “uh huh” moment when I realised each song represented a different piece of me and my life that was still being affected from events of my early life and my own “daddy issues”. 

The EP moves from danceable electro-pop (‘B.I.T.E ME’) to haunting ballads (‘Colours’) with ease. How intentional was that emotional journey for listeners? 

The flow of the EP really wasn’t that intentional. My brain moved at a million miles per hour and my songwriting is no different. I think all these songs coming together and being grouped into the one project just felt right and told the story that felt right at the time 

You’ve worked with Ben Oldland and Liam Quinn—both known for crafting big pop moments. How did their production style help shape the luxe, nostalgic textures we hear across the EP? 

Working with these legends was incredible! Both very talented and good at what they do. I’m pretty particular about how I want my art to sound so their patience and input is something I’m very grateful for. 

So many of your lyrics feel like they’re plucked from late-night diary entries. Was it cathartic to write from such a vulnerable place, or more terrifying knowing you’d release it to the world? 

Absolutely – writing for me is such a means of self expression. I would say it was a mixture of both to be honest. Writing from a vulnerable place creates the best music in my opinion, but leading up to releasing it is always a bit nerve wracking

If Daddy Issues was the soundtrack to a movie scene, what would that scene look like? And who’s directing?

Great question! Mmm I don’t know what movie but it would have angsty teenagers in it and a lot of late night driving scenes, directed by the one and only Greta Gerwig