DARLING GAILS on Recent Album, Reference Tracks & Guilty Pleasures ‣ CVLTARTES

Darling Gails is a duo based in the USA and Puerto Rico, bringing a mix of EDM, K-pop, and MySpace era pop punk to the table. Bella Luxury and Jason Diaz met via social media and bonded over a love of shlocky horror films and sugary fast pop music. We’ve had the chance to catch up with the band and ask them about their latest album, guilty pleasures and more.

I’m sure fans would be interested in knowing more about your backstory. What was it like in the beginning days of your music career and how have you grown since then?

Jason: After meeting online and being friends for many years, the genesis of Darling Gails as a musical project initially started out as a silly experiment where we threw together a one-off song, ‘Kuki,’ and put in Bandcamp just to see what would happen. Evidently, it worked out and here we are two full albums later, and still having a strong desire to continue creating maximalist batshit crazy pop music together.

What are the elevator pitches for your music that’ll make people have to listen?

If you’ve ever wanted to experience a musical acid trip without breaking any laws… You’ll never guess what you’re about to hear next. Visit DarlingGails.com!

For newcomers to your music, if you had to pick one track that shows people who you are as an artist, which one would it be?

Bella: It would have to be ‘Jelly’. You will find out for yourself.

What do you hope listeners take away from the album “Gunk”?

Bella: We want listeners to want to come back to the album time and time again, because it’s fun.

Jason: Life is surreal. We want to offer a one-of-a-kind musical escapism that you can’t find anywhere else.

Was there any song on the album that was particularly a challenge to write?

Bella: ‘Empty’ was hard for me because as an artist I am still learning how to not cringe at my own emotions in songs.

Jason: ‘Empty’ was so tough because I’m really never sad. It was like I was Halle Berry getting ready for another movie where a child goes missing.

Please tell us a bit more about your album, “Gunk”!

Bella: It took us a little under a year to complete the album. We started immediately right after our debut, “Chesta”. While that album was like us testing the waters, we went into this one with a clear vision and concept.

Jason: This album saw us tapping into some more conventional pop sounds, while still ambushing everyone with really abrasive, and frankly shocking tracks like ‘Sigma.’ We wanted to show a wider range and offer a collection of songs where at least one is bound to please any music fan.

Do you have any specific reference tracks that drive your productions?

‘Obsession’ by Gessaffelstein
‘Ponyboy’ by Sophie
‘Pop Diva’ by Koda Kumi
The entire “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Soundtrack” by Danny Elfman
‘Lines’ by CharK. Seriously, check it out!

There are many descriptions of the ideal state of mind for being creative. What is it like for you? What supports this ideal state of mind and what are distractions? Are there strategies to enter into this state more easily?

Jason: Getting into a voice call together and listening to whatever music we’ve been enjoying lately usually does it for us. Sooner or later, that lightbulb in our brain starts shining.

Bella: If you have a song that is driven by an emotion, if you can get into the studio while you are feeling it, it is a lot easier to find words for how you are feeling.

What was the craziest idea you had – whether feasible or not – that you really wanted to go forward with?

Our debut album was almost titled “Katy Perry Psych Ward Doll”. Part of us wonders what would’ve happened if we did.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise, or reading poetry play?

A blunt and a Koda Kumi concert DVD.

Guilty pleasure time. What would you say are some of your current most guilty pleasures? All is fair game-food, books, video games, or even cock n’ ball torture, whatever floats your boat. Let us have it.

Bella: The 2009 album “Guilty Pleasure” by Ashley Tisdale… Also it’s 2024. Ladies. PEG! THAT! MAN!

Jason: Watertok tutorials. I’ll never drink that toxic artificial gloop, but takingmylifebackat42 and Joseph Anthonii are more important than the royal family to me.