Q&A: Nostalgia, Chaos and Ego Death with Slayvannah’s New Album ‘WELCOME TO THE SPHERE’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
Photo by Avery Schlegel
IF LADY GAGA, A WEBKINZ ACCOUNT, AND YOUR CHILDHOOD DIARY — formed a supergroup, their debut might sound a lot like WELCOME TO THE SPHERE. Following a two-year hiatus, Minneapolis pop star Slayvannah is back with her boldest and most personal project to date. Known for her electric performances, glam-rock-meets-electropop sound, and inspiration from pop royalty like Kesha, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, Slayvannah has always been an advocate for big energy. But this time around, the spotlight isn’t just on the glitter. It’s also on the chaos, the ego death, and the fragile, beautiful voice of her inner child.
WELCOME TO THE SPHERE is less of a comeback and more of a cosmic reintroduction. Built around the idea that all emotions can coexist—fear, fun, heartbreak, healing—the album can be described as raw, playful, experimental, and deeply nostalgic. You might be reminded of Nickelodeon color palettes, snippets of sound that feel like Tumblr-era voice notes, and Saturday morning cartoons. Yet at the same time, the songs could also soundtrack a full-on existential crisis.
It’s not about fitting into pop— it’s about breaking it open. Read the full interview with The Luna Collective below.
Photo by Avery Schlegel
LUNA: Congrats on WELCOME TO THE SPHERE! I’m really excited for everyone to hear it. You’ve mentioned that the project is more than just an album; it’s a full concept. Can you walk us through what the sphere represents?
SLAYVANNAH: The sphere became a place in my mind where all these emotions and thoughts could coexist. I usually compartmentalize things—like, this emotion goes here, that emotion goes there—but with the sphere, I let it all exist at once. Same with my artistry. I used to separate Slayvannah from who I am—she had to be this pop, bad bitch persona. I wasn’t writing songs about what I was really feeling: heartbreak, fear of failure, being scared of the future. The sphere helped me embrace that side too.
Musically, it’s different too. I always thought I needed to stick to Lady Gaga-type pop to fit in, but I listen to all kinds of music. So I thought, why not make all kinds? The sphere also represents childlike wonder, which is why the color scheme is very Nickelodeon-coded.
LUNA: I caught that right away with the orange and blue VHS tape visuals. The sphere almost feels like a diary or finsta—just letting everything out. You’ve called this project experimental. What felt different about making it compared to your past work?
SLAYVANNAH: I approached it differently. Before starting WELCOME TO THE SPHERE, I hadn’t touched my studio since releasing "Radio." Music became scary for me. I felt like I couldn’t stick to the Slayvannah brand I’d built. It all became about branding, and that sucked the magic out of it.
So this time, I let myself experiment. Some songs are 30 seconds long—just quick thoughts. Others are more structured. I wasn’t focused on format. I was more like, “How long do I need to say what I want to say?” I was really inspired by Awsten Knight from Waterparks. Their music is fun and chaotic in the best way. That made me want to make something that childhood me would’ve loved listening to while playing “Webkinz.”
LUNA: I love that you just made something that’s fun and true to you. After two delays, how does it feel to finally be releasing the project?
SLAYVANNAH: Really good. I initially picked February 21 because I thought setting a deadline would push me to finish it—but I still procrastinated. I didn’t even have a finalized tracklist by then. I moved it to February 28, but that still wasn’t enough. Finally, I gave myself a month. At first it felt like a chore, but once I finished, I realized how beautiful the experience was. I’m so glad I stuck with it.
LUNA: Your music blends glam rock and electro-pop, with clear nods to Lady Gaga and Kesha. Were there any specific songs or pop culture moments that inspired WELCOME TO THE SPHERE?
SLAYVANNAH: Definitely. Charli xcx’s Brat was a big one. I wanted to capture that same feeling, especially on a track called “Freaking Out.” But I didn’t want to go full hyperpop—just borrow the vibe. Waterparks’ Greatest Hits and the mashup version “GH2024” inspired me too. It made me want to create something that felt like a giant megamix. I was also a little inspired by the 1975. And of course, Gaga is always there—she never leaves. But with this project, I tried doing the opposite of what I’ve done before. I wanted it to be fast-paced and fun.
LUNA: What track pushed you the most creatively—vocally, lyrically, or emotionally?
SLAYVANNAH: Probably “Speed” or “Are U Still Watching?” But especially “Speed.” I’d been sitting on that instrumental for two years and couldn’t find a melody. It’s kind of a love song, and I kept asking myself, “How much should I share?” because I sound kind of insane in it. It’s about how fast I move when I catch feelings. I kept rewriting it because I didn’t want to sound too vulnerable—but eventually I let go and embraced the chaos.
Photo by Avery Schlegel
LUNA: If the sphere is a space where all emotions coexist, what track best represents that duality?
SLAYVANNAH: “Freaking Out.” It’s about feeling confident in your art but still questioning everything. Like, was Popography actually that good? Am I doing enough? But I realized both can be true—it was a fun era, and also, I’ve grown past it. That duality lives in the song.
LUNA: You come from a theater background, and your performances are electric. How does that influence your music videos or stage presence?
SLAYVANNAH: On stage, I become this version of me that’s all confidence. I only have one music video right now—“Stop My Heart”—which is very dark, vampy, and totally my vibe. But on stage, it’s all about movement and energy. I think of blocking, like stage cues, but they’re spontaneous. It’s about feeling the moment and feeding off the crowd’s energy.
LUNA: You talked about your inner child falling silent and then rediscovering her voice. How has that changed your approach to art?
SLAYVANNAH: I’m having fun again. I think of Saturday mornings eating cereal and watching Fairly OddParents. Some of these songs feel like “Sonic the Hedgehog” video game soundtracks. I used to stifle my inner child to become this glamorous version of Slayvannah, but now I’m blending both—letting her come back into the sphere.
LUNA: What’s something you’re letting go of with this release—and something you’re reclaiming?
SLAYVANNAH: I’m letting go of the ego, the one-track-mindedness. I’m reclaiming fun, my inner child, and the freedom to say, “Yeah, I’m freaking out,” and that’s okay.
LUNA: Which track would you want blasting as you enter a room?
SLAYVANNAH: “Speed.” It’s so fun. Musically, it’s like Hannah Montana meets Big Time Rush. It’s one of the more structured songs.
LUNA: If WELCOME TO THE SPHERE had a scent, what would it be?
SLAYVANNAH: Blue raspberry. Specifically, the blue raspberry Dum Dum.
LUNA: What’s one lyric from the album that hits you hardest right now?
SLAYVANNAH: From “17”—“I admit that I’m scared the most of growing old and watching everybody go.” It’s about my fear of death, of losing people. We’re all getting older, and sometimes it feels like it only gets harder.
LUNA: That’s so real—and something a lot of people can relate to. Thank you for sharing all of this with me. I can’t wait for people to hear WELCOME TO THE SPHERE.
