Banana Interview with India Thieriot: Music That Sounds Like the Color Blue, 4 PM in the Afternoon

For India Thieriot, music is a form of catharsis. She always begins every songwriting session with a question. Want to know what that question is? Keep reading! She also shares what her first song was about (which she wrote at the age of 10!) and reveals her celebrity crush.

Meet India Thieriot: Music That Sounds Like the Color Blue, 4 PM in the Afternoon

Do you have any specific rituals or habits before writing music?

Before sitting down to write, I always ask myself “what is weighing on me right now that I want to get out?” Writing is the most cathartic form of expression for me so if I can close my eyes and really visualize a situation from which I want to feel emotional release, usually the lyrics just start flowing. If I’m not in a headspace where there’s something immediately pressing that I know I want to write about, I’ll sometimes leaf through my journal for inspiration — even going back to years old entries to see if there’s anything I want to circle back to.

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1️⃣ Can you recall the first song you ever wrote or performed?

I wrote my first song when I was 10-years-old at summer camp. Titled “My Own Love,” it was completely based on fictional experiences. The chorus, “Now we’re older, almost grown, and you gave me something that I can call my own, my own love,” was definitely not based on an actual lived experience lol. I recorded it when I was 15 and it’s actually still on streaming platforms. I’ve thought about taking it down but I kind of like having it there as an homage to my younger songwriter self. I should probably change the cover art if I’m going to keep it up, though, because holy kelvin filter.

️ If you could time travel to any musical era, past or future, where would you go and why?

I would probably go to the 80s. I’ve always been very drawn to 80s guitar. Despite not having been alive then, I feel sort of an intense nostalgia for that sound. My dad is obsessed with Duran Duran so I think that has something to do with it. I listen to Joy Division and The Smiths when I’m feeling introspective or sentimental, and that’s a feeling I’ve tried to capture in my music.

 

If you were a playlist you’d be…

my daylist name would be “wistful overthinking nostalgic indie thursday afternoon”

What was your favorite CD when you were a teenager?

Dizzy Balloon by Dizzy Balloon

❤️‍Who was your first celebrity crush? Details please!

Cary Ewes aka Wesley in The Princess Bride. The chokehold that this movie had on me was actually comical. I deadass thought this man was going to be my husband.

Something you’re really good at, but it’s a strange ability

I’m lowkey pretty good at ping pong… when I was in 8th grade my brother and I begged our parents to send us to ping pong camp in China but they were unfortunately not down. Instead, we just trained militantly in the backyard every day. That summer culminated in us entering a tournament where we faced an Olympic player. Neither of us got a single point off of him but we were still the youngest people in the tournament and felt like the shit.

India Thieriot: In connection with her emotions

As we near the end of this interview, it’s clear that India has a deep connection to her emotions and creativity. She has found liberation in songwriting, and this catharsis also helps her connect with the world.

If you want to listen to India, check out her song Deep End, included in our latest compilation, Brains in Bloom.

Thank you for this lovely interview, India❤️