Tumbling down the digital rabbit hole with only the next suggested video to hold on to, the dark side of YouTube is a pretty odd place to get lost in. And just when you thought that you’ve reached the end of the tunnel, a doe-eyed manic pixel dream girl comes to light, charming you with existential questions over a celestial soundtrack. Is this the real life? Or is it just fantasy? It’s POPPY.

Trapped inside the box of the Internet, the curious case of Poppy is one that shouldn’t be solved–but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be talked about. A seemingly minimalistic variation of J-pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, this cyberspace oddity is like a titular character straight out of an unreleased collaboration between Tim Burton and Wes Anderson. Recorded through the lens of visual artist Titanic Sinclair, Poppy’s series of unfortunate sketches has been causing a virtual insanity–she even goes as far as leaving cryptic messages of the word ‘help’ in her tags and video descriptions. All dolled up in multicolored pastels and princess-like outfits, she first stepped into the hallowed halls of YouTube with an 83-second-long video of her eating cotton candy in 2014. Constantly rendering fresh content ranging from a video of her introducing herself for 666 times to a 49-minute session of reading the bible, it was only two years after that her viewcount started stacking up, where fellow YouTubers including PewDiePie, The Film Theorists, and The Needle Drop started taking notice as well. Whether or not she’s an actual member of the Illuminati, leading an Internet cult, using a marketing gimmick, or expressing a genuine act of artistry, the real world is in dire need of someone figmental like Poppy.

Beyond the glitch and glamour of it all, concealed underneath that automated facade is a natural-born pop star. Citing Marilyn Manson, Madonna, and God as her biggest musical influences, Poppy opened a new tab in her digital identity with a refreshing debut entitled Bubblebath in 2016. Although the four-track EP serves a saccharine slice of bubblegum vocals stacked on a sugary electronic production, her candy-coated pop cuts are far from sweet nothings. Complementing her overwhelming visual sense of cuteness and peculiarity, Poppy’s sonic aesthetic–possibly crafted with the help of her frequent collaborator Titanic Sinclair–fuses well-written melodies with outright absurdities that subtly take a sinister look at popular culture and this fame-crazed society. Taking an even odder turn this 2017, her latest single aptly titled “I’m Poppy” spells out what kind of artist she truly is, giving the viewers a peek at her life as an cyberspace princess singing “Computer, Internet, Video, Camera” in a robotic manner near the song’s chorus. Encoding a colorful rush of cosmic noises and 8-bit style synthesizers that remind you of dial-up modem screeches, Poppy makes a successful connection to a worldwide audience. Welcome to the new world, she’s your Internet girl.

“I was bored with American pop music, and I wanted to create something with more dimension, something that is more exciting.”

Hi, Poppy! What were you doing before this interview?

I was exploring some neighborhoods in Tokyo.

Can you describe yourself to us using the letters of your name?

Prophetic. Obsessive. Pretty. Pink. Yellow.

You’re quite an Internet princess. What’s the world like through Poppy’s eyes?

The world is very cute and the future is a great place to exist in.

You’ve been making some buzz with your music as well. What led you towards exploring your musical side?

I was bored with American pop music, and I wanted to create something with more dimension, something that is more exciting.

Most of your songs seem to focus on intertwining dark elements into easygoing pop songs. What inspires your songwriting?

God, Monster Energy Drink, the color Pink. They all help me.

What kind of message do you want to leave for people who listen to your songs?

Be aware, be mindful, be with Poppy–always.

Last year, you released your debut EP Bubblebath, and it’s safe to say that the world is itching for some new songs from you. When do you plan to release a full-length album? And could you give us a gist of how it would sound like?

They know when the album is coming out, but they haven’t told me yet, but it will be completed on my last day in Tokyo. It sounds the way I look at this current moment.

What do you hope to achieve with your music?

I want everything. Final answer.

We see that you’ve been working a lot with Titanic Sinclair with your videos on YouTube. Has working with him helped shape you as an artist?

He has brought a lot of inspiration into my world–I feel he would say something similar about me. We are not in a cult, like many people have speculated. Titanic Sinclair is not a cult leader. He says things that many people do not understand, but I understand him.

You’ve also been interacting with Charlotte a lot lately. Can you explain to us your relationship with her?

Charlotte is in and out of my life. I still care about her, I just feel this is a very vital time in her life where she really needs support from me and the fans so she can get better. Please #pray4charlotte if you have a moment during this trying time.

“I am Poppy. There is only one Poppy and she loves you more than any other pop artist.”

Music culture, and culture in general, has definitely changed, thanks to the power of the Internet. As an artist living in the digital age, what’s the best thing about it?

My connection + the ability to interact with the fans is the best part about the Internet.

And the worst?

The worst thing about it is when I don’t have an Internet connection and I am unable to interact with my fans.

Speaking of your dedicated fan base, what would you like to say to your followers?

To the fans, I have you!

Lastly, what do you think makes you more than just another pop artist?

I am Poppy. There is only one Poppy and she loves you more than any other pop artist.

By Pola Beronilla