Brooklyn’s Pop Princess ThugPop Won’t Be Hosting the Afters

This is SOUND ADVICE, a weekly destination for playlists curated by Interview’s friends, enemies, and lovers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve gathered playlists from Chanel Beads, Wisp, and Vegyn. This week’s guest is Christen Mooney, aka ThugPop, whose newest drop has us ready to ascend into her universe. After paying dues as a textile and visual artist, Hood By Air muse, fashion princess, and downtown DJ, he’s spent the past few years dropping back-to-back tracks topped off by a recent feature on Kelela’s “On The Run” remix with River Moon. The latest is blast., a playful 11-track EP that dropped last week. As ThugPop puts it, “the PINCH EP was meant to be a taste and now blast. is a full course meal.” In honor of the release, ThugPop set the vibes for us with a playlist featuring everything from Gaga to Sukihana to Toni Braxton, and told us her “freaky yet conservative” bedroom setlist and go-to studio look.

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Where do you dance? Between the Ether, earth, & nirvana.

What’s on your bedroom playlist? For all my freaky yet conservative girls, “Lovefingers” by Silver Apples, “Panties & Bra” by City Girls, “Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti, “Frosti” by Björk, and “Kufi Off” by ThugPop.  

Who do you trust most with the aux? DJ BabyWrist & Bryce Barnes.

What song do you have on repeat? “Eisbar” by Grauzone, “Drown in the Clouds of Dew” by Rozie Ramati, “Okay” by JT (very ThugPop), Addicted (Boys & Money) by ThugPop.

What’s your DJing pet peeve? A predictable set. I love when a DJ paints a vision of vibrations. I prefer to see sounds for real. Also DJs not playing enough ThugPop, pur. 

Dream collaborator, dead or alive? Lisa “Lefteye” Lopez & Lotta Volkova.

Name a song that reminds you of your hometown: Anything K-swift or Blaqqstar. MIA’s KALA Album.

Where’s the afters? Not at mine. 

Sunglasses inside, yes or no? Yes, all the time.  

What album is playing in heaven? Wanderland – Kelis

Which song from Blast makes you dance? “Opium” & “Woo Witchoo” are certifiably club bangers, they vibrate at such a high frequency you can’t help but move. 

Which one makes you cry? “Twinkle Twinkle,” because I’m really talking to my future self on that one and you can hear the desperate yearning for whoever/whatever I am speaking towards.  

What’s your go-to studio outfit? My black hoodie sweater dress, any color tights and Anonymous Club boots. OR my all-white steampunk XXXXXL jumpsuit.

Where do you find new music? You know what, it finds me. I search far and wide for everything I consume culture wise. I’m somewhat of a junkie/hoarder when it comes to the subcultures. I investigate them until exhaustion. 

What song was your ringtone? “Thug Style” by Ciara. 

What’s your national anthem? “Baaaaaaaa” By ThugPop. “BITCH PLEASE NEED MORE CHEDDAR CHEESE!” 

What does it take to be a pop star? Self-love, Fashion, and Surrender.