Last Updated on 2026-04-26 by a-indie
Live Music as Human Communication
Handstands and Dancing: Where the Physical Style Came From
-Yuuki Takita: As a Japanese person, I actually found the Nagoya reaction a little surprising myself! On the subject of your live performance, one of your most distinctive qualities is how physically active you are on stage, dancing, doing handstands, really throwing yourself into it. That is quite rare for an artist performing with a full band setup. How did that style develop?
Stella: I think it started because the songs on 『Thrush Metal』 were quite sad and simple. While I was performing them, I kept thinking I wanted something more fun in the set, more room for jokes, a show that felt alive. I remember thinking I needed a song that could balance out the weight of 「Boys Will Be Boys」. Writing something lighter gave me that, and the physical performance kind of grew from there.
The Moments That Move Her Most on Stage
-Yuuki Takita: Is there a particular kind of moment on stage that moves you most?
Stella: I kept thinking, is there a Japanese word for this, wabi-sabi maybe? Though I think the meaning is slightly different. The moments I treasure most are the unexpected ones. When something goes wrong and the crowd laughs with me, or when someone in the audience does something surprising and we all respond to it together, and something genuine is created in that exchange. As someone who goes to watch shows myself, I love seeing an artist who is truly present in the room, not just running on autopilot. That is always what I am trying to do: be in the room with the people.
Slipping Joy into the Gaps Between Grief
A Gap in Tone, and the Balance Behind It
-Yuuki Takita: Listening to your songs and watching you perform, I get the sense that you never deliver sadness or anger in a straight, unfiltered way. There is always a twist, something funny or tender running alongside the harder emotions. Is that balance something you are consciously going for?
Stella: Definitely. The world right now is genuinely difficult for so many people, and I think if we can find joy woven in among all the anger and frustration and sadness, maybe people can leave a show feeling some hope. I can say Free Palestine at my shows. I can say fuck Trump. But I can also do a ridiculous dance. Finding that balance feels important.
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