Davia Schendel Unveils “Pulling Fits” and Connects with Us to Dive Into the Inspiration Behind Her Latest Release
- STAFF
- Aug 23
- 10 min read
By: Staff
“Pulling Fits” is a mesmerizing blend of infectious beats and biting lyricism, cementing Schendel's artistic evolution.
Davia Schendel's latest track, “Pulling Fits,” arrives with a sonic punch that blends infectious indie pop with a dash of existential wit. As the song opens, it lures you in with its danceable beats and hypnotic harmonies, before leading you through a maze of sharp lyrics that tackle the pressures of success in our modern world. Schendel’s soaring vocals float effortlessly over the track, creating an atmosphere that’s as playful as it is thought-provoking.
We spoke with the artist about how this new chapter in her musical journey feels like a natural progression, yet distinctly different from what we’ve heard before. From the influence of late ‘90s and early 2000s indie rock to her collaboration with Jonah Ben-Amotz, “Pulling Fits” showcases a fresh direction that’s both personal and universal. Schendel reveals how the track’s title came to life and why the themes of fashion and identity were the perfect backdrop for the message she wanted to convey.
In our conversation, we also dive into the production process, the role of Different Fur's mastering, and what Schendel is working on next. Curious about what drives the creative spark behind the music?
Get ready for an insightful journey through the making of this bold new track. Read the full interview below!
Photos provided by: Florentina Mocanu
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Davia Schendel, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We loved “Pulling Fits”! The opening notes had such a rich indie pop vibe that makes you want to dance. The harmony stylings created such a beautiful atmosphere, and your vocals were the icing on the cake. We also loved how your beautiful and soaring vocals enhanced the track. When did you first discover your voice, and what moment in your life shifted it from being something personal and intimate to recording with the intention of sharing it with a worldwide audience?
A. Thank you so much for the kind words. I’ve always loved singing – I think my earliest memories of enjoying the act of music was in the back of my parents’ car, listening to a variety of music on the radio and the CD player. My mom and dad shared a lot of their passion for music with me. It was an interesting journey, I had a lower huskier alto voice when I reached adolescence and had to learn how to harmonize in school choir, but that challenged me to listen to tones while singing a different arrangement. I would sing in the halls if they were empty, and our choir teacher would catch me singing “Chain of Fools” and he couldn’t believe it was me. I was lucky to have a mentor during that time, jazz musician Phillip Greenlief, who noticed my passion and fostered my love for singing and composing. I started recording myself around age 15, when I started writing songs. Luckily I was able to express my passion for this in a lot of school creative assignments, and I started to experiment with recording and how effects could change the quality of my voice. I wrote a song called “On the Shore” that was full of reverb and space, and I realized that my voice could carry itself in a recording context. There was a distinct need to integrate my love of writing poetry and playing music, and I felt that it would be a wonderful marriage of the two. I believe sharing music is such an intimate experience, and recording it provides some permanence. It’s pretty amazing to track the evolution from my first official single, “Helena Lives in Her Mind,” to now, but I can see the progression and I’m excited to see how my vocal stylings will evolve over time, in relation to the melodies I write.
Q. “Pulling Fits” has a sharp, almost satirical edge when addressing the idea of success. What are some of the pressures or expectations you’ve faced that influenced the song?
A. I’m glad that you caught on to that. I think in the world of music, or art in general, there is a towing of the line between commercial appeal and artistic merit. You can become obsessed with trends to the point of losing your identity, or become infatuated with changing the tide you find yourself exhausted. Even for those who are not in the creative fields is also so much social pressure to be successful, in a material sense. Are you wearing the latest sneakers, or are you vacationing in the right place, being seen in the right circles? Social media just takes that to the next level and almost breaks down every aspect of performing success, making us second guess everything.
Q. Your lyrics often touch on societal pressures and personal identity. Do you find yourself writing from your own experiences, or do you sometimes step into different perspectives?
A. Definitely both, I think I enjoy infusing real life emotional experiences with fictional narrative storylines. Oftentimes a song will be a patchwork of moments, not necessarily linear, that I have curated together within a theme. That’s where the fun is, in integrating all the moments that fit underneath a similar theme umbrella. “Dream of 1988 “is a song of mine that does that, and I think “Pulling Fits” is a playful, more uptempo cousin of that song, with more Dada-ist energy. I see the scenes in my head very clearly when I am writing lyrics, it’s a very evocative experience for me, very visceral. Depending on the mood of the song, of course. In the case of Pulling Fits I wanted to show people a little more of my sense of humor, my sassiness– which I think I’ve compartmentalized for a while. It feels very liberating to write lyrics from that place now.
Q. “Pulling Fits” is really unique, and it’s clear you’ve cultivated something distinct. Was this particular musical style something you’ve always embraced from the very beginning of your journey, or has it evolved over time through influences or other genres you experimented with earlier?
A. It’s interesting, I feel like “Pulling Fits” is what I’ve been striving for in terms of a sound profile ever since I was in my teens. I was really grateful to have had a lot of time to work in the DAW and carve out sounds that I hadn’t been able to achieve for some time. I wanted to incorporate elements that weren’t necessarily heard, but felt. There are a lot of vocal parts and harmonies buried in the mix for atmosphere, and even a mandolin– so much that doesn’t get a lot of airspace but it adds to the energy. I think the funk influence on this track has always been in my headspace, as well as the rock energy. I wanted to fuse both and create a song that had that Bay Area 70s influence with a late 90s innovative off the cuff quality. But that wasn’t necessarily the primary focus. I really wanted the song to be a time capsule for this moment in time, this cultural landscape, in a sonic form.
Q. This track feels like a step forward in terms of your musical evolution. How did you approach this project differently compared to your previous work?
A. I actually wrote this song with the intention of giving it the most honest delivery I could. I think in a way I was on a nostalgia escapade for a lot of my previous work, whereas in the past year I felt like I could trust my own stylistic choices. It’s a good feeling, rooted in the need to make music that people can dance to, but also analyze the lyrics and find something to ponder, to wonder about. All my favorite songs have that duality involved, but there is a vocal delivery that feels like the performer is in direct dialogue to the listener. I wanted to achieve that interpersonal relationship with the listener, and give them some insight into my thoughts, in a very playful way.
Q. Since the phrase ‘Pulling Fits’ seems to have multiple meanings. How did you come up with the idea to connect fashion with deeper, more existential themes?
A. Well, there’s a personal connection there. For a year during the pandemic I just decided to style myself in vintage clothing with abstract backdrops (some of which I painted) and post pictures online for the fun of it, almost as an experiment for social media engagement (and to stave of boredom). There was a lot of irony involved. And it was getting a lot of attention, way more than my poetry, or my music. One the one hand, I was getting appreciation, but also frustrated at people’s praise of my vanity. Ha! I think in this age there is a lot of that– the image reigns over the word. “Pulling Fits” is on one end about the circus-esque feeling of performing the “winning” side of life, the superficial side, without addressing or even championing the chromatic nature of our real, tangible, messy yet beautiful lives. The satire is definitely infused in that commentary, akin to doom-scrolling where you see people overanalyzing projected micro trends for 2030, or posting their outfits and not even taking in the present dire moment, where famine, torment and agitation surround us. Pulling a fit be seen as a reference to people in leadership causing chaos to diverge attention from essential progress. The song has an absurdist critical undertone, and absurdism is about puzzling contrast, and I find that everywhere, especially now. People want to escape rather than feel the pressure, but that’s human. I wanted to make a play on that duality.
Q. With Jonah Ben-Amotz on guitar and bass, there’s a awesome dynamic to the sound. How did you come into this professional relationship and what role did his contribution play in shaping the overall feel of the song?
A. Meeting and then collaborating Jonah truly changed my life. He is a multi-talented artist, and his phrasing style when he plays guitar (and bass) feels so effortless, and beautifully conversational. There’s a lyrical quality in his playing, and he matched the energy of the song so wonderfully. There are two guitar solos in the track, which he performs so beautifully, with angst, sensuality and edge. When we met, we were pretty intent on collaborating from the get go– we just started sharing our favorite songs with each other and dissecting our favorite elements, which naturally led to being able to collaborate. We would do impromptu jam sessions and discover how we expressed ourselves, and then started playing live shows, which led to having him on the track. It’s a stunning complement to the song, and I am so grateful to be able to make music with him.
Q. Mastering at Different Fur in San Francisco must have added a unique edge to the song. How did their environment and expertise shape the track?
A. I have been meaning to work with the team at Different Fur for many years, and of course, like so many things tied to this song, “Pulling Fits” led me to finally achieve that goal! Engineer Lien Do, a supremely talented artist, mastered the track, and they truly gave the song the sheen and gloss it needed. They work on a lot of indie rock records, which felt like an ideal pairing. So many incredible records have been produced, mixed and mastered at those studios, so to be a part of that lineage means a lot to me as a San Franciscan who lives here and makes art here.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about this song to intrigue them about its meaning if you only had one sentence to get them interested in listening to it?
A. Pulling Fits is an absurdist rock song you can dance to, which will take you on a journey with frenetic tongue-in-cheek energy that feels like it was born for the doom scroll era we live in.
Q. Let’s build a summer playlist around “Pulling Fits.” What three other tracks absolutely need to be on it, and why?
A. Wow– okay, let’s put “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys – this track feels like 4 songs in one, and that inspired the layers of Pulling Fits. One of my favorites. Follow that by “Why Should I Love You?” By Kate Bush (Prince produced it, and he sings on it). The explosive dynamics and swirling vocals feel complementary to "PF". Also Kate Bush and Prince are two of my biggest influences. And finally, “Soldier Jane,” by Beck– his soundscapes have made a huge impact on how I mix songs, and his phrasing is super specific. Honorable mention to “Fashion,” by David Bowie, for interpolating the clothing theme and talking about keeping up appearances.
Q. When meeting someone for the first time and they ask what kind of music you make, what’s the first thing you say?
A. The ultimate question! I tell them I write indie rock music with influences from jazz, retro pop, hard rock, singer songwriters, literature and cinema–the list goes on.
Q. Do you find yourself needing to push back against trends to stay true to your sound, or do you feel like the current state of music encourages innovation?
A. I feel like I am finally tuned into my own frequency after a period of being hyper aware of trends. So at this point, I don’t feel pressure to assimilate to a particular sound. Regarding the current state, it depends on who you are listening to. I find a lot of inspiration from listening to older music. I think any era has the tension of leaning into trends or being true to one’s vision, like I mentioned earlier. I think if I am influenced by anything present, it’s someone being unequivocally bold and unique. Which then catches on as a trend, and then the cycle repeats. Good music is good music, no matter the genre. We are pretty lucky in that regard.
Q. What’s something you’re working on right now, whether musically or personally, that your fans might be surprised to hear about?
A. I am working on a full length album, and other visual projects that are both related and unrelated to Pulling Fits. More to come soon– I am being cryptic for a reason.
Q. Many artists hit a few walls along the way. Have there been times when you questioned continuing with music? What helped you stay committed to your path?
A. What keeps me connected is the ability to keep discovering even after years of songwriting and producing. There is always an awakening on how to be even more creative than yesterday, which excites me, and inspires me. I love to challenge myself, and there is a sort of motivation to see how I can keep pushing my own evolution further.
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing this song and reading this interview?
A. That music and art can capture the present moment with both revery and a critical lens. And thank YOU for listening and taking the time to engage with my music.
Q. And finally, what’s next? We can't thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We’d love to be the first to share the news!
A. Some shows are on the horizon here in the Bay Area, so be sure to keep in touch on my newsletter, Zeitgesist Deterrent, or my IG @damsch for updates. Some exciting events and creative releases are in the pipeline, so I am excited to keep developing those. Thanks again for having me!
Davia Schendel, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Davia Schendel’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
