Energy Whores unleash new single "Pretty Sparkly Things" and connect with us for a bold, unfiltered interview
- STAFF
- Sep 20
- 8 min read
By: Staff
Ferocious, fearless, and brilliantly subversive, "Pretty Sparkly Things" is a sonic gut-punch of pure genius
Something is glittering, and it's not what you think. Energy Whores have just released their latest track, “Pretty Sparkly Things”, a pulsing, synth-driven anthem that masquerades as a club hit while delivering a scathing critique of modern culture. This is not your average dance song. Beneath the catchy beats lies a sharp-edged narrative aimed at luxury worship, influencer delusion, and the slow, hypnotic unraveling of society under the weight of unattainable dreams.
In a time when pop often leans safe and formulaic, Energy Whores move in the opposite direction. Their lyrics don’t whisper, they scream with intent. But there is a method to the madness. This isn’t shock for shock’s sake. Every word feels loaded, every line like it was pulled from the underbelly of a system too many people are too busy glamorizing to question.
The title might sparkle, but what’s underneath is something far more raw. A twisted fairy tale of filtered realities, pharmaceutical inaccessibility, and velvet rope fantasies sold to the masses. It is pop music through a cracked lens, and it asks listeners not just to hear, but to see.
We spoke with Energy Whores about the creative storm behind “Pretty Sparkly Things,” the evolution of their hard-hitting style, and the deeper meanings buried beneath the glitter. From the disturbing realities that inspired their most explicit lyrics to how satire walks the line between humor and hard truth, nothing was off the table.
If you have ever found yourself doom scrolling through a world that feels like it is laughing in your face, this is the interview you didn’t know you needed.
Keep reading to go inside the mind of the band daring to say what others won’t.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Energy Whores, 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. A lot of artists throw around words like provocative or edgy, but in your case, they actually land and you rightfully deserve them. Your message pulls no punches and forces a real awakening. What was the moment that made you decide to channel your creative energy into a message this raw, this powerful?
A. For me there was never a single lightning bolt moment but was more of a gradual realization that silence equals complicity. I’ve always believed that music should reflect the times we live in, and right now we are living through a moment of greed, corruption, and rising authoritarianism. The more I watched billionaires flaunt wealth while people struggled to survive, the less I could ignore it. That urgency is what pushed me to strip away any filters and speak as directly as possible.
Q. After experiencing “Pretty Sparkly Things” and its message, we felt your style and presentation were just incredible. It’s clear you’ve cultivated something truly distinct. Has this bold, in-your-face, listen-up musical approach been part of your vision from the very beginning? Or did it evolve over time through past experimentation or unexpected influences along the way?
A. My vision has always leaned toward honesty and confrontation, but it definitely sharpened over time. I started in classical music, where precision and control were everything. Later I gravitated toward folk and punk because they weren’t afraid to challenge power structures. That blend of discipline and rebellion eventually evolved into my sound now which is direct, unflinching, but always tethered to melody and rhythm so the message doesn’t get lost.
Q. What is the deeper story behind “Pretty Sparkly Things” beyond the first layer? We caught the line about “flash mobs robbing designer stores.” This feels like humanity consuming itself. Are you holding up a mirror to society’s collapse and the way surface-level sparkle becomes something darker?
A. Exactly. The song is about the destructive obsession with wealth and image. It’s not just about luxury items, it’s about how consumer culture feeds emptiness and desperation. When people are pushed far enough, the very symbols of excess become targets. “Pretty Sparkly Things” is a mirror that reflects both the seduction of glamour and the rage it provokes when people realize they’re locked out of that world.
Q. Why did you choose “Pretty Sparkly Things” as the title? What does it represent beyond the obvious?
A. The title is deliberately ironic. On the surface, it sounds playful and innocent, like something a child might say. But when you place it against the lyrics, it becomes unsettling. It represents how western culture sells us fantasies wrapped in glitter, while hiding the human cost underneath.
Q. At first glance, the artwork feels playful, even whimsical. But when paired with the song, it hits differently. How did you connect themes of youthful fantasy with such a pointed message? What inspired the usage of something so totally polar opposite?
A. I’ve always loved contrasts. The playful aesthetic draws people in, but once they listen, the rug gets pulled out from under them. That dissonance mirrors real life: advertising and celebrity culture package exploitation in shiny, cheerful wrapping. I wanted the art to reflect that tension, the innocence of desire colliding with the brutality of reality.
Q. The track’s pulsing synths and razor-sharp lyrics had us going, “Wait, why didn’t I think of this while doom scrolling?” How do you think that tension between danceable sound and critical messaging lands with listeners?
A. I think it disarms people. If you preach, they tune out. If you make them dance, they lean in. The juxtaposition makes the message more subversive because you’re moving your body to a beat while realizing the lyrics are calling out the very culture you’re immersed in. That friction is powerful.
Q. Your lyrics are direct, even confrontational, yet never gratuitous. How do you decide when to go all-in with harsh truth versus when to let subtlety do the work? Do you feel raw language is essential in cutting through today’s noise?
A. I think raw language is essential, but so is restraint. If everything is turned up to 11, nothing cuts through. I always ask myself: “What serves the song?” Sometimes subtle irony can be more devastating than shouting. Other times, bluntness is the only way to pierce the noise.
Q. The critique of luxury and celebrity culture is vivid and relentless. What kind of emotional response are you hoping to provoke? Shock, anger, clarity? And what about the inevitable wave of keyboard warriors? Do you brace for backlash from corporate-aligned voices?
A. I welcome backlash. If people feel threatened by the truth, it means the message landed. What I ultimately hope to provoke is clarity. That moment where someone says, “Wait, this is absurd, why do we accept this as normal?” Whether that clarity comes through anger, shock, or laughter doesn’t matter as long as it moves people out of passive acceptance.
Q. Satire walks a fine line. How do you maintain the urgency of your message while using dark humor, without having it written off as “just a joke”?
A. Satire only works if there’s a sharp blade underneath the humor. My goal is never to trivialize the real problems people have but still make the bitter pill go down. People laugh, then realize the joke is on all of us. If it unsettles while it entertains, then it’s doing its job.
Q. Your lyrics expose the exploitation hidden behind glamour. How do you think mainstream music and culture not only ignore these truths but actively reinforce them? Maybe even subliminally?
A. Mainstream culture runs on selling illusions. Every pop video that glamorizes designer clothes or private jets is essentially an advertisement. Even when artists don’t mean harm, they’re reinforcing a system where worth is tied to wealth. It’s a constant feedback loop where the industry feeds the fantasy, and the fantasy sustains the industry.
Q. The idea of unattainable dreams feels like a central theme. How have you personally seen this dynamic play out, especially within the cultural landscape of New York?
A. New York is a city built on the obsession of success measured in the amount of money you have. You see incredible art and ambition there, but you also see the brutal cost of chasing an illusion. Wealth is flaunted so publicly here that the divide between those who “have” and those who never will becomes impossible to ignore. That tension is everywhere, and it fuels songs like “Pretty Sparkly Things.”
Q. Was there a specific event that sparked this track? Or was it more of a slow-burn reaction to years of watching this system grind people down?
A. It was definitely a slow burn. Years of watching inequality widen, watching people struggle to afford medicine while celebrities show off diamond collars for their pets who have their own special seats on private jets. At some point the hypocrisy becomes unbearable, and a song like this writes itself.
Q. “Pretty Sparkly Things” is part of Arsenal of Democracy. Where does this track sit within that larger body of work? Is it a tone-setter, a warning shot, or something else entirely?
A. Pretty SparkyThings is the third song on the first side of the album, right after the title song Arsenal of Democracy. It’s both a warning shot and a lure. It’s catchy and accessible, which pulls people farther into the album. But once you’re in, the broader project unpacks deeper layers of political and social critique. “Pretty Sparkly Things” is the glitter on the surface, but “Arsenal of Democracy” is the substance underneath.
Q. After hearing this track, how do you hope people will engage with “the machine”? Is there a specific call to action or shift in mindset you’re aiming to inspire?
A. I want people to question what they’ve been sold. If listeners walk away realizing that aspiration has been weaponized against them, that’s the first step. The call to action is awareness. Once you see the machine for what it is, you can decide how to resist it.
Q. The song is wildly creative. Did you deliberately go obvious in places to ensure the message lands? Or are there hidden layers or easter eggs for those listening more closely?
A. No Easter eggs here! The lyrics are intentionally blunt because they need to be.
Q. We love your artist name. Can you tell us the backstory of how you chose the name Energy Whores?
A. The name actually came from a song I wrote about climate change called Energy Whores. The idea is that we’re all dependent on electricity, oil and gas and in that sense, we’re all energy whores. Without it, we’d be lost. I wanted a name that was provocative but also truthful, because it forces us to confront both our reliance on and complicity in the systems driving the climate crisis.
Q. We can’t thank you enough for letting us behind the curtain. So what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on upcoming projects or where you’re heading next creatively? We’d love for our readers to hear it directly from you.
A. I’m continuing to push boundaries, visually, sonically, and politically. The Arsenal of Democracy album is just the beginning. I’m working on new material that dives even deeper into the intersections of technology, culture, and resistance. And there are more videos and performances on the horizon, each one designed to challenge and provoke as much as entertain
Energy Whores, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Energy Whores’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
