Pretty Little Saturday

Pretty Little Saturday’s new single ‘Tangerine’ is a stunning, slow-burning release that cements her as one of indie-pop’s most emotionally resonant new voices. The Asheville-based artist blends confessional lyricism with striking imagery, creating a world that feels both intimate and cinematic. Built from warm, organic textures and polished pop finesse, ‘Tangerine’ captures the dizzying feeling of being overwhelmed by life’s constant unraveling. The verses grapple with isolation, broken trust, and the queasy limbo of being caught between who you were and who you're becoming. But it’s the chorus—aching, direct, and disarmingly vulnerable—that lands hardest: a quiet plea for unconditional love when everything threatens to collapse. Kristi’s vocals are the heart of the track—soft but steady, carrying a worn-in strength that mirrors the song’s emotional core. Written between the stillness of Asheville’s mountains and the restless pulse of Los Angeles, and brought to life with collaborators Patrick Doyle and Phillip Shaw Bova, ‘Tangerine’ reflects a period of deep self-examination and artistic clarity.The result is a luminous, cathartic confessional—one that speaks to anyone who has ever reached for connection while quietly falling apart. ‘Tangerine’ is Pretty Little Saturday at her most honest, most open, and most compelling.

'Tangerine' feels both intimate and cinematic — a song that captures emotional chaos with real grace. What moment or feeling first sparked the idea for this track?

Oddly enough, the song was inspired by my best friend’s daughter, who was just days away from giving birth to her first child at 20. I remember sitting there, listening to the music I had so far, searching for a melody and lyrical direction. I started thinking about her—how brave and terrifying it must be to face something like that so young—and that’s when the first verse and the seed of the chorus, “Who’s gonna love you,” just kind of appeared.

You’ve described 'Tangerine' as a confession of vulnerability and the need for connection. How do you approach translating those deeply personal emotions into something universal that listeners can hold onto?

I’ve been trying to approach songwriting from a very honest place, and I feel like it’s very tricky to translate personal experiences into relatable moments…

The song was written between the quiet of Asheville and the energy of Los Angeles. How did those contrasting environments influence the sound or mood of ‘Tangerine'?

At the time, I was traveling back to Los Angeles often for work—I do video game audio as well—and ended up staying in my old stomping grounds in Venice Beach. I’m so glad the melody and lyrics for this song began there. Venice is pure magic to me. I lived there for ten years, and it will always be my happy place—the spot where I feel most creative. The raw, gritty, colorful, free-spirited energy of Venice absolutely influenced where my mind went while writing. It’s a place that feels safe enough to be deeply vulnerable.

Asheville, on the other hand, has become my second home. Collaborating with my producer and some incredible local musicians here has helped me find a creative community that values connection and collaboration. Recording the vocals, harmonies, and final instrumentation in Asheville brought a warmth and organic texture to the song that perfectly balanced the edge and grit I felt in Venice.

Working with Patrick Doyle and Phillip Shaw Bova — who’ve collaborated with artists like Father John Misty and Feist — must have been an inspiring experience. What did each of them bring to the song’s production?

Patrick Doyle is incredible at what he does. You can tell he genuinely cares about his craft as a producer and engineer. I feel so lucky to work with someone who’s also a master of harmonies — something that’s still relatively new to me. Every time we added harmonies to Tangerine, it helped highlight the vulnerability and delicateness of the lyrics. Patrick is truly one of a kind, and I’m so grateful to have him helping me shape my sound as a new artist.

Philip Shaw Bova is an amazing mastering engineer, and I was thrilled he agreed to take on my project. Having someone who’s worked with artists like Feist, Bahamas, and Lake Street Dive add his final touch to Tangerine — and the record as a whole — was such an honor.

Your vocals in 'Tangerine' carry a beautiful mix of strength and fragility. Was that balance something you consciously aimed for, or did it come naturally through the recording process?

“This song’s vocals came from a very raw, natural place, and that’s why I leaned into the talky feel of the verses.”

'Tangerine' feels like a turning point — both musically and emotionally. How does this release represent your evolution as Pretty Little Saturday, and what can we expect from you next?

Tangerine was one of the first songs I ever wrote and recorded. None of the other three from that early batch made the record, so I’m pretty proud that this one did. I’ll be releasing my entire debut album in January, so keep a lookout for that on streaming platforms.