We're Living Like the '90s: An Interview With Pouty (Part I)

Brat and it's a bicoastal grunge-pop singer who once had a band with Hole's drummer but also still brat

Pouty, watching this match turn to ash

Rachel Gagliardi was first brought to my attention via Slutever, because if a band is named Slutever they will be brought to your attention. They also happened to be a good band, especially on the grungy, now-decade-old EP Almost Famous, an apt title for the last thing a band makes before splitting up. She also spent time in Upset (great names, right?) and in June 2013, she partnered with her local Philly peer Michelle Zauner to post a song a day on Tumblr (back when Zauner was playing in Little Big League before she became the Grammy-recognized concern Japanese Breakfast with a NYT bestselling memoir and Union Transfer’s coatcheck named after her).

But last year Gagliardi resurfaced with the awesome solo bow Forgot About Me, recognized by Stereogum, Pitchfork, and me as a DGC Rarities throwback album that can hold its own with Brat in more than one way. It’s under the name Pouty, natch. I spoke to Gagliardi via phone about how she spent her brat summer, and how to rip off the ‘90s in style.

I want to start with the dumbest thing I have to ask you. Do you play Wordle?

Not really, but I’ve played before.

POUTY is one of my Wordle openers. It's been that way since before I knew your project, but I was curious if anyone else has told you they use it.

No! I love that, though. I'm surprised no one has.

It's perfect because it's got the O, U, and Y. I’ve used POUTY and AIRED as my opening moves in Wordle every day for 2-3 years. I don't know, it's been a long pandemic.

Hell yeah, giving power to the name. I feel like it's not a super-common word actually and almost every time I say it to a stranger, they're like “what is it?”