Robbie Z
With #YOLO, Robbie Z delivers a colorful, nostalgic celebration of early internet culture, self-expression, and joy. We spoke with the rising pop artist about the EP, its inspirations, and what comes next.
1. Happy birthday and congratulations on the release of #YOLO! Releasing the EP on your 24th birthday feels symbolic. What made this the perfect moment to share this project with the world?
Thank you! At the time I was creating the EP, I wrote a song called “B-Day Cake <3”, so I naturally checked if my birthday fell on a Friday, which it did. I thought, what better way to celebrate than to have my EP come out on the same day?
I usually don’t release music on my birthday because I like to celebrate with my loved ones, but turning 24 is actually quite significant to the project, which is why I did. I remember that in 2014, the period my EP is inspired by, my favorite artist was 24 and I thought, “Wow, she’s so grown up,” haha. It’s a full-circle moment with the song, the EP’s theme, and me being 24.
2. The EP is heavily inspired by the early 2010s internet era, from Tumblr culture to colorful pop icons. What are some of your strongest memories from that time, and how did they influence the sound and message of #YOLO?
The early 2010s really made me fall in love with music in the first place. I loved how big, fun, and bold pop music was back then. Some of my favorite memories from that period are watching Miley Cyrus and Iggy Azalea’s music videos, spending hours on Tumblr, taking “aesthetic” photos, and filming my own music videos. There’s so much! I wanted #YOLO to recreate that feeling through big choruses, colorful production, confidence, and not being afraid to be a little cheesy or over-the-top.
3. You’ve said that you don’t necessarily miss 2014 itself, but rather the optimism that seemed to define that period. Why do you think that sense of carefree enthusiasm feels rarer today, and how does #YOLO aim to bring it back?
Yeah, as much as I love the art from that time, I was also a very anxious child, haha. I definitely romanticize the good parts of the early 2010s. It’s hard to say people were more optimistic in general because that depends on so many external factors.
Overall though, I think these days we’re forced to face reality from a much younger age. The #YOLO songs are full of confidence, fun, and positive affirmations through a Tumblr lens, and I hope they remind listeners not to take themselves too seriously and to believe in themselves a little more.
4. Artists like Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Iggy Azalea, and Charli XCX helped shape the project. How did you balance those influences while still creating something that feels uniquely Robbie Z?
I wouldn’t say they shaped the project, but rather that they were artists whose energy I channeled into the songs and artists I listened to a lot back then. The fact that I’ve been influenced by all of them for so many years, while also going through my own experiences and developing my own taste and other influences, inevitably makes the project very Robbie Z.
Nothing is completely original after all. My music is just a mix of everything I love, filtered through my own creative instinct.
5. The EP’s title and themes encourage people to stop worrying so much about other people’s expectations and embrace joy. Was there a personal experience or turning point that inspired you to adopt that mindset in your own life and music?
Yes! For the longest time, the EP was going to be called 2014 because that’s the specific year that inspired it. But then I felt like it limited the project to one year, and I wanted a broader term that captured the whole era better.
One day, while I was travelling to the airport at 5 AM on one hour of sleep, I started thinking about how smart “YOLO” actually is. It’s something we used to say completely unironically in 2014, but now we mostly say it as a joke. As funny as “YOLO” can be, it’s also true. You only live once after all.
Why do we take ourselves so seriously? I think we need to have more fun with life and with art in general. Obviously, I’m saying this from a very privileged position, and I’m aware of that. But when I say we need more fun, I really mean we should be less critical of ourselves and each other, and allow ourselves the freedom to just be.
6. With #YOLO celebrating self-expression and marking a new creative chapter, you’re also preparing to release your first Bulgarian-language single. What can fans expect from this next phase of your journey, and how does it differ from the world of #YOLO?
I like my projects to contrast with each other, so when I started working on my Bulgarian project, it naturally took a different direction from anything I’d done before. I’ve just been following my creative instinct, and it’s actually taking me somewhere I never expected to go. I love it so much, and I can’t wait to continue working in that direction and share more very soon.
It’s a little more grown-up and a little less conceptual. Each song is inspired by experiences I’ve had over the last seven months. Usually it’s hard for me to be specific and honest in my songs, especially in Bulgarian since it’s my mother tongue, but I challenged myself to be more open. Visually, it’s very different too. Stay tuned!