At first I assumed it wasnt real, Ferreira tellsVogue.
Eventually, however, Halina Reijn did manage to get in touch.
Skys songs are so sensual and empowering, Reijn says.
Photo: Morgan Maher
Out this Thursday, Leash was conceived specifically forBabygirl.
Wanna be caught, go down in flames, I know Ill never get my way.
Leash marks Ferreiras first release as an independent artist since being dropped from Capitol Records in late 2023.
Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson inBabygirl.
The album would mark Ferreiras only major release with Capitol.
That album has yet to materialize, but Ferreira insists its not for lack of trying.
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Photo: Morgan Maher
After touring for the anniversary ofNight Time, shes also planning more live performances for 2025.
Note: LightBabygirlspoilers ahead.
Sky Ferreira:It feels good.
Ferreira performing at a festival in Denmark in 2022.
Im putting it out with A24, so its not totally independent, but Im very excited.
Was Leash a song that you had already been working on, or was it conceived specifically forBabygirl?
I wrote it forBabygirl.
Madonna wearing her “Boy Toy” belt at the the MTV Video Music Awards in 1984.
The film had only wrapped a few months prior, so they showed me a very early cut.
Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson inBabygirl.
How did you like the process of using the film as a jumping-off point compared to writing from scratch?
Im a bit spoiled by this being the first film that I get to do.
It made it really easy for me.
I was trying to figure out how to capture that vibe without just replicating it.
Can you walk me through your initial reaction to the film and how the song was born from it?
Thats why Ive always wanted to do more film work.
I grew up with music videos and strongly associate music with visuals.
Its almost like I project the music video in my head as Im writing it.
I wasnt just thinking, What could a song for this movie sound like?
Theres something a bit emotionally nihilistic about it all.
Are there specific moments in the film that stayed with you as you put the song together?
Its all about the power dynamic between them.
I also just kept thinking about that final shot of the dog in the hotel room with Harris.
Thats an image I kept coming back to as I was coming up with the track.
Its definitely a bit of both.
How long would you say it took for Leash to come together?
I had to submit it in time for the films premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Did you work closely with Halina as far as getting feedback and talking through your ideas for the song?
I had a lot of conversations with Halina.
The thing I liked about this entire process is that she really trusted me.
I really connected to her and the way she works.
She knew I understood the subtext of the film.
Were both very interested in masochism as a theme, specifically emotional masochism.
Its been a point of interest for a bit now.
Is Leash indicative of the sonic direction of other music youre working on?
I would say so, but its sorta hard to tell.
I definitely dont think anyones gonna be hearing anything super minimal from me anytime soon.
I tend to lean upbeat without trying to be too obviously poppy.
Ive been writing some songs that are definitely way poppier than anything Ive been putting out.
Dont Forget is pretty poppy, but its just a different kind of pop than whats popular right now.
Are you officially no longer part of it?
And it was a weekend!
After months of not hearing back from them!
My relationship with them was obviously a bit fraught, and its never been very simple to explain.
They were trying to make a point.
I was already dreading the 10-year anniversary of my album because its sad.
How does it feel to be a free agent and able to make music on your own terms?
It feels liberating, but Im honestly still angry about the situation.
I was catatonic for a few weeks after that email.
Not because I was dropped, but just the way it happened.
It felt like their way of trying to break my spirit one last time.
Its kinda like when someone gets out of prison and they dont know what to do with themselves.
And its similar in that way where you still dont have rights to everything that you did before.
Are you able to release any of the music you recorded while you were signed to Capitol?
I cant right now, even though I was the one who paid for all of my studio sessions.
Im working to try and get some of those songs back, but Im not getting every single one.
I thinkmostmusicians I know generally pay to work.
Because thats another thing, Capitol wouldve never let me do something like thisBabygirlsong.
Did they block the release of the Dont Forget music video as well?
That was basically set up to fail.
They wouldnt even let me do interviews around that song.
I wasnt even allowed to take press photos, which is fucking crazy.
And in some ways its worked.
Theres a narrative around me thats just not true.
But Im also not gonna just sit here and correct people.
Ive had to accept that Im not getting those 10 years of my life back.
It was the first time in a while that everything felt the way it should be.
I had my lighting that I usually like and a setlist I was really happy with.
Do you still enjoy performing those songs?
I still love that album after all this time and weirdly, dont get sick of singing it.
They still really mean a lot to me.
That wasnt the album most people wanted me to make until after it came out.
Are you gonna drop a studio version anytime soon, or at least upload it to your SoundCloud?
I love that song, so maybe.
But I would need to get my SoundCloud password back from Capitol.
They took that too?
Yeah, they somehow got my password and locked me out of my account.
It was a whole thing back in, like, 2018.
It was maniacal, dude.
Forgive me for asking, but do you think well hearMasochismin the near future?
I sure hope so.
Its just a matter of getting all my stuff back, which is fucking crazy.
I dont even know who to talk to at the label anymore.
For all I know, the people at Capital now could be really nice.
They got dropped too, which is honestly a bit funny.
Is there going to be a Leash music video?
Yes, and its with a very close friend that Ive collaborated with for other music videos and photoshoots.
No, but that would be amazing.
Their name does begin with aGthough.
[Ed note: Ferreiras close friend and collaborator Grant Singer has directed her in seven music videos.]
Does the video have a tentative release date?
In terms of the timeline, everything aroundBabygirlcouldnt come out around the films release in December.
Im also gonna play it live somewhere.
I cant say too much, but its something I havent done in a very, very long time.
Like a late-night performance?
No comment [laughs].
But Im really excited to play it live.
But I can do whatever I want live, so its gonna sound really big with a band.
Ferreira performing at a festival in Denmark in 2022.
Are you gonna tour more in 2025?
Im starting to line up some performances now that Im figuring out how all this works again.
I actually really enjoy playing live when I get to do it properly.
Im figuring out what works for me compared to what people tell me Im supposed to do.
Now my live shows are going to be presented the way I want them to be.
It was just me and my band.
Are you interested in acting more?
At most, Ive only ever been able to do things where I shot for three days.
But I would love to act more in the right projects, for the right people.
I read that you auditioned for the Madonna biopic thats since been scrappedwhat can you tell me about that?
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Its not like I was trying to replicate her work, but just her mindset and her confidence.
So auditioning for her biopic was extremely surreal.
Youve never been one to dance much in your videos or live performancesdid you enjoy that process?
I felt like I was possessed, it was some realBlack Swanshit.
I did feel a little silly sometimes, like I wasJamie: Private School Girlwhen shetried modern dance.
But I just really went for it because Madonna is so naturally confident and I wanted to project that.
Madonna wearing her Boy Toy belt at the the MTV Video Music Awards in 1984.
The audition process seemed quite extensive and was described as Madonna boot camp"is that a fair descriptor?
I certainly think so.
I spent two months working on it, between the auditions and dance rehearsals.
I dont usually get starstruck, but it was just so surreal to be with Madonna at her house.
Do you remember what clothes?
It was the Boy Toy belt.
What excites you most about this next phase of your career, post-Capitol?
Im just excited to put out new music and have full control over the process.
Its not like Im going to have some crazy budget or something for whatever I put out next.
But having the freedom to figure out what that means for me musically is really exciting.
Would you sign with another label down the line?
Its hard to say.
Im self-releasing the first song I put out after Leash.
It kinda feels like I get to start over.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for length.
