"What’s It To You’ looks back at my Mum, my Nonna, and every unspoken rule of society we’ve fought against."

NEW SINGLE ‘WHATS IT TO YOU ‘ OUT NOW

W: Lulu Kennady

"My superpower is music, and I always want to use it to better myself, to better my community, and uplift those I love," says Dolly Doops.

The London-born, former New York-dwelling femme alt-pop artist is crafting a sonic universe where massive, glittering production meets uncompromising vulnerability. With a brilliant knack for turning complex, world-shattering emotions into dancefloor anthems, Dolly Doops is gearing up for a monumental year—complete with a debut EP on the horizon and a fierce commitment to creating real, live community.

We sat down with the rising star to talk about her new single "What’s It To You", hyper-fixation as a strength, and why her pre-show routine involves "girl dinner" and a lot of silence.

Dolly describes herself fundamentally as a big city girl, fuelled by the relentless pulse of metropolitan life. Having split her time between the gritty energy of London and the creative landscape of New York, her music naturally reflects that dual-city heartbeat. But beneath the polished, driving beats lies a deeply rooted purpose: telling authentic stories of womanhood, queer love, and queer joy.

For the uninitiated, Dolly’s sound sits firmly in the alt-pop category, bridging the gap between retro nostalgia and cutting-edge modern production.

"I’m very inspired by old and new music. Retro synths, modern synths, big anthemic drums, funky guitar rhythms, modern beats, and stacks on stacks of vocal harmonies," she explains.

But don't let the upbeat rhythms fool you. Dolly masterfully pairs these high-energy backdrops with heavy, vulnerable subjects. "I think it’s the perfect way to reflect complicated, heartbreaking events in life. They’re not small, slow moments; they're huge, world-shattering, forever-changing life lessons. I like to encapsulate that with big songs, big sounds, and build them like emotions can build up within us."

When it comes to hitting the stage, don’t expect any diva behavior from Dolly—unless you count a strict ban on pre-show "yapping."

"I like my space to get myself into the right mindset before stepping on stage, also to preserve my voice," she admits. "I find it hard to not get super over-excited and just yap my head off and tire my voice out before I’ve even started singing, so I have to hide away from people who I’d wanna chat to until after I come off stage." Instead, she protects her peace by soaking up the good energy of her band, The Frooty Loops, and refueling on a very specific pre-show menu. "I can never really eat that much pre-show, so my ideal lil snack is some olives, some pickles, and some fruit. Girl dinner vibes."

Her gripping new single, "What’s It To You", is a direct response to the turbulent political conversations surrounding women’s bodies and rights. Born from a place of helplessness and frustration, Dolly and her co-writer/co-producer, Seegz, built the track entirely from scratch.

"Heartbreaking events aren't small, slow moments—they’re huge and world-shattering. I want to encapsulate that with big sounds."

"It wasn’t totally fixed on the current climate too; I was looking back at the past and historical events," Dolly notes. "Thinking of my Mum, my Nonna, and her mum, and every level of expectations and ‘unspoken rules’ of society we’ve lived through, survived, and fought against."

The result is a track that is inherently political but fiercely fun, boasting a retro, Prince-esque swagger. True to her identity as a deeply visual artist, Dolly flew to Belfast to shoot an equally ambitious music video with director Alessio and producer Giovanni of Moonlait production company. "We had so much fun shooting it and have some crazy stories from it all—one of them being me almost being thrown off a horse!"

In an industry obsessed with rapid-fire content and constant output, Dolly isn't afraid to take her time, refusing to view her deep sensitivity or perfectionism as flaws. "I think my tendency to hyper-fixate on perfecting something in a world that revolves around quantity can sometimes feel like a negative, but I’m also proud of the pride I take in my work."

That emotional depth has also seen her through profound personal obstacles, including unexpected grief and the loss of friends. "Music has been a lifeline, being able to channel my emotions into that," she shares. "Those experiences have woken me up to the fragility of life and how important it is to really live, surrounding myself with my loved ones and finding my tribe."

"My ideal pre-show snack is just olives, pickles, and some fruit. Total girl dinner vibes."

With "What’s It To You" setting the stage, fans have a massive calendar to look forward to. Dolly’s highly anticipated debut EP drops this September, accompanied by a wave of striking visuals, music videos, and a packed schedule of live gigs. Best of all? September will also mark her very first headline show—a dream milestone for an artist who believes live music is the ultimate tool for human connection.

"Going to see the artists I love and adore live saved me a lot and brought me so much joy growing up," Dolly reflects. "I see myself like them, doing that for my own community and listeners."

“What’s It To You” is out now. Keep your eyes peeled for Dolly Doops’ debut EP arriving this September.