Throughout her sophomore album Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers brings a sense of community to her music. She has a knack for crafting lines that almost effortlessly voice the anxieties of her generation, and even more specifically she’s curated a tight-knit group of fellow musicians around her, collaborating over the past few years with fellow heart-on-their-sleeve songwriters like Conor Oberst, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker.
“I was super intimidated by all those people making the first record,” says Bridgers. “And I think the reason I like this record better is I think I’m clearly more comfortable writing, I’m clearly more comfortable with all my friends.”
The relatability of her lyrics shines through on tracks like “Moon Song,” where she references Eric Clapton and a nautical-themed birthday party within a dream, all layered over a self-destructive love song.
“The amount of women that have reached out about Moon Song, it’s a different flavor to people who’ve gotten that exact same John Lennon fight,” says Bridgers of a tweet mocking men who pretend to ‘get’ Fiona Apple for their girlfriends.
She’s also impressed by the variety of ways that people are able to stumble upon her music, whether it’s through a backyard barbecue playlist or a short Instagram dance video.
“It’s cool to have different songs be highlighted in different ways,” says Bridgers.
The record’s radio single, “Kyoto,” is a swift and bright closer to the show, showcasing her talent to kick the tempo up a notch. Through her multifaceted songwriting and collaborations, Bridgers’s music has become a story of its own, with Punisher as the latest exciting development.
