Be loud in your stillness with Ms. Palace

Dreamy, ethereal, and breathy, Hague-based artist Ms.Palace is a true embodiment of her sound. We meet at a darkened café, only to find it closed –  a fitting start since she was already brewing on another destination in mind. She leads us to a nearby park, settling on the grass, shoes off, feet grounded. Blades of grass curl between her fingers, a cigarette in the other, her gaze following the zigzag of dragonflies. She has arrived, both physically and through her recently released album When the Dust has Settled. Last time we spoke, she shared poems for #139 The Light issue. Today, we dive into her latest musical escapade. Beginning as a producer and later adding her voice, Ms.Palace now guides us through a floating valley of alternative R&B. Between distorted beats and grimy instrumentals, there’s something nostalgic lying between the notes. In this part of her evolution, we’re invited to exhale, find stillness in the chaos, and calmness in the turbulent. When the Dust has Settled is a gentle embrace for those who can’t help but wear their emotions on their sleeve.  It’s a stop, if only for a moment to breathe. But this is only one stop of many stations that lie ahead. Shown in her previous releases like “to be cherished”, Ms.Palace is a shapeshifter, letting her emotions guide her to new terrains. We spoke to her with the aim of understanding the album and delved headfirst into realms of dreams, the sea, and the synesthetic connections that shape her music. Read along as we chat about the desire to reflect an older version of oneself, the beauty of vulnerability, and rebuking insincere energy.

Hi! First things first –  How are we feeling today?
I’m feeling lovely, but I also feel like I have to ground myself. I had a music video recording yesterday for one of the songs in the album titled ‘Twinkling Eyes’. We decided to shoot it on the beach during the night, and it just took a lot for me emotionally, so the feelings are still lingering.

I hear you. I hope you still managed to catch enough rest! Your latest album was dropped a few days ago – how are you feeling surrounding its release?
The first feelings that I went through when I first decided it was going to come out were relief. Having worked on it for quite a while and sharpened my craft along the way, I feel like I got to conquer – I got to arrive in a way. I’m also excited that I get to show a more calm, adult and grounded side of me, which is a nice follow-up to the EP I made prior, “to be cherished”. 

Do you think that sense of relief and arrival came more from the process itself, or from finally deciding to let it out into the world?
Honestly, it was a combination of both, the process of making the record and also assembling it came with its own emotional twists and turns. However, the ultimate decision to push through is a “release” from you as well, as if birthed – that feeling is really special. 

I’m always here for album births. In your own words, what is “When the Dust has Settled” all about? Why did this particular title feel like the right vessel for the tracks?
A friend of mine sent me a text saying, “I love you. When the dust has settled, we’ll see each other again”. Life can get you all caught up, so you don’t always get to see each other. This phrase stuck with me, and it really describes how things have been going in my life. I started out as a producer at around 16 before also singing when I was around 18. When you start including your own vocals, you kind of want to try everything. After I released “to be cherished” about 3 years ago, I really wanted to sharpen what I had and take singing more seriously. The label Bound Centre, which released that previous EP, really saw me and helped me discover that there’s so much more in music for me to delve into. The same goes for the producers of this recent album, like Peter Riddell, who also showed me so much about myself. This project as a whole was such a tool to pinpoint all these different things in my life, and to conquer them. I’ve been through so many things and tried so many things, and now, after the storm, I’ve found what I am. In all the chaos, there is stillness, and that really helped me to ground myself. That’s what the album is about. 

That’s beautiful, and I loved how a fleeting text became a hallmark of a period in your life. Looking back, what does this project do differently from your previous releases?
I think it touches upon the theme of maturity – “to be cherished” was the transition point, as before that, I mostly made trap music. It has two parts, Side A, which follows the trap footsteps but has dreamy elements to it, while Side B is way more ethereal and involves soundscapes that I produced myself. With this album, the difference is that I’m leaning into more of a vision that I’m clear on – there’s more emphasis on my maturity, from being 18 to a 23-year-old in my studies. I live by myself, and I get to choose whatever I want in my life. It’s leaning more into my authentic self, feeling centred in that I get to be loud in my stillness, and this can attract so much abundance. Emotionally, that’s kind of how the album differs, and sonically, I’m no longer, per se, hiding behind auto-tune with my voice. There’s one track called “Wish You Were Here”, and I made a voice memo of me singing it, and that ended up being used in the song. This also translates to the rawness in that I’m no longer afraid to show what my real voice is like – to show my heart and be true in my vulnerability.

And during this process, what kinds of experiences, places or even dreams fed into the making of this album?
It was the album cover and the pictures, which, funnily enough, were shot a year ago before I even knew I was going to release a new album. The shoot itself was with Luka Ruiten, a very dear friend of mine. She understands me very well emotionally and visually in the things that I like to do, and she knows how to translate that into the works I’m crafting. So we went to the beach, and I remember it was such a pure experience that I told her, “I think this is going to be my next project’s album cover.” At that point, I wasn’t even sure yet of what kind of songs I wanted to be on there, but I knew – this is it. I have synaesthesia, and that also influenced me a lot. When I think of sounds, I also think of colours, specific seasons of the year, different tastes and scents, and during the shoot we were by the sea, surrounded by dunes. I remember going home after, and all of these impressions formed themselves in front of me, and I made a tracklist right away, let it sit for a year, and then I crafted it for what it was. The whole experience of going to the dunes, feeling the sand against my body, and the day slowly turning into twilight was really inspiring. Besides that, I think the people I’m currently surrounded by inspire me and also encourage me to get out of my shell, pun intended. In terms of artists, I would say Blood Orange, I’m just obsessed with the way he crafts things, Kelela and Solange. Solange is a huge inspiration, especially in my daily life. It’s not so much that I want my music to sound like hers, but the way she embodies her work is admirable, and that’s something I want to do. 

I’m really interested in the synaesthesia part. If your album had a taste, colour, or object attached to it, what would they be?
For the colours, I’d say blue with sand tones. As for an object, I’d choose the ammonite shell. It’s a fossil and has this beautiful shape and texture. I keep one in my purse as something to fidget with, a little grounding reminder to myself. And a scent…it would be the citrusy perfume I always wear – it’s one I get made, and I just love citrus scents. That’s really how I see it all coming together.

So vivid! And did you have any rituals for getting into the groove of creating your sound or entering the creative sphere in general?
Oh, I love that question. Generally, I’m the type of person to be very intentional. However, I also like being intuitive, and when it comes to creating, it’s about allowing yourself to balance the two. All of the tracks are made at my house except for ‘44 Sanderson’. While creating, I like to facilitate an atmosphere that feels open, lighting some candles and incense. It’s about sharing and inhabiting that atmosphere together, diving into production together and finding a specific emotion that you both resonate with. That’s how I get into it, I don’t write anything beforehand. We make the music, and it happens. It’s like tuning into a creative frequency – I really believe that we’re all connected to this creative cloud. I’ve been reading a lot of Rick Rubin. So I really resonate with that vision. So I think when the emotions come, you have to let them lead you.

What do you think are the primary emotions your music evokes?
I hope that when people listen to it, they get to be, and they get to resonate with the calmness. I think that’s also why I chose to release it at the end of summer, when things start to wind down. You’ve experienced so much, and you have so many new memories that you’re now reminiscing on. Your gaze gets a bit glassy, and you feel all these different emotions running through you, but you’re OK with that. I think the emotion and feelings I like to awaken are the feeling of surrendering, because that’s what I did when making this album. To surrender to what I’m going through, to surrender to the state of being, and to surrender to the present moment.

Definitely, I find that summer brings about breezy revelations that stick with you. If any, what revelations have you had recently that you’d like to share with the world, or into the ether?
Every emotion you experience is a tool to bring you closer to yourself. I was also thinking of this during a performance installation I made called ‘closeness and distance can exist at once’. I researched extensively about what shame can do and what it means to share vulnerability in its rawest form. Navigating these things is always a process, and there isn’t always a clear end goal.  I suppose my revelation is that conflict, both internal and external, presents an opportunity to reconnect with oneself and others.

Now to a tricky one…what is your favourite song from your album?
It changes over time because everything holds a different memory and also a different emotion, and sometimes, the meaning even changes over time. As we speak right now, I think it’s “Wish You Were Here” because it evokes such nostalgia for me. It’s so innocent and reminiscent in a way, and makes me think of lying in a bed with the covers over your head.

On the same note, if you could pick one song that is so unmistakably you, and another song that exposes your inner self,  which song would it be?
It’s once again “Wish You Were Here”, as I’m showcasing a certain intimacy that’s upfront and less polished than other tracks on the project. The last two tracks, “You (Hunch Remodel” and “I Feel Like I Know You”, also stand out. That’s why I placed them at the end; it feels like you’re going somewhere through the album, and they act as a little teaser of what’s to come. After this calmness, after the storm has settled, it’s like – what’s coming next, y’all? I also really enjoyed the process of making those tracks – I felt hyped up and seen in all the versions that are me. I wanted to highlight my vulnerability and calmness, but I also have a whimsical, bright side that I want to show.

Are there any artists that you are dying to collaborate with?
I’ve gotten used to approaching singing alone, so I’ve been a bit shy about working with others, but I would love to work with more people from abroad. There are some DJs from DC that I would like to check out, and I’d also really want to work with more women. Ideally, in the future, I would love to go in the same direction as Okay Kaya. Who knows? I stay humble.  My dream collab would be with Blood Orange and John Glacier. She’s a great example of finding your sonic identity within a specific niche, yet still unafraid to branch out into other directions, making trap music in one instant, and then collaborating with the likes of Sampha on another. That’s really what I envision for myself – allowing my sound to transcend and bleed through genres.

Your sound is so dreamy and ethereal. Have you had any memorable dreams lately that inspired you?
I wouldn’t say a specific dream, but more the recurring experience of your subconscious still lingering behind after you wake up. I remember watching this cartoon when I was younger, and it was about a character who, whenever they took a step, left their shadow behind. And then they had to find their shadow to interlink with it again. That experience of dreaming and being far away lingers with me a lot because of the interaction you have with yourself, and that brings me a lot of power. There’s so much more going on in yourself that you’re sometimes not as aware of. 

So you think dreams reveal more than just our subconscious?
I highly believe that, and I have a lot of experience with that. I’ve had some pretty sacred dreams throughout my life, and that’s why I take my life and my dreams very seriously, because sometimes we forget that just because you only experience something in your dream doesn’t mean it’s not true. It’s your emotional self going through a very real experience. When you’re willing to face that honestly, you uncover so many insights that carry into the life we share with others. Dreams help process not only what we’ve been through, but also what we’re moving toward. I once told a friend about a bad dream I had, and she said, “Nice, you got that out of the way.”. I found this so interesting because she viewed it as a cleanup of the things that have been lingering in your mind, and I immediately felt this relief going through me. 

It sounds similar to this theory of having your dream self face difficult scenarios to make your awakened self more accustomed to the situation that they fear. Earlier, you mentioned this ammonite fossil, and I was wondering – what’s something mundane that carries a touch of the otherworldly, or feels ethereal to you?That’s a really good question. Oh fuck. Because what would that be for you?

I immediately think about things from the sea. We still know so little about the sea, and I would love to imagine that the shells or objects lying at the bottom of the sea are small gifts and trinkets from the gods. Then, somehow, we manage to retrieve them, and we hold these magical objects in our hands.
Oh, I hear you. We’re sticking to a theme, but it would also be shells for me. I’m just kind of in love with the sea, and I think we found each other in a way. 

 Just for my own curiosity, what star sign are you?
Taurus.

Taurus. Oh my god, you know I was gonna guess that because of your earthy tones.
I swear to god. So predictable, I know. But I have a lot of Gemini placements, actually, so a lot of people assume I’m a Gemini when they speak to me. But I have a Leo rising and a Cancer moon, and I think it’s the Cancer moon that definitely connects me to the sea. Even my astrology consultant advised me to visit the sea often, and it’s been really sacred to me. Whenever I’m overwhelmed, even my mom reminds me to take a walk by the ocean, and it always grounds me. And I think that meant so much to me because not only does my mom know me so well, but also the whole experience of going there and discovering these things has such a special meaning to me. I just love collecting shells. I even remember that on King’s Day, a little girl was selling me all these small shells. Obviously, I had to buy some. Later, I was with a friend, and he started pointing out all the different patterns and textures in one of the shells. That felt like proof to me that there’s so much beauty in the most minor things if you really stop to notice, and reminded me that there’s always beauty to be found in small details.

Yeah, like the oceans’ very own fingerprints. So what are your dreams for the future – what can we expect from you next?
My dreams for the future are to feel deeply and always celebrate it. I’ve always been a very sensitive girl, and finding my way through that in childhood and puberty was not easy at all, but my mom never made me feel ashamed for the feelings I had. I think that’s why my mom and I are really close. She helped me to embody my sensitivity, so I plan to navigate with that truth — to feel deeply and to connect with others and myself over and over again. I know this might sound a bit cliché, but I just want to grow into my authentic self. That’s where I feel creativity plays an important role, acting as a tool for self-discovery and encouraging us to look deeper.

I love that. It’s also very important, especially in terms of the emotional aspects. I’m not sure if this is a generational thing or not, but people seem to be afraid to be vulnerable or open with their emotions. So I think we need more people just to show that it’s okay.
That’s also why I was researching shame so much, because I think a lot of these decisions of living your life with a veil are something we feel a lot of pressure for. But it never made me feel comfortable, and especially if you’re sensitive, hiding it never really works out. So you have to find a way to be open with it, and for me, that was music. It was never about being good at music; it was all exploration and having fun. So yeah, don’t suppress yourself. I rebuke that shit. 

Amen!