With her sophomore album Faultlines, Pisgah steps confidently into a wider, brighter emotional landscape—without losing the depth and intimacy that first drew listeners in. Following her 2022 debut Call Louder for Me When You Call, the new record expands her sonic world with shimmering indie rock textures, subtle synth explorations, and songwriting that feels both deeply personal and quietly expansive. Rooted in themes of transformation, water, and survival after rupture, Faultlines captures an artist unafraid to sit with darkness while reaching toward light. In this interview, Pisgah reflects on color and sound, comfort rituals and creative risks, and the moments of joy that surface even in the most fractured terrain.
- If Faultlines were a color, what would it be and why?
This is such an interesting question, especially for an art history person! Though the lyrics are dark throughout the album, my colour associations for this record have been so much lighter and brighter than I thought they’d be, as evidenced by the album cover. So I think it’d be teal, but a muted, subdued one, because it makes me think of water and how it changes under different types of light. Whether it’s coming down from the clouds or crashing against the shore, water as an element is at the centre of my music!
- Which song would you play to get someone hooked on Pisgah instantly?
It used to be a song called ‘(It Always Feels Like) December’ from my first album, but now it’s ‘Bend to Break’. Lyrically it’s a quintessential Pisgah song – all about finding yourself on the other side of catastrophe – and musically it captures my various influences well.
- Do you have a favorite “weird recording” story from making this album?
I don’t think it’s weird so much as totally novel to me, but I discovered the joy of arpeggiators while working on this record! I’m a much better guitar player than piano/synth player so I hadn’t spent much time with synths, but I had so much fun playing around with synth sounds to the point of total distraction. I’m at the very beginning of my synth journey and I don’t see myself releasing a synth-pop album, but my arpeggiator play ended up making its way into ‘Splintering’. When they kick in it’s so satisfying for me every time.
- What’s your go-to comfort snack while writing or recording music?
Probably a banana with crunchy peanut butter slathered on it! Sometimes accompanied by dark chocolate.
- If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Oh man, there are so many people I could say here, but I’ll go with the first person who came to mind – Sufjan Stevens! I’ve been enchanted by his music for two decades now, and I’m always inspired by how his artistry evolves. Sufjan, if you’re out there, let me know what you think!
- Is there a song on the album that makes you laugh or smile unexpectedly?
I think for me it’s the beginning of ‘Splintering’, and how the feedback resolves into the melody before the lyrics kick in. I’m so proud of how that one turned out, and it never fails to make me smile!
- If Faultlines were a movie, which actor would play you?
I recently was told that I look like Dakota Johnson (unsolicited as well, so make of that what you will!) and we do both have dark hair, blue eyes and a gap in our teeth, so I think she’d have to be the one!
- What’s a guilty pleasure song or artist that you secretly love?
I don’t think it’s a secret for anyone who knows me IRL, but it’s definitely Taylor Swift for me! Growing up I thought I was way too cool to listen to her and avoided her catalogue like the plague… until I spent three months in Germany on my own in 2015 and listened to 1989 for the first time. It became my comfort album when I was feeling lonely, and ever since then I’ve developed a real appreciation for her songwriting.
- Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions before performing live?
I always write my set list out by hand, add the venue and date, and draw a little animal somewhere on it. I think of the animals as guardians when I’m on stage, and they do weirdly make me feel more confident.
- If your life had a soundtrack, which track from Faultlines would be the opening scene?
Definitely ‘Cumulonimbus’, the opening track. It’s all about the inheritance of generational trauma and how it shaped me, so it’s the root of who I am as a person and why I write songs now.
