Irish pop powerhouse Pastiche is back, with her irresistible new single ‘Forfeit Control’ out today .
2023 was a banner year for Pastiche, who was featured as a Keychange artist and played the massive stages at The 3Olympia , Collins Barracks and Iceland Airwaves . Amidst these achievements, though, Pastiche battled bouts of excruciating pain, fatigue, mood swings, acne, hair loss and irregular periods. After being told by medical practitioners that it was all in her head, Pastiche was finally diagnosed with Stage 4 Endometriosis and received life-changing surgery that inspired ‘Forfeit Control’.
Pastiche says of the single: “After my surgery, I felt like I could breathe again. I could hear music again. I could sing again. I wrote 30 songs in two months, including ‘Forfeit Control’. In a way, this song is about my youth that I feel has been taken away from me. I’m in my 20s and meant to be making mistakes, going out, creating memories, being carefree, forfeiting control of life and not worrying about the future. However, I now find myself on fertility treatments with a chronic illness, not knowing the impact this could have on my career. ‘Forfeit Control’ is escapist for me. Singing it, I feel like the old me. It makes me dance in a way I have not danced in a year. It brought ‘Pastiche’ back to life. That is why it had to be my first release after this entire experience. We need to let go sometimes and just let life happen to us, because you really cannot fight what is going to be. This song is a reminder to ‘Forfeit Control’.”
Dublin-born Pastiche burst onto the Irish scene at the end of 2020, bringing her fresh pop sensibilities. Brazen, fiery and memorable, she is an artist to sit up and take notice of. With BBC’s Gemma Bradley noting that Pastiche has “a promising future ahead,” she has been hailed as “Ireland’s fastest rising pop star”(Hot Press ).
Showcasing online at the remote Ireland Music Week 2021 , each single release from her debut EP Freak Show Symphony has garnered millions of radio impacts, hundreds of thousands of streams, tens of thousands of radio plays, as well as landing New Music Friday , New Pop UK and other massive Spotify editorial playlists. She has an impressive 450,000+ Spotify streams under her belt as a fully independent artist.
Ireland’s answer to Dua Lipa meets Lady Gaga , Pastiche’s sound combines classic electronic dark pop with her majorly theatrical influences. Pastiche demands your attention with her lyrically and sonically singular tracks, full of sass and female empowerment.
Pastiche sold out her 2021 debut headline show at Whelans in 72 hours, causing media to rave about her and the Irish Examiner to name her an “Irish act to watch out for”. She made her debut at Primavera Pro in 2022 and dazzled audiences at leading Irish music festivals Sea Sessions , Indiependence , SoFFt Nights and Dublin’s Pride Festival .
Pastiche may be ready to ‘Forfeit Control’, but she’s also set to command stages as she finds a new lease on life.
