The record blends glossy pop nostalgia, club-ready energy, hyperpop experimentation and emotional escapism into a cohesive world that’s unmistakably LIZ. Alongside the album arrives focus track ‘Jus Wanna’, a euphoric late-night house anthem produced with longtime collaborator Jimmy Harry and Dutch DJ FS Green. Drawing inspiration from house, UK garage and Y2K pop, the track perfectly captures the album’s vibrant, futuristic spirit.

Across a career spanning more than a decade, LIZ has consistently blurred the lines between bubblegum pop, R&B, dance music and avant-garde electronic production, earning admiration from the likes of Pharrell Williams, SOPHIE, Charli XCX, Diplo and Kim Petras. With Prototype, she’s celebrating artistic conviction, creative persistence and the power of staying true to your vision long before the rest of the world catches up.

We caught up with LIZ to chat about the new album, Y2K aesthetics, working with some of pop’s most innovative creatives and what’s next on the horizon. Read the Q&A below.

Hi LIZ! How are you? I’ve been a huge fan since near enough the beginning of your career – I had ‘Pandemonium’ on repeat when it came out and it’s still one of my all-time favourite sing-along anthems! Looking back, how has your journey as an artist been so far? What have been some of the highlights and challenges?

“Ah, ‘Pandemonium’! That song was actually a bold release for me. It was a totally unapologetic pop song that had no elements of the underground whatsoever. It’s almost punk in that way. Sarah Hudson is a beast of a songwriter.

“My journey as an artist has definitely had its ups and downs, but I can honestly say I’m proud of everything I’ve released. Each project represents a different era of my life and the scenes I’ve been a part of.

“Some major highlights have been working with Pharrell and SOPHIE – two incredibly kind, visionary and almost alien-like talents. One of the biggest challenges was the pandemic. I’d just released Planet Y2K and had booked an international tour for 2020 and 2021, only for everything to be cancelled. Of course, so many artists went through the same thing, but it was still a difficult moment.”

I absolutely adore your Y2K hyperpop aesthetic. Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to your visual identity?

“For this album cycle, we wanted to lean into something a little more high-fashion and feminine. We looked at early-2000s Dior campaigns and played around with sensory textures like silicone, silk and glass.

“Of course, there’s always a little Britney and Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century mixed in there too.”

You’ve just released your new album Prototype. What are the songs on the record about, what does the album mean to you, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?

“Prototype is equal parts vulnerable, cheeky, sexy and sweet.

“There’s a lot of love and desire woven throughout the record, including some unrequited feelings that can transport you right back to emotions you probably felt most intensely in high school.

“I’d love listeners to reconnect with their inner nostalgic teen and embrace the anxious dreamer who gets lost in fantasy and daydreams.”

Can you take us through the songwriting and creative process behind the album? What was your favourite part of making it and what did you find most challenging?

“These songs were written over the course of several years. Some tracks didn’t make the final cut, but I feel these ten songs create a really cohesive body of work.

“World-building has always been incredibly important to me, and developing the creative direction alongside James Orlando was magical as always. We built mood boards, collected fashion references and developed the visual world at the same time as the music.

“I especially cherish all the days and nights spent working in Jimmy Harry’s studio in the Hollywood Hills while we slowly pieced this project together. He truly sees me as an artist and cares deeply about what I do, and I’m incredibly lucky to have him in my corner.”

You’ve collaborated with some incredible artists throughout your career, including the legendary SOPHIE. What have you learned from those experiences, and who would you love to work with in the future?

“My collaborators have taught me to trust that my ideas are valid and to follow my instincts.

“I remember the first time I was in the studio with Charli. She would freestyle melodies straight into the room mic without overthinking anything. Watching her work gave me the confidence to do the same, regardless of who’s in the room.

“JC Chasez approaches lyrics in a similar way. He’ll throw out rhymes and ideas for hours without worrying whether they sound silly or random. You never know what’s going to spark a great concept.

“I’d love to make a Miami Freestyle EP one day, so anyone who’s interested in that should definitely hit me up.”

Finally, what’s next for you? Do you have any upcoming shows, projects outside of music or anything else you’d like to share?

“I’ve been writing music for TV, film and advertising, and I also have a side project called Gold Punch that I’ll be releasing soon.

“Lately I’ve really enjoyed writing demos for K-pop artists too. At heart, I just love being in the studio and creating music.

The post Getting To Know… LIZ appeared first on She Makes Music.

Built around a hypnotic vocal loop and wrapped in a semi-tropical glow, ‘Juicy Sweet’ feels like a three-minute pop daydream. Breezy, transportive, and intentionally addictive, the track merges sleek modern production with the playful excess of late-’90s and early-2000s pop. Sultry, tongue-in-cheek, and slightly surreal, it’s engineered to linger long after the first listen.

LIZ keeps things intimate with a “whisper-in-your-ear” delivery that draws listeners deeper into the song’s glossy atmosphere before a sharp, charismatic rap verse cuts through with a wink, showcasing the mischievous confidence that has become one of her signature strengths.

More than just another single, ‘Juicy Sweet’ sharpens the world of Prototype, the album that fully crystallizes LIZ’s singular pop universe: hyperpop experimentation, futuristic kitsch, glossy emotional escapism, and the timeless pull of Y2K pop colliding into something transportive, playful, and unmistakably her own.

The post LIZ delivers her most immersive pop yet with ‘Juicy Sweet’ appeared first on She Makes Music.

Following the shimmering ‘Sunscreen,’ co-written with the late visionary SOPHIE, and the sugary, hyperpop-leaning ‘Likey,’ created alongside hitmaker Jimmy Harry (Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears), ‘L in Lover’ finds LIZ at her most refined—leaning fully into the DNA of late-’90s and early-2000s pop.

Originally pulled from Jimmy Harry’s ’90s demo archives, the track is reimagined by LIZ, Harry, and JC Chasez, putting a sleek, modern finish on a nostalgic foundation. Built on New Jack Swing-inspired drums, lush harmonies, and a dreamy falsetto reminiscent of Mariah Carey’s ‘Dreamlover,’ the track channels the melodic precision of the Max Martin era—evoking Robyn, Britney Spears, and Mandy Moore at their pinnacle.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me—going from being a teeny-bopper *NSYNC fan (fully committed to JC as my fav) to getting to craft my own meta-Y2K pop songs with him,” says LIZ.

“If you ask any of my middle school friends, they will tell you I was not normal about my obsession! JC has one of the defining pop voices of my millennial generation. I studied his runs and ad-libs and admired his earnestness and how he always brought the most. Real ones know. Collaborating with him now, and calling him a friend, is incredibly special. I like to think he sprinkled some iconic ’90s pop fairy dust on ‘L in Lover.’”

Anchored by LIZ’s R&B-leaning vocal style, ‘L in Lover’ glides between silky harmonies, playful attitude, and airy falsetto runs. The result is a flirtatious, hook-driven single that feels both vintage and sharply current.

The post LIZ taps JC Chasez for TRL-era throwback ‘L in Lover’ appeared first on She Makes Music.

Co-written with Jimmy Harry (Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears), ‘Likey’ is BRAT in pastels — thumping bass, glitchy synths, and dreamy harp flourishes. It’s built around a massively addictive, earworm hook that lingers long after the first listen. Vocally, LIZ floats between cheeky rap cadences and bubblegum pop melodies with tongue-in-cheek confidence, layering kawaii sweetness over a bed of angsty tension.

While it fits naturally alongside the sounds of FKA Twigs, Shygirl, Doja Cat, and Britney Spears, ‘Likey’ lands squarely in its own lane — the sweet spot between hyperpop chaos and pop perfection. LIZ doesn’t chase trends; she sets them. Her brand of future-kitsch pop is stranger, prettier, saucier, and joyfully self-assured. It’s unmistakably LIZ.

The post LIZ unleashes new single ‘Likey’ appeared first on She Makes Music.

Originally conceived and recorded with SOPHIE in 2018 at her Nichols Canyon home studio, ‘SUNSCREEN’ has since lived as internet lore: traded in DJ sets, circulating through YouTube and SoundCloud rips, and sparking countless forum threads. Now, the track has been lovingly completed in collaboration with SOPHIE’s brother Benny Long and vocal engineer Suzy Shinn. The result is a radiant, sun-soaked pop anthem that pays tribute to SOPHIE’s groundbreaking artistry while signaling LIZ’s triumphant return.

Accompanying the single is a vibrant new music video filmed on location in Mykonos, Greece. First imagined in a treatment by SOPHIE and Renata Raksha as a vision of pool splashes and pop glamour, the concept came to life under the direction of James Orlando—brought full circle in a sparkling, sun-soaked pop fantasy.

The post LIZ returns w/ SOPHIE collab on cult pop classic ‘SUNSCREEN’ appeared first on She Makes Music.