Emerging from Sweden’s music scene with an audacious pop persona, Virgin Miri is making waves with her explosive new single “Make A Movie,” where she teams up with internationally acclaimed rapper, Young Thug.
Co-crafted by the daring Miri herself and the esteemed GRAMMY-winning producer, T-Minus—known for his work with music titans such as J. Cole, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar—the track is a melodic odyssey. Its ominous basslines paired with sleek electronic flashes form a potent backdrop for Miri’s enchanting vocal display. As she breathily confesses, “I don’t wanna sleep, I just wanna make movies / Take a picture we can’t post,” the listener is drawn into her world before Young Thug steps in, layering the track with his signature charm and finesse.
In keeping with Miri’s commitment to high-quality, artistic visuals, the aesthetic of “Make A Movie” is nothing short of stunning. It harks back to the masterful stylings of Hype Williams, underscoring Miri’s rare artistic dedication in the process.
Showcasing her production talents on recent tracks such as “Basic Ordinary Ugly” and “Kill Me,” Miri presents a flawless fusion of memorable pop hooks and high-tech futurism. This unique blend keeps the spotlight firmly on her swift ascent in the music industry, a rise that’s already been noticed by fans and tastemakers alike.
Poised to make a splash in the world of pop, Virgin Miri took time out of her whirlwind schedule to chat with us. Ahead, we unpack her meteoric rise, musical influences, and the unique blend of elements that led to the creation of “Make A Movie.”
You’re a really multifaceted person, not just through the music, but it feels like you could have flourished in any medium. Yet, music seems to be the key that unlocks your creativity. Was there a particular moment or experience that catalyzed your decision to channel your creative energy into music?
Thank you so much for saying that! I’m just a big nerd really. I love my computer and how much I can create with it. There definitely was a moment when I decided to identify as an artist and started pouring all my energy into my music. But there was also a time before that when I tried not to write songs for a while. It didn’t work out, obviously.
Songwriting has always been part of my life, there’s a video of six-year-old me singing a song I wrote, saying I was gonna be in the Eurovision song contest when I grow up. But when I grew older I didn’t believe in myself as an artist and I also wanted to make a living. I’ve always been a visual artist – sometimes I’ll have an idea for a music video before I’ve even written the song. And I liked to draw so I decided to become a graphic designer, which has been my day job up until last year.
I quit my job in the middle of covid and just a few weeks later I was talking to my current label about working together. You close one door and another door opens. I’m grateful it happened this way and how it’s all coming together, as I now have the skills and resources to make my vision come to life.
“Make a Movie” is your latest song with a major feature from Young Thug. Tell us about how the song came together and what inspired it?
This is one of those songs that came to me when I was just waking up, when my brain hadn’t started spinning yet. Hence the opening lyrics, is it ok if I stay in bed all day. I’m not a morning person. The rest of the lyrics was inspired from a sext I got a few days earlier. I wrote, produced and recorded a demo in my kitchen at an Airbnb in NYC.
I played it for my A&R Rebstar, it didn’t have a second verse yet and he thought it’d be a great song to get a feature on. Never in my life did I think I would get to make a song with someone as iconic as Young Thug. I’ve been a huge fan of him since Jeffery came out. He fit so good into the trippy vibe as he’s such an alien himself and so playful with his lyrics and delivery.
You also co-produced this track with the GRAMMY-winning producer T-Minus, who has worked on some really iconic projects in the past. Understanding that you all are under the same label, how was it working with him?
Reb thought it would be a good idea to hit up T-Minus and listen to the demo and get some production feedback. This was before he started managing T, but they’d known each other for years. So suddenly I’m on a Zoom with T-Minus, super nervous as he is a legend who I’ve been a fan of since “Swimming Pools” came out in 2012.
We listened to “Make A Movie” and a bunch of my other songs and two weeks later we were in a studio in Toronto together. T-Minus is honestly just the best. He has this exceptional ability to bring out the emotion of a song. He understands my vision and doesn’t want to change my direction. If anything he challenges me to take it further. Being in the studio with him is such a dream, not just because of the magic we create, but because I learn so much by being around him. He’s also just a very funny, chill, and kind person.
The accompanying visuals are insanely good from start to finish. Can you tell us about the whole process and what you were going for in terms of creative direction?
Thank you! I had been wanting to work with Cirqle Film for a while when we started talking about shooting a video for one of my songs. They had this wild black-mirror-sci-fi-video game idea and I immediately said yes. The video speaks more to the sonics of the song and less to the lyrics which I really like. It has this trippy vibe to it and the video definitely intensified that.
How about the looks from the video? I know you worked with stylist Wilma Lidén for your wardrobe and your hair and nails obviously look really amazing.
Thank you! Wilma is insanely talented. It was an intense three-day shoot with three different looks, all with different vibes. The first one in the bedroom is kinda cute and innocent and the other two have more bad alien energy. The green top and the black pants were both custom pieces. I wanted my nails to be long, green and alienish and nail artist Frikiki did a sick job creating the designs. The green hair did not wash out after three washes like the packaging said but I enjoyed the frog vibes all summer. I also bleached my eyebrows, which was a first (and last) for me, and definitely added to the extraterrestrial look.
Going back to the record and even your music in general, your lyrics are very open and liberating which is refreshing. What inspires you to sing about the topics you do in your music, despite some of the negative connotations or controversial opinions around them?
I try not to think too much and let the songs come as they want. I’m actually a very positive person, I keep a gratitude journal and have hugged every tree on my block. I guess I have an outlet for my insecurities and negativity in my music. Which is kind of the point I think. To process what I’m going through in writing. I wrote Basic Ordinary Ugly when I was feeling self-conscious and insecure, but after writing it I felt hot again. I’m an alchemist and an igelkott.
Your first EP was called Pop My Cherry, and I feel like everything about you—from your style and aesthetic to makeup looks—has really primed you to be a pop star. Looking back on your career so far, what would you say is the most important lesson that you’d want your fans to take away from your journey?
Omg, I love you. I think the most important lesson for me has been to have fun. To follow joy and do what makes you tick. If you enjoy what you do, that’ll always shine through. At the end of the day, I write music for myself. I’m so grateful people vibe with my songs and I feel so blessed to have connected with people all over the world, but I would still write them even if nobody listened.
Finally, “Make A Movie” arrives on the heels of “Kill Me” and “Sad B!tch.” How do these songs fit into the fold of what’s next and this new chapter in your career?
All I can say is there will be fire, revenge, hedgehogs, raccoons, hamsters, UFOs, caves, love, death, and rebirth.
