Izzy Hagerup, the musician behind the compelling indie-rock project Prewn, describes her sound with a surprising word: dissociation. Yet for listeners, her music is anything but detached. It's a potent, visceral exploration of emotion, channeling a lineage that includes the raw intensity of Fiona Apple and the gritty dynamism of Giant Drag.
The Emotional Nucleus of 'System'
Speaking from western Massachusetts, Hagerup is reflective about her latest album, System. She explains that songwriting offers a rare conduit to feelings she often suppresses daily. "Picking up a guitar, you could write about all the beautiful, happy things," she says, "but there's something that pulls your attention a little more sometimes." For her, the process is about release, about "find[ing] the nucleus of the intensity."
The album's creation was arduous, born from sleepless nights and self-imposed pressure to create. Hagerup recognises this as a symptom of the "immense pressure" many face in their mid-twenties. "A lot of fear got wrapped up in it," she admits, but now she feels her relationship with music returning to a place of joy. Tracks like the opener 'Easy', with its line "I was sniffing a flower but I snorted a bug," showcase her knack for sketching sudden emotional trapdoors.
A DIY Education in Western Massachusetts
Hagerup's musical ethos was fundamentally shaped by the famed DIY scene of western Massachusetts, where she stayed after college. Immersed in a community where legends like Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, and a helmet-wearing J Mascis were part of the fabric, she discovered the power of self-sufficient creativity.
"Seeing all the work that went into the community was so beautiful. It totally changed the course of my life," she states emphatically. This experience gave her the courage to pursue music seriously. Despite her deep connection to the area, a desire for new challenges recently prompted a move to Los Angeles.
Chasing the Darkness to Find the Light
With a growing fanbase often surprised by the darkness in her music, Hagerup remains unflinching. "I think the most powerful music is the most honest music," she shrugs. Her advice? "If it's getting a little dark in here: well, chase that." This philosophy is central to System, an album that acknowledges struggle while urging resilience, as heard on 'Don't Be Scared' and its encouragement not to fear "the sound of your broken, beating, dripping, heaving heart."
For Hagerup, this depth is essential. "If you're not going deep into the dark side, I don't know how you can go deep into the light side." Prewn's UK and European tour begins in May, offering audiences a chance to experience this bitterly optimistic, emotionally charged indie-rock firsthand.
