Indie pop/folk singer-songwriter Queen Quail unveils her haunting and resilient new single Southside. It is accompanied by a striking visual that deepens its emotional resonance. The track serves as a powerful introduction to her now released debut EP Narcissus, available now across major streaming platforms. Queen Quail presents six carefully crafted songs. She explores themes of longing, identity, and philosophy. Her music also delves into the search for home. She weaves together sweeping production with vocals that are both vulnerable and commanding. This debut marks a significant moment in her artistic journey. It offers listeners a glimpse into a world where fragility and strength coexist.
Southside is a meditation on restlessness and the grief of lost time. Yet, it propels forward with a sense of determination. Queen Quail explains, “It’s about being haunted by an experience. This happens even after trying so hard to process it and get over it. I guess sometimes things just stick with you even years after. I like the idea that even if you’re somewhat a victim of circumstance, you still have agency. You can choose a different path and take responsibility for the environments you put yourself in.” Her words reflect the track’s duality—acknowledging pain while affirming the possibility of growth and renewal.
About the New Release — The song builds with a quiet intensity, gradually unfolding into a grand, optimistic finale that embodies perseverance. Queen Quail continues, “The track laments this feeling of not being able to escape something, but then ends with this big explosion of hope and resilience.” This progression mirrors the emotional arc of healing: the weight of memory giving way to the light of possibility. It is a sonic journey that resonates with anyone who has struggled to move forward while carrying the echoes of the past.
The accompanying video, directed by NYC filmmaker Sara Lovering, adds another layer of depth to Southside. Through carefully composed shots, Lovering captures the tension between light and shadow, intimacy and distance, reflecting the song’s themes of internal conflict and resolution. Queen Quail notes, “I think the shots she got for this video were so essential in tracing out my visual world—these ideas of light and dark, close and far, internal conflict and tensions are so present in this song and the visuals she created.” The video becomes not just a companion piece but an extension of the song’s emotional landscape.
Her debut EP Narcissus continues this exploration of resilience, self-discovery, and overcoming. The project is produced by David Thornton. It is mixed by Michael Kümper. Huntley Miller (Bon Iver, Sylvan Esso) mastered the project. It balances shimmering, dreamlike production with plainspoken storytelling. Queen Quail explains, “Writing these songs helped me figure out who I was becoming. I wanted to use my own voice without losing myself.” The EP is both deeply personal and universally relatable, offering listeners a space to reflect on their own transformations.
Much of the writing for Narcissus emerged from solitary sessions during a turbulent relationship. Queen Quail recalls, “Around that time I was also reading a lot of Freud, Lacan, and philosophy. These readings definitely slipped into the lyrics. They influenced the way I thought about memory, love, and the unconscious. I also considered how capitalism plays into these concepts.” It was initially a very private practice. Gradually, it became a reckoning with the choices I’d made in my twenties.” These influences lend her work a philosophical edge, blending emotional honesty with intellectual curiosity.
Her earlier single Last Night offered a glimpse into this evolving artistry. Led by a gentle guitar riff, the track explores mortality and the strangeness of inhabiting a body, wrapped in a nostalgic haze. After performing with Dan English of Porches, who encouraged her to embrace touring, the song gained further momentum, landing on Ones to Watch’s coveted Now Watching playlist. Together with Southside, it demonstrates Queen Quail’s ability to balance introspection with accessibility, crafting songs that linger long after they end.
About The Artist — Queen Quail is the creative project of Berlin-based songwriter Kirstin Edwards, who was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up by Lake Michigan, she developed a layered, intimate sound shaped by both her classical training on cello and her explorations on guitar. Her move to Berlin introduced her to a vibrant indie scene, while her Midwestern roots kept her grounded in DIY traditions. The name Queen Quail was inspired by a moment in Berlin’s botanical gardens, where Kirstin encountered a “Zwergwachtel” or dwarf quail. The bird’s quiet focus mirrored her own shy yet energetic nature, becoming a symbol of her artistic identity.
Our Thoughts — Her debut EP Narcissus embodies this duality—balancing the shimmer of indie pop with the intimacy of alternative folk. Across six tracks, she crafts a sound that is expansive yet vulnerable, dreamy yet direct. Produced by David Thornton and mastered by Huntley Miller, the EP carries the restless energy of Berlin while remaining rooted in Midwestern honesty. Supported by Initiative Musik, Queen Quail is carving out a space that bridges two worlds, creating music that holds the quiet pull of memory against the urgency of the present. With Narcissus, she invites listeners into a sonic world that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Listen below and connect with Queen Quail on Instagram.
