British singer/songwriter Sienna Spiro breaks down the raw emotions behind her debut EP, how she stays true to herself in today’s fast-paced music scene, and what’s coming next with her latest single, “Dream Police.”
Stream: “Dream Police” – Sienna Spiro
“Dream Police” has just landed – the latest bold move from 19-year-old British singer/songwriter Sienna Spiro.
Produced by Omer Fedi and Yakob – the hitmakers behind Charli XCX and Kali Uchis (respectively), the track finds London-based Spiro channeling Christopher Nolan’s Inception to craft a dark, cinematic love story – one that pairs gritty beats and hypnotic textures with her effortlessly soulful voice. Fresh off a standout COLORSxSTUDIOS debut performance, this single is the first taste of a new chapter for the rising star.
I been out cold ’cause this world I live in
Hasn’t got you in it but it’s got me missing
You never had a plan, just a man and a mission
You know, you know
I’m coming with the dream police
If you’re ever leaving me
I will never let you go
You know, you know…
– “Dream Police,” Sienna Spiro
Spiro first grabbed the world’s attention with this past February’s heartfelt debut EP SINK NOW, SWIM LATER (via Capitol Records), which introduced her stripped-back sound steeped in jazz, soul, and R&B influences, from Etta James to Amy Winehouse. The EP’s breakout track “MAYBE.” – self-described as a song “about realizing your worth and finally seeing who somebody truly is after being in the dark for so long” – has since amassed over 100 million streams and resonated deeply with fans.
“I got so many messages from women about domestic abuse,” Spiro tells Atwood Magazine. “It was so eye-opening… I just couldn’t believe that something I wrote had that effect.”
All I wanted was to be your hostage
For you to tie me up and never let me leave
If we’re honest, it took the longest
Time for you to even notice I was here
You said you’d take me places
Then you kept me waiting
How the hell could I be so wrong?
But now I’m feeling jaded
I thought I was your favorite
I believed in you for so long
Well, maybe this time
You’ll hurt like I do
You won’t get no sympathy
’cause I got none from you
Couldn’t make up your mind
Mine’s not confused
– “MAYBE.,” Sienna Spiro
While social media played a big role in her rise – thanks in part to a viral TikTok cover of Donald Glover’s “Redbone” – Spiro is clear-eyed about the realities of online fame.
“No one’s doing a f*ing renegade dance to my song,” she laughs. But rather than chase viral trends, she uses platforms like TikTok as a “sounding board” to connect with listeners without compromising her artistry.
Looking ahead, Spiro is gearing up for a busy summer of touring and festival appearances. But more than the bustle of the road, she’s focused on creating “the most authentic version” of herself in her music – one that isn’t afraid to confront, unpolished and unapologetic.
I sleep so I can see you
I wish that it was physical
I dream so I can keep you
Even just for a moment
I go back to old times, baby
Pretty in the dress you gave me
I know you won’t leave me waiting
So I’ll see you tonight
Yeah I’ll see you tonight
I’m coming with the dream police
If you’re ever leaving me
I will never let you go
You know, you know
You know, you know
I’m coming with the dream policе
I gotta bring you back to me
I will never lеt you go
You know, you know
– “Dream Police,” Sienna Spiro
If “Dream Police” is any indication, Sienna Spiro’s next chapter will be as captivating as it is complex.
Atwood Magazine connected with the fast-rising artist to talk more about her recent releases, her experience on tour, and her upcoming projects.
— —
:: stream/purchase Dream Police here ::
:: connect with Sienna Spiro here ::
— —
A CONVERSATION WITH SIENNA SPIRO
Atwood Magazine: First of all, we wanted to congratulate you on the release of your debut EP! What has the reception been like since the release?
Sienna Spiro: It’s been crazy. I feel like this EP is my first offering to the world, and I think that’s always nerve wracking and a bit scary. But I’m really grateful for, all the people’s support and people that have listened. It’s been overwhelming, I haven’t really had time to process it yet.
What has the process of putting out a full multi-track record been like, instead of releasing a one-off single, or sharing a song on TikTok or Instagram?
Sienna Spiro: I love full bodies of work and I really hope in my career that I can continue to put out full bodies of work, because I think there’s a very fast-paced culture in music now. I think people’s attention spans are getting shorter and it’s like single, single, single, single.
I love cohesivity, is that a word? Cohesiveness, that’s the word. I love when a project feels like it has a world and it has cohesiveness, and you can indulge yourself in that. I think singles are important to highlight and give people teasers, but I hope, and I know that full bodies of work are really what I love the most.
And on this EP, for someone who hasn’t heard it before how would you describe your music – what experience would you expect them to have?
Sienna Spiro: Well, I’d hope an emotional one. My music is at the moment, very intentionally stripped back. It’s my first offering to the world, so I really wanted people to get to know me and to hear the words I was singing and hear my voice.
I’m really inspired by my inspirations – and that’s jazz and soul and R&B.You can hear the influences that I’ve grown up with, like Etta James, Nina, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, Amy. All of those incredible singers are the people that I grew up inspired by, and I would hope you can hear those influences within the songs.
Do you have any favorite lyrics on this EP?
Sienna Spiro: “Need Me” is a song that really encapsulates something for me. I feel really proud of those lyrics because, it’s such a feeling I felt my whole life and there’s no better feeling than being able to condense it and encapsulate that in a song.
.I think the three songs lyrically I feel proud of are, “NEED ME,” “ORIGAMI,” and “CYANIDE” – all for different reasons. I felt origami because it was my first time writing not introspectively and writing about something I thought was interesting, which is about parasocial relationships and the way people can be in love with someone that doesn’t know they exist.
And then “CYANIDE” – they’re so honest. That was a bit scary to be honest, because I get quite scared about saying the truth and being vulnerable.
I was at your show earlier this week at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Los Angeles and it was amazing to see how your fans reacted to your performance of “MAYBE.” How have fans responded to that track?
That song’s been seriously so eye opening and insane. I really didn’t wanna put it out. I hated the person I wrote it about and I felt like it didn’t resonate with me. I wrote so many songs and that was one that I was like, oh, another song, whatever. I posted a little clip of it and people really seemed to gravitate towards it.
Some people close to me convinced me to put it out – and since I put it out, I had such a crazy reception from it that I never thought was possible for a song.
And one thing that was really alarming to me was, I got so many messages from women about domestic abuse, which was so sad, but so eye-opening. I was getting like hundreds of messages a day when it came out of people being like, I was in a 10 year abusive relationship and this song helped me and I just couldn’t believe that something I wrote had that effect.
It’s taken on a whole new meaning for me, and it’s an insane one to play live. It was great to hear everyone singing along in the audience.
I know your music has really taken off on social media – but your sound isn’t necessarily something you’d expect someone to do a TikTok dance to. What’s your relationship with social media and how it has shaped your career?
Sienna Spiro: I think it’s amazing because there’s so much reach and that’s the way to market yourself and connect with people. And you have to do it.
I’m so grateful for the people that have supported me – but like you said, no one’s doing a f*ing renegade dance to my song. I think you have to be careful to keep yourself, and keep your artistry while you’re there. I think I had a little hiccup with that – and it taught me a lot. But TikTok doesn’t dictate anything I do, I just try and utilize it as a sounding board and to see what people like, and just to show people my music.
Last question, what does the next chapter look like for you after the release of your EP and your recent limited tour?
Sienna Spiro: I’m doing a lot more live shows, which I’m so excited about. That was really something I missed last year. I am doing my own little tour in Europe and then a bunch of festivals, which I’m so excited about.
To be totally transparent with you, I was very young when I started making music with other people and I was trying really hard to be something that I wasn’t. I’ve really taken a bit of time and gone back to what I love the most. When I think about the artists I loved a lot, what I loved about them was that authenticity. It’s something I really want to have, to be able to make the most authentic version of myself so that it confronts people.
— —
:: stream/purchase Dream Police here ::
:: connect with Sienna Spiro here ::
— —
Stream: “Dream Police” – Sienna Spiro
— — — —
Connect to Sienna Spiro on
Facebook, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
© courtesy of the artist
© courtesy of the artist:: Stream Sienna Spiro ::
