horsegiirL: The People's Pony

But even in transit, horsegiirL remains a firm believer in keeping up appearances. “There’s something amazing about romanticizing the airport experience,” she muses. “I feel like if it’s not a super long flight, show up in your best fucking outfit. Be that bitch at the airport.” Whether she’s flying business class or squeezing into an emergency exit row, one thing’s for sure: the world of horsegiirL keeps getting bigger, and everyone’s invited for the ride.

We sat down with the pony princess to discuss her do’s and don’ts of traveling as a horse, the new EP, and the most animalistic things her fans have done at one of her shows.

Hi, Stella. Congrats on the new EP. We were talking about playlisting and streaming. Is that where your head is at nowadays as an artist? What’s your priority going into dropping a new project?

The main priority is making music that I'm happy with, right? And then getting the assets to be something that I'd be excited about, too. All the videos and the visuals. But nowadays, of course, one part is that if you don't get any playlist support from the really big streaming services, it's incredibly hard as a smaller artist or mediocre-sized artist to really get your music heard because people discover that you have new work through playlists and through the algorithms. So it's not that I worry about it too much in the actual creation process or anything, but once it's out and you get good support, it's always great.

I feel like back in the day, artists would have to worry about working with record stores and their physical CD’s, etc. But nowadays it's like they have to focus on working with the algorithm and pre-saves.

Yes, exactly. It's a different approach. I don't know which is better, because I guess working with record stores, it would be very local, a local fan base, rather than having this immediate international access, but at least back then you sold a copy of your work and that was worth way more than how little money you get from a stream.

How does one do ‘giirL math’?

I think with giirL math, delulu is the solulu. That's really what it's about. You really just have to be delusional when you practice giirL math. So for example, if you pay something in cash, for many people it feels like you didn't pay anything because you'll have the same bank balance, or something is on sale. Let's say it's buy two get the third one free. You get something for free, but in the end, you actually buy more than you wanted to buy. Doing the math there, that's giirL math.

Have you ever gotten scammed before?

Like by a scammer?

Yeah. Like on the internet or with all the crypto stuff nowadays. I feel like there are so many scams to fall prey to.

Luckily, no, I have never actually been scammed like that before. I'm always wary of anyone trying to sell me the perfect solution. Something about all these crypto bros, there are so many scams. Like, the kind of pyramid scheme marketing videos that you sometimes get. I don't know if maybe that's just my algorithm, but I feel like it's very targeted toward a male audience anyway, so maybe it doesn't really work for the giirL math thing. I don’t know what the female equivalent is, but I feel like the whole crypto thing is mainly these very straight-looking, super techie bro kinds of people. It’s this, ‘This is how I started making $10,000 every month with barely lifting a finger.’

Yeah, I feel like online sports betting is such a thing nowadays, especially.

It's a huge thing here as well. Actually, now that you say it, I heard this crazy statistic that gambling addiction is actually the addiction with the highest suicide rates. I get it because you lose so much money in such a short time. I don't think people would spend that much money on an actual drug in that short of a period. And then you just have to live this crazy lie. Like, you're this family person, you have children, and you just spent your entire family's life savings. Oh my God, it's horrible. Anyone that's reading this, if you have a gambling addiction, I'm sure there's help somewhere. You should insert a help hotline so you don't start gambling. Don't start betting on horses.

Do you have a step-by-step guide on becoming a materiaL hor$e? And what comes with the territory?

Well, step one is to be independent. You gotta learn to make your own money and not be dependent on anyone else. Then once you start making your own money, you should spend your money. Don't save your money. Spend your money on things that bring you joy, but not just material things. Experiences, good food, travel. Really a materiaL hor$e is kind of an immaterial horse, because it's not about owning things. It's about owning experiences. I think those are the two steps. So first, make money independently, and then spend it on immaterial things.

Tell me about the video for “materiaL hor$e.” How did you come up with the concept, and what was it like logistically making it come to life?

I came up with the concept because I thought, how can I make something while touring so much? How can I incorporate this lifestyle into a video without having it be this crazy, huge production? Because I can't do that when I'm just in a place for a day. I wanted it to be really easy. That's when this idea was born of just having a couple of locations that I was touring in, in the Google Earth image style. I wanted to include a couple of more cities, actually, but the problem is that Google Earth is mostly sunny. So in some places we couldn't really do it because it wouldn't have been such a smooth stitch since it was raining. That’s why it's only those cities. But it was very fun to film it. I bought this 360 camera, and that was kind of the approach to just do it yourself.

What’s the craziest thing someone’s come up to you and said or done as you’re on the street?

When we were filming “materiaL hor$e,” there was this man on Wall Street who goes there every day. He goes there to literally smoke a blunt and give a fuck you to the people on Wall Street. He just gives the middle finger. He approached my two friends and I while we were shooting this, and he did not even care. You know, I'm a half-horse half-human hybrid. He did not care. He just straight jumped into telling us why he's here and what he's doing every day, and how he says fuck you to Wall Street every day. He just chatted with us. So that was one of the more crazy things. I don't know. Normally, people are very cute. They just want to take a photo or something.

What are the do’s and don’ts for traveling as a materiaL hor$e?

For do's, I would say at this point, business class. I feel like I've been spoiled now. Once you don't sit in economy squeezed between a five-person strong family with babies and a snoring old person for 12 hours, it's really a game changer. I used to always be like, ‘No, it's fine,’ but when you travel so much for work, the upgrade to business is definitely a must. Not for a one-hour flight, but anything over four to five hours, I would say business class. If you don’t have money for business class, which is fine, there's no shame in that. But I would say always go for the emergency exit rows because there's a bit more legroom. Either do aisle or window seat, which is obvious. Just upgrade. It's normally five bucks more. So that's a do. Then always drink enough water. Have disinfecting stuff with you. Travel comfortably, but not too comfortable. I think there's something about going to an airport and slaying that romanticizes the whole experience a bit more. I know some people only travel in joggers and leggings. But I feel like if it's not a super long flight, show up in your best fucking outfit. Be that bitch at the airport. There's something amazing about it, and it just makes everything more fun.

Don't wear too much perfume in general. I'm a big smell person. I love smells. I love fragrances. But when you're on a plane, just make sure you have a neutral scent for the sake of everyone. I know you love your new perfume that you just bought in the duty free shop, but not everyone is going to have the same want to now sit in this cloud of sweet smell. That’s definitely a don't. Another don't, or do I guess, is let people off the plane that have connecting flights. I never understand why people just stand up and don’t let anyone in front, especially if the airplane crew has already said that there's some people who might need to rush to get their connecting flights.

I love what you said about dressing up for the airport. I feel like back in the '50s and '60s, people would wear suits and their best garb to go on a plane. It was this big occasion. But now it’s transferred to the opposite.

No, it's crazy. When you dress up for a special occasion, it has a ritualizing effect. It makes the occasion a special occasion, right? So if you're not traveling for 24 hours, like when you're going to Australia or something, I think [dressing up] just makes the whole experience so much nicer. You can still dress flawlessly and comfortably. You don't need to sit in a tight corset, or a really uncomfortable pair of pants.

I was obsessed in the early 2000s and 2010s when pop stars like Lady Gaga would pull these insane airport looks. I would always look forward to airport paparazzi pics.

You’re so right. There needs to be a study done on the most iconic airport looks. Let's also acknowledge that when you are traveling business or first class, you oftentimes have the chance to then switch and get comfy. I get that you wouldn't really be able to sit in a crazy, huge space taking Lady Gaga outfit in economy. Although I encourage everyone to be that bitch.

I’m just picturing you sitting in economy as horsegiirL. What’s the craziest setting you’ve been in character as horsegiirL?

I think people tend to be quite used to seeing it by now. People are quite used to seeing a traveling horse. One time I did a submarine tour. A lot of my other horse friends are a bit more afraid of water, especially diving. So that was quite a weird occasion, I guess. It didn't actually leave the harbor, though. You just go down there and look at things, and you're underwater. It's hella dark, so you don't see much of the underwater, you know?

What’s your go-to airplane order?

Are we talking long or short flight? Or both? I would say, always sparkling water, no matter if it's short or long. And then a tea, normally. Something that just gets me a bit cozy. I'm not a big drinker. Something about the airplane when you're traveling, you start being a bit sweaty. You’re in these clothes and there are changes in air pressure. You’re just acclimatizing to being in a place with so many humans coughing and all of the germs. I just don't want to [drink alcohol]. I tend to normally just go for something cozy and healthy like tea. Then I would say, if it's a short flight, sometimes I get some crisps. If it's a long flight, I normally have the veggie or vegan meal that they make. Although there are very few that actually taste good.

Do the contents of your toiletry bag change depending on which city you’re in?

The toiletry bag stays the same. I would say the luggage obviously changes as it should. I would say don't go with your bikini to an Arctic region, and vice versa. You wouldn't bring your snow suit to the beach. But there's some things that stay the same, and others like the outfits obviously depend on climate, city or nature trip. Work travel or non-work travel. But in terms of toiletries and stuff, that really stays the same.

Your fans are called Farmies. What’s the most wild, animalistic thing a Farmie has done at one of your shows?

I think it's quite animalistic to just let loose, you know? To just vibe out as a collective. I think that's quite animalistic. But besides that, maybe when people have sex at my shows. It’s only happened once or twice, but just getting to that point where you say ‘Fuck you’ to the human conventions made up about sex being a shameful thing. I'm obviously not encouraging people to have sex at my shows, but I would say that it is a safe space for that.

That’s kind of epic.

I mean, who can say that they fucked at a horsegiirL show?

Photography: Kurt Johnson
Face FX: Sita Messer
Makeup artist: Alana Lucky