SPOTLIGHT: LANI WATSON

Meet Lani Watson and tune into her upcoming single “Poly Pocket”

“Poly Pocket” is such a clever title, part nostalgic, part provocative. How did the name come to you, and what does it represent for you emotionally or symbolically?

Thank you! The title came to me as I was thinking about how my nickname from my college ski team was “ski Barbie,” but over time, as I’ve developed my sense of self, I feel I’ve broken out of the traditional expectations of what a perfect Barbie girl is supposed to be. Particularly since coming out as polyamorous, I have taken serious time for introspection and my own evaluation of what societal expectations are of me, versus what I actually want and expect of myself. I no longer wish to follow traditional markers of success, I want variety and ingenuity in how I craft my life and my relationships. I thought back to playing with Polly Pocket dolls as a kid in California and how many different outfits were available. That’s how I live now, continuously seeking a variety of experiences and versions of myself. Thus, the title Poly Pocket fit perfectly. I also love puns.

The song celebrates polyamory with confidence and fun. Why was now the right moment for you to release this kind of statement as a single?

The timing of this song makes me giggle - first we had Barbie summer with the Margot Robbie movie, then we had Brat summer with Charli XCX’s incredibly successful album, and now it’s time for Poly Pocket summer! In perfect time for Pride month, and at a time in my life where I feel confident saying this all out loud. 

Your lyrics walk a tightrope between sensuality and empowerment. What’s your approach to writing songs that are both sexy and meaningful?

The sensuality itself is meaningful. For me, polyamory is an orientation. So to encompass that in a song is to describe myself, explain my brain to others. The overtness of my lyrics is purposeful - relational variations are regrettably still taboo, kept quiet, and pushed out of the public eye. I do not want to hide the pride I have in my sexuality and creativity, so I write from experience and I don’t censor myself. 

Pride Month is here! What does it mean to you to release a song like “Poly Pocket” as part of your identity and visibility during this time?

It feels like I am fully in alignment with myself. It’s so relaxing to be out, and to feel the unwavering support from my friends and family and partners who are so excited for this release. They know how much it means to me to feel I can make a difference in rainbow representation in music. I hope this song reaches those in the rainbow community who haven't heard their thoughts, desires, or way of relating represented in pop music. 

Lines like “Queen bed big enough for four” are cheeky, bold, and specific. What’s the balance for you between being playful and intentional in your songwriting?

Well, honestly, it’s specific because I write from experience. I choose my words wisely to make the listener blush but also paint only enough of a picture that they can complete it for themselves, however their imagination wants to. I love funny, cheeky, surprising lyrics that make people want to replay the song just to make sure they heard me right. 

You’ve said you're on a mission to write in as many genres as possible. How did your genre-bending philosophy influence the production or vibe of this track?

This song was really fun to create, to strike a balance between playful and sexy and dance pop that still somehow all knits together. I challenged myself to sing so softly in my upper register, and I enjoyed learning that I could make myself sound so different from my other songs, while still feeling like myself. 

The chorus hits with an anthem-like energy: “Not your Barbie, call me Poly.” Did that hook come first, or did it evolve out of the rest of the song?

The hook evolved out of a sassy defiance to the concept of the perfect Barbie girl. Actually, I first began writing this song back in 2014 when I was in college. I had written what is now the refrain, and didn’t know what else to do with it. I had never finished a single song until I came out, so I had this sitting in a folder, along with a few half-baked country songs. Ten years later, I finished it. I never considered myself a songwriter, I thought I didn’t have anything to say. After coming out, songs started pouring out of my head; now I’m constantly writing and it’s so cathartic!

Sonically, “Poly Pocket” feels like Y2K pop reimagined for a modern audience. Who or what were your sonic inspirations while crafting this track?

My original reference song back in 2014 was Motivation by Kelly Rowland. Once I finished writing the song in 2025, I looked to The Pussycat Dolls, Tate McRae, and Charli xcx for instrumental inspiration. 

From the siren-like humming to that deep string bass, the production on this track is rich and layered. What was your collaboration like with Kory Shore and the mixing and mastering team?

My team is fantastic, they’re so fun to work with. Kory has a gift for materializing emotions. We tried many different instruments for the bridge and his skills on bass were the secret ingredient to giving it that 50 Shades of Grey feel. Kory and I cracked ourselves up while sampling our own sounds; we tucked all the belt buckle clicks, zipper pulls, and sheet rustling sounds in there. My mixing and mastering team are equally talented, and Collin’s attention to detail makes mixing such a joy. They’re all so creative and easy to laugh with, and they create a safe space for sonic exploration that allows us to create unique pieces of art. 

What’s something you hope listeners take away from “Poly Pocket” if they’re hearing it for the first time—especially those unfamiliar with polyamory?

I hope they know that polyamory exists! That the lifestyle, the option to relate in multiplicity and move through life freely, exists. I hope they associate a feeling of exploration and fun and excitement with the concept of poly, and curiosity about the myriad ways of relating. I hope they get up and dance and put it on repeat - it’s hard not to!

As someone who blends artistry with advocacy, how does your music like “Poly Pocket” reflect your broader mission of uplifting LGBTQ+ and women’s health?

It’s a statement in itself for a woman to freely and openly sing about sex. It’s another level of visibility to sing about queer sex, especially in nontraditional relationships. I hope this song starts conversations about polyamory itself, how inclusive it is, and how poly is part of the rainbow club (my term for the LGBTQ+ community that I feel is all-encompassing). Sexual health is part of women’s healthcare, and the more openly we talk about it, the less of a stigma there is around seeking support or medical help. 

You’ve described your voice as raw and reflective. How do you tap into emotional honesty when the track is so playful and club-ready?

The emotions and experiences I write about are playful and fun, as well as deeply personal and meaningful to my character, so it felt natural to sing such a danceable song about a profound topic. 

You clearly enjoy pushing the envelope. Is there a genre or concept you haven’t tried yet that’s calling your name after “Poly Pocket”?

I have Celtic EDM and French EDM songs that I’m working on - stay tuned!

The visual aesthetic of this single is practically begging for a music video. If you had a dream “Poly Pocket” video, what would it look and feel like?

It would be so fun to make a music video for this! I’d love for it to be set in a Barbie dreamhouse style, with everyone dressed in 90s doll-like outfits, moving through different versions of myself with different partners. Walking through a toy-store fantasy world where each aisle represents a different relationship dynamic, with disco balls everywhere, of course. It would feel like a trippy transportation into a doll’s dance party. 

With “Poly Pocket” out in the world, what’s next on your musical or creative horizon?

The next creative project I’m working on is a Pride concert that my manager and I are throwing, on the day that Poly Pocket comes out! I’m so excited to celebrate Pride this way, it’s special to get to perform and release my new song at Pride weekend. After that, I’ll begin working on my EP in Nashville.

Listen to Lani Watson here.