Interview with Fiona’s Phobias

• “DEMOnS” spans poppy metal anxiety, gothic limerence, dark circus symphonics, cinematic obsession, and pop punk burnout — all in six tracks. Was the genre-hopping a deliberate design, or does Fiona’s Phobias simply refuse to be contained to one sound?

Nikki: The “genre hopping” just comes natural, because I’ve always liked a variety of music from pop to rock to metal. It’s also very keyboard-centric, and most of the time it feels like I’m writing the soundtrack to the movie that’s playing in my head – the story and concept I created for the song or album.

Krisanna: I just keep telling Nikki not to be concerned with fitting into a “genre box” and just go with the flow. What cames out, cames out. We sound how we sound. We both are fans of strong melodic music and musicals, as well as all the sub genres of punk, goth, and metal music. However, we also both REALLY like Danny Elfman and ABBA. 

• The duo has been described as the “Phantom of the Opera” dynamic — Nikki as the enigmatic, elusive creative force behind the curtain and Krisanna as the voice at the front. How does that particular creative relationship actually work, and what does each of you bring to the table that the other can’t?

Nikki: I guess Krisanna felt that way, because I’ve always been quite a private person. I basically just send her songs to sing on while she handles all the networking and “spotlight” aspects; things she is good at that I am not. 

Krisanna: I actually was a HUGE Phantom of the Opera and Webber fan as a teen, so it’s cool for me! At first Nikki  frightened me because he has VERY high standards, but It has actually pushed me into being a better vocalist in the long run. He’s relaxed more now over time too.

There was definitely an adjusting period though of figuring out how to work together, but we’re in a pretty good place now. I know more or less how to work with his personality and intricacies and him mine. He’s an amazingly brilliant writer and now that he trusts me a bit more, he’s more open to my feedback and perspective on things. He’s finally letting me add in some writing too……only took him a 3.5 years lol. 

What I bring to the table is probably my hyperfocus, fiery enthusiasm, organization and execution skills. 

Nikki pushes me as a vocalist, but I do think I’m not just his vocalist. I’m also his cheerleader and administrative assistant. I equally push him as an artist and writer. He knows this. It works. We vibe and synch a lot. We’re a good team. He’s one of my favorite musicians!

• Krisanna, you come from a varied background spanning burlesque performance and projects including Hatesex, The Silver Screens, and The Raven Claw Hammer. How has that history as a performer shaped the theatrical, high-energy presence that Fiona’s Phobias brings to its music?

Krisanna: Experience. It’s given me years of learning, redefining and refining my crafts as a creator and performer. My musical, vocal, production and professional skills have improved drastically through time. They’ve aged and alchemized like fine wine into a stronger substance. I’ve learned so much through trial and error, often painfully, but the good thing is that I can put it all together now seeing what’s worked and what hasn’t. I’ve become flexible enough to reflect on my past methods and still be open to newer ones.

• The EP draws heavily from the macabre, theatrical vaudeville, horror, and anime — and the duo’s aesthetic has been compared to The Munsters and The Addams Family with a Broadway musical flair. Where did that very specific and highly distinctive visual and sonic world come from, and how consciously did you build it?

Nikki: Basically, just having a love for films, and more specifically horror films growing up. Not to mention the “upbeat spooky” stuff that was prevalent back then, which made Danny Elfman one of my bigger inspirations.

Krisanna: I was sort of an outcast growing up, but just felt at home with the macabre and underground scene. I watched original Munsters and Addams Family reruns on TV often as a kid. I dressed up as Wednesday Addams at 9 for Halloween. My older cousin Marlena, got me into horror films as a kid too. I don’t think we did it consciously per say we were just alt kids growing up and naturally some of that is still with us today. It wasn’t a phase. 

• “Imaginary Sins” was your debut track in 2024 and it appears again on “DEMOnS” — a quirky dark circus symphonic track on inner psych battles. How has that song evolved or taken on new meaning now that it lives inside this larger six-track world?

Nikki: Actually, it remains the same. You could say it was the first single for this EP in that regard. It does however act as like the theme-song to the band, musically and lyrically due to it’s array of moving parts, so it was only natural it went onto our first official release and not just sit on the wayside as a single.

• You self-identify as “anxious introverts” — yet the music is bold, theatrical, and unapologetically loud. How much of Fiona’s Phobias is an alter ego that allows you to say and feel things the real-life versions of Nikki and Krisanna couldn’t?

Nikki: Music, and all art really, is just an outlet to bring one’s inner thoughts out into the open. It’s like putting on a mask and being able to act like an exaggerated version of yourself in a way that feels comfortable.

Krisanna: Definitely an outlet and alter ego for me. I get bad anxiety and I’m fairly reclusive and introverted in many ways. It’s a total paradox for the entertainment industry, but somehow lots of performers understand and are the same. I’ve always loved musical theatre and got heavily involved in the burlesque cabaret scene for a while because I liked the OTT style. 

I wasn’t very popular in childhood so naturally, I was drawn to the underground metal, punk and goth scenes where it felt ok to be different and unconventional. I escaped through isolation and listening to music. I’ve always tried to use creation as a cathartic release and healing agent though. Nikki’s Fiona concept sort of saved me. Upon leaving an emotionally traumatic relationship situation, my grandfather fell ill and passed away. I needed something to pour myself into and believe in again. I merged my persona and identity into aspects of Nikki’s Fiona character. I owe her lots of credit!

• “DEMOnS” covers themes of anxiety, limerence, psychological repression, romantic obsession, and burnout — essentially a full tour of the human psyche under pressure. Is there a track on this EP that sits closest to your hearts personally — and why?

Nikki: I think Play It Cool, lyrically, captures the concept of “Fiona” the best. I based her off myself when I was going through a very strange period of my life where I was experiencing panic attacks for the first time and wondering what was wrong with me. Play It Cool is about overcoming that, while simultaneously being about trapped inside one’s own prison which the character is trying to escape the whole time.

Krisanna: For me it’s a toss up between Bittersweet Darling and She Likes To Kiss That Doll. Bittersweet Darling is sort of gut punching and tragic when you read the lyrics, but it’s still hauntingly beautiful to me and in many cases true for performers. People can get enamored and then forget about their stars humanity because their only an idealistic illusion to them, then they fade away into oblivion. 

Lyrically, She Likes To Kiss That Doll was a cathartic release. Nikki gave me the chance to rework the song with him making it personal for me. It hit close to home in the rewrite, because I left an emotionally traumatic relationship where no matter how best of my good girl perfect doll behavior I was on or how much I tried, gave and loved, it was still never enough. The guy was dead inside with his own demons. There was no amount of love I could give to bring him back to life or help without destroying myself in the process.

• “DEMOnS” is described as a sampler hybrid — a collection that refuses any cookie-cutter mold. Where does Fiona’s Phobias go from here, and is there a full-length record or a specific creative direction already taking shape in the shadows?

Nikki: A full album would be the next big direction and milestone. For me, releasing an EP is already such a huge milestone for me that I’m kind of just happy to go with whatever happens next. This is all new to me.

Krisanna: We have 6 songs in queue. Nikki has TONS of great ideas and songs to be worked on and recorded still. That’s our primary focus now. We’ve also talked about doing a music video. We’re riding the wave and roller coaster to just let what happens happen and enjoy the ride. I think we’re both just grateful to be creating and sharing the end results while moving forward. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to hear us and ask questions!