Name: Jayden Nicole Binnix aka Black Polish
Nationality: American
Occupation: Singer, songwriter
Recent release: Black Polish's new single “Bondage” is out now.  
Recommendations for Calvert county, Maryland: I highly recommend going to ocean city and to ride the Halloween ride on the boardwalk that is open all year. It’s my favorite place in the world.
Topics I am passionate about but rarely get to talk about: I’m extremely passionate about nerdy interests such as anime, drawing, gaming, and costume making. I keep that pretty private but I’m challenging myself to show that side of me within this era. My favorite anime is Jujustu Kaisen, my favorite game is Undertale, and my favorite costume I have ever made was Suguru Geto.

If you enjoyed this Black Polish interview and would like to stay up to date with her music, visit her on Instagram.



When was the first time you noticed you were drawn to darker themes and moods in music, literature or the movies?

I have always been raised around darker themes. I grew up watching horror movies

“Darkness” is, of course, not strictly speaking a term related to sound. What constitutes darkness to you, especially in instrumental terms?

Darkness is comfort because it reminds me of home.

Most people assume darkness is negative and depressing. However I see darkness as the safe space to explore uncomfortable feelings in privacy from the sun.

Within my music, I make sure to create darkness by setting up a scene in your head as you listen. Including sound effects of the setting, eerie vocals implying the open space ready for you to expand, and of course the deep bass lines to ground you in your emotions are pivotal for my instrumentals.

How would you describe the physical sensation and possible attraction of being exposed to darkness in music?

Darkness is a heated blanket that shields you from judgment. Darkness is safety.

And it can also serve as a form of community: Darkness is a comfort only a certain collective understands.

Does your interest in darker musical themes extend into extra-musical fields such as fashion, or politics?

I have always had a gothic/emo look about me. My fashion can serve as a shield as well too.

A safe space should be your lifestyle such as the way you decorate your room, car, dye your hair, or the music you constantly have playing in the background reminding you of community.

Who/what are currently artists, labels or even genres which draw you in because of their darker approaches, aesthetics and sound(s)?  

As of this month (August), I have been listening to nothing but She Wants Revenge and old Lady Gaga.



Again, they are dark, not depressing. The music is nostalgic and the aesthetics of it are freeing alongside empowering. That’s the exact feeling I wish to capture with the record I’m putting out

Tell me, if applicable, about the concrete lyrical themes that you felt drawn to for your current release.

My music has always had an edge to it.

However with this album, I’ve pushed many limits of just how dark I can get with themes, sonics, and aesthetics. I don’t think I’ve ever been this brutally honest in a peace of work before.

However it has opened doors for me in terms of expression.

I have had a hard time explaining that listening to death metal calms me down. When you're performing a piece with a darker energy, does it tend to fill you with the same energy or feeling – or are there “paradoxical” effects?

The more I scream, the more everything goes quiet.

When it comes to exploring darker themes, what's your approach to writing lyrics? What makes lyrics good in this regard?  

Like I said, darkness is a place to explore uncomfortable emotions.

In my writing, I always focus on visuals rather than saying “I feel this I feel that.” In my most recent song “bondage,” I have lyrics that state “cuddle with blood and guts and gore,” which is obviously symbolism. It’s the only way I could describe craving every single atom of one person and being absolutely devoured by it. It’s a lyric about obsession. But it comforts those who have felt it so deeply.  And it disturbs others who can’t relate.

Words being polarizing is what makes a good lyric.

Tell me about the creative process for “Bondage”, please.

Live it, feel it unapologetically, write it down.

For “Bondage”, how did you realise your goals in terms of the production, including effects for your current release?

My goals for this recent release was to create something only I would listen to, and take a leap of faith by showing it to my community.

I knew it was going to be the complete opposite of my last release. It had to be jarring.

Exploring darker themes in the music often goes hand in hand with the accompanying artwork. Tell me a bit about this relating to your new release.

Visuals are the most important part of an album. In just one picture, I had to capture euphoria, bliss, obsession, rage, psychosis, possession, and freedom all in one.

A picture is a trailer for the song you’re about to click on. And I must draw the audience into the world of YUNA.

I would love to know a little about the feedback you've received from listeners or critics about what they thought some of your darker songs are about or the impact it had on them – have there been “misunderstandings” or did you perhaps even gain new “insights?”

Half of the comments are “how dare you write lyrics like this,” “never make music again,” “this is disgusting.” The other half is “this is the best song I have ever heard,” “you are officially my favorite artist,” “I’ve been searching for music like this my entire life.”  

I have seen many artists go through a dark era in their music which sparks conversation. It’s all part of the plan. Hate comments keep me motivated.

Sharing music on stage can change the way it is experienced, both for musicians the listeners. Can you talk about this a bit, especially in the light of darker themes?   

I have gained a shocking amount of fans this year on stage while playing the new unreleased music.

It’s validating to know that the community I had thought to exist in darkness is still alive and well.

Throughout the history of art, there have been artists who did not want to exorcise their demons, afraid they might lose their creative spark. What's your take on that?

When it comes to mental health, most people want to find a “cure” or a way to fix it. However, the entire point of this album is to show that it will never go away. You just cope.

I find comfort in knowing I’ll never have the ability to exorcise my demons. They are always a part of you because they have existed as you. You are the demons.