Interview: Black Dahlia bold new album The Imposter

Black Dahlia is no stranger to transformation. The experimental musician and performance artist has built a reputation for inhabiting strange personas—half myth, half mirror—who blur the line between theatre, sound, and surreal performance. Her latest creation, The Imposter (out today via her own imprint, School of Dahlia), may be her boldest yet: a theatrical concept record that unfolds like a cosmic fever dream.

We spoke with Black Dahlia about the worlds within The Imposter, the beauty of losing oneself, and why identity is sometimes best understood through disguise.

The Imposter unfolds like a cosmic stage play — where did this story begin for you, and what first drew you to the idea of a wanderer lost between worlds?

I’m from a place we call Paradise; my home. One day, after spending time in the beautiful place in the sky called Self, I saw a beautiful beaming light in the distance so I followed it. It was a light that I felt I had been searching for and missing. But I lost control of the ship and fell into the sea. The arrival was scary.

The record feels deeply theatrical and psychological at once. Do you see The Imposter as a character separate from yourself, or as a reflection of your own shifting identities?

I’m not familiar with that term....but I keep hearing people mention it. I am I.

Light, masks, exile, transformation — these symbols run through the entire work. What do they mean to you in the context of this album?

My journey started with a light and ends in darkness. I felt myself changing along the way. Things became very peculiar and I couldn’t stop it. It’s been confusing...but delectable. I’ve seen many faces and I lost sense of who I am. I’m starting to feel more human by the day...I miss my Paradise.

You’ve spoken about blending sound with theatre and surreal performance. How did those disciplines feed into each other during the creation of The Imposter?

Life itself is theatre. I have discovered this in my short time here. It’s all quite spectacular, isn’t it?

The sound palette is incredibly eclectic — there are echoes of prog, Bauhaus, mime, and German Expressionism. What guided you sonically as you built this world?

I attended the School of Dahlia and was taught by a strange teacher. I learnt a lot about how whales fly, how the dark can shine with light, and this great concept that people here say "Curiosity killed the cat". There were a lot of students asking questions. I also met some other strange people. KPAX-3000 and The One With No Name – I met them whilst I was lost and running.

The track “Amphibian Man” sees The Imposter wash ashore in Germany and attempt to assimilate. What does this chapter represent in the wider narrative?

I remember I woke up from landing in the water and I followed the buildings. It was strange. It was the first place I found. I couldn't speak their language. But I felt different. Something was changing in me. Eyes were on my exterior. Everything was peculiar. But then they came for me after I started changing. I was too tall and too strong. I lost control and lost myself forever.

Your previous single “Bodyguard” received recognition from ABC Rage and SXSW Sydney. How did that period of work and visibility shape what came next for you?

I’m not familiar with this “Bodyguard” but they sound intriguing. Are they still stuck in the avant-garde?

The album artwork folds one world into another. How does the visual component expand the story being told through sound?

Everything that you see I see. Everything I see I dreamed of. It is everything to me. It is my life and experience on this strange world.

There’s something deeply human beneath all the surrealism in your work. What does it mean to you to create art that is both alien and intimate?

I heard a great saying at the School of Dahlia, “Curiosity killed the cat”...it seems more relevant than ever to me right now. I love my feline life. I feel it. But curiosity can make you lose control.

Community often plays a vital role in shaping artists and their work. How has your creative community influenced The Imposter, and are there any fellow artists, bands, or creatives from your scene that you think deserve more attention or should be on our radar?

I met some students along the way and a strange teacher at the School of Dahlia...when I arrived, people told me to attend a “museum” which was sharp. Interesting. Alive! I’m very new here, I arrived on 7th October 2025. I wander. And seek all light that will enrich me. There is so much to learn and experience. So many humans...