Berlin via Milwaukee singer songwriter Queen Quail releases her resonant debut EP Narcissus, a six song collection shaped by longing, identity, philosophy, and the meaning of home. The project blends gentle production, haunting vocal work, and introspective writing that moves between tenderness and clarity.
Alongside the full EP, she shares “Grace,” a soft track that centers on self compassion. Queen Quail explains that she wrote it while reflecting on choices she made in her twenties and the feeling of mourning lost time. The song became a moment of acceptance and a reminder of her own agency.
Another early standout, “Southside,” explores restlessness and the grief of time slipping away. Milwaukee Record described it as a wistful piece layered with delicate vocals and lonely lyrics. They noted the powerful surge of percussion and distorted guitar in the final minute. The AU Review wrote that the track is evocative and emotive, shaped by subtle and beautiful instrumentation before a dramatic swell in the closing passage.
Produced by David Thornton, mixed by Michael Kümper, and mastered by Huntley Miller, the EP moves between dreamy textures and candid storytelling. It touches on heavy subjects while holding on to emotional honesty and a sense of grounded humanity. Queen Quail says the writing process helped her understand who she was becoming and how to claim her voice without losing herself.
These solitary writing sessions became a refuge during a relationship that deeply affected her. She notes that she was reading Freud, Lacan, and philosophy at the time, which found its way into the lyrics and her thoughts on memory, love, the unconscious, and the weight of capitalism. What began as private reflection slowly became a reckoning with her choices and her past.
Turning years of bedroom writing into a complete body of work, Queen Quail describes the record as both a mirror and a map. It looks back at moments of doubt and transformation while pointing toward her next chapter. The LUNA Collective described the music as an artistic voice that grew out of grief and emptiness and evolved into something intimate, expressive, and open to experimentation.
In September, she released “Last Night,” a gentle and reflective song led by an optimistic guitar riff. It looks at mortality and the strange experience of existing in a body through a nostalgic haze. After performing with Dan English of Porches, she expanded the arrangement based on his encouragement. Ones to Watch added the track to their Now Watching playlist.
About Queen Quail
Queen Quail is the project of Berlin-based songwriter Kirstin Edwards. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she grew up playing cello and guitar, with the constant presence of Lake Michigan shaping her layered, intimate sound. Her music has taken root in both Berlin’s indie scene and the DIY traditions of the American Midwest. Queen Quail’s genesis took place in the botanical gardens in Berlin, when Kirstin stumbled upon a “Zwergwachtel” or dwarf quail. The tiny bird’s quiet focus struck Kirstin, and seemed to reflect her own shy, though energetic, nature.
Her debut EP Narcissus explores longing, identity, and the search for home. Across six tracks, she balances the shimmer of indie pop with the intimacy of alternative country. Dreamy instrumentals meet plainspoken lyrics, weaving a sound that is expansive yet vulnerable.
Produced by David Thornton and mastered by Huntley Miller, the EP carries the restless energy of Berlin while staying grounded in Midwestern honesty. With support from Initiative Musik, Queen Quail is carving a space that connects two worlds. It’s music that holds the quiet pull of memory against the urgency of the present.
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