In short
King Princess discusses “girl violence” (especially emotional violence in relationships), her new album Girl Violence, and her acting role promoting Nine Perfect Strangers starring Nicole Kidman. She also describes her “demon named Cherry,” an ancient entity that possesses women and drives destructive behavior, and argues art is hard work built on collaboration and trust.
Guests
King Princess (Michaela Straus), singer-songwriter and actress; longtime collaborator of the host. Morgan (producer) is mentioned as a lesbian friend and collaborator who’s also in the show.
Key claims
Collaboration requires trust and “delivery” (example: Christine Baranski doing parkour to deliver a line through a wall). Emotional violence can be subliminal and named (“Cherry came”). Indie labels can offer more creative freedom and better care for art. Learn contracts; ask questions; trust close collaborators.
Notable examples
Christine Baranski’s backbend/parkour line delivery; “Girl Violence” title track lyric (“girls can be violent”); Cherry visuals; setting a strip-club video concept at Bronx Community College.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOKing Princess' Visit
0:03 to 0:32
A discussion about King Princess staying with the host and her experiences in LA.
“So you were scrolling on Marketplace and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for.”
King Princess' Visit
1:56 to 3:00
A discussion about King Princess staying with the host and her experiences in LA.
“Right before we started recording, you told me that you found a new bathroom today.”
Acting with Nicole Kidman
3:00 to 3:22
King Princess shares her experience acting in the show 'Nine Perfect Strangers' alongside Nicole Kidman.
“Okay, so I came this time because of not music, because of acting.”
Collaboration in Music and Acting
3:22 to 4:50
Exploring the differences and similarities between promoting music and acting projects.
“Which is, I think, the best wig in TV history so far.”
Lessons from the Set
4:50 to 6:40
King Princess recounts a significant lesson learned from actress Christine Baranski on set.
“Like, the decision you make is your decision and you are marked for it.”
The Importance of Support
6:40 to 8:20
Discussing the significance of mutual support in artistic collaborations.
“If you're just tuning in, that's Morgan, our producer, who is a genius, but also a lesbian and also a friend of King Princesses.”
Art and Power Dynamics
8:20 to 9:36
A conversation about the dynamics of power in creative environments and the importance of joy in the process.
“You've done a full, I've done a backflip for you.”
Creating Music: The Fun of Collaboration
9:36 to 14:00
Returning to the joy of making music with friends and the importance of fun in the creative process.
“This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
The Power of Lyrics and Self-Expression
14:00 to 14:51
Discover how writing can serve as personal therapy and self-discovery.
“You know, like I just released something.”
Introducing Cherry: The Ancient Demon
14:51 to 17:54
Explore the character of Cherry, an ancient demon and her impact on women.
“So basically Cherry is this woman, this ancient demon that I created, but who has existed.”
Show all 19 chapters
Navigating Fame with King Princess
17:54 to 18:31
Discuss the mix of excitement and anxiety surrounding King Princess's rise to fame.
“And I think that we could, I think we just pitch it to Harvard because starting university sounds exhausting.”
Creative Freedom in Indie Label
18:31 to 19:45
Learn about the benefits of creative freedom in indie music compared to major labels.
“And then you have an album and you're on an indie label now.”
Trust and Collaborations in Art
19:45 to 22:06
Understand the importance of trusting collaborators in the creative process.
“And it's going to be like gay hell limbo.”
Lessons Learned in the Music Business
22:06 to 23:13
Discover key lessons about contracts and navigating the music industry.
“there's so many tiny little words written on a page.”
Manifesting Good and Bad
24:06 to 28:00
Explore the concept of manifesting outcomes and its implications in life.
“Wait, sorry, you're walking to the backyard at the tranchion.”
Exploring Art Through Empathy
28:00 to 31:04
Discover how acting and music allow for self-exploration and emotional connection.
“entirely just acting feels like it's empathy or something.”
The Power of Collaboration
31:04 to 32:58
Learn the importance of collaboration in art and personal growth.
“And then you're watching it back and you're like looking at certain things and you're going, oh, I was feeling that.”
Gagged or Dragged Game
32:58 to 39:51
Engage in a fun game that discusses various cultural phenomena and preferences.
“Like that's not - Even though it might look like it, it's never a solo artist.”
Closing Thoughts
39:51 to 40:05
Wrap up reflecting on the episode and the importance of creativity.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for. From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook.
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0:45Justin Tranter:What's the worst thing you've ever manifested? That I would be cancelled on the internet. I love it, I love it, I love it. I love it. So hello. Welcome to Unfamous. Unfamous. In this episode, most episodes, right, there's a famous person and their unfamous collaborator. But the unfamous collaborator is just as important because they are collaborating with the art that the whole world loves. In this episode, I am the unfamous whore. Which is not true. And we have... Because she's famous. We have... She's fully famous. We have... It's going to be an extra special episode because not only have King Princess and I written together, but we are, this is my son.
1:32Justin Tranter:This is my son. You birthed me, girl. I birthed you from my vaginal canal. I think that's what it's called. And whenever King Princess stays here, comes to LA for work, she stays with me in my home. And this is my home. We are sitting in my home right now. And right before we started recording, your home, my son's home. Our home. Right before we started recording, you told me that you found a new bathroom today. And this isn't the first time. Like, you probably at this point stayed here a total of six weeks, I would guess, right? Broken up. Totally. And you found a new bathroom today. And that, yes, because I had never gone in the gym.
2:13Justin Tranter:Oh, right, you gymed today. And I will say whenever I'm downstairs in the basement, I'm drunk. So the layout to me is like in my head, my memory of the layout is not what it is. That's fair. But this time I was in the gym and I was, you know. The basement has a bar and a movie theater. So it normally means you're drunk because you're drunk at the bar or drunk in a movie theater. But today you were working out. Or people like to get drunk in basements. It's like, don't be discriminated. Don't discriminate. Don't discriminate against basements without movie theaters. Yeah. Like mine. So you are in the gym because you are working on your fitness like Fergie.
2:52Yes.
2:53Justin Tranter:Because you are in town right now, what brought you to town on this trip? Tell me. Thank you so much, Rance. Tell me everything. Okay, so I came this time because of not music, because of acting. She's an actress. Thank you, guys. And what is she actressing in? I'm actressing in a show called Nine Perfect Strangers with one Miss Nicole Kidman. And... Her wig. Which is, I think, the best wig in TV history so far. I've only seen the picture, the promo picture, but I am obsessed. Who doesn't love wig? It's, it is. I love wig. I love wig. It is so deep. So you're here to promote this TV show, which is amazing.
3:43So I've known you for a very long time. Since I was a baby.
3:47Justin Tranter:Since you were a literal baby. Not because I'm her mother, but because we wrote a song together in what? How old were you? 19? 18? I must have been like 18 or 19. 18 or 19. Because I had come to LA and I - And she's 72 now. And I'm 75. 75, but thank you. No, it's so funny. So like you hit me up after 1950. Yep. And you were like, I'd really like to work. Yeah, I was obsessed. And I was obsessed. I was like amazing. I said - Gay? I see a lesbian. A gay songwriter? We exist. They exist? nobody told me. So it was amazing. So came over and we wrote a beautiful song. We wrote a song called Ain't Together that is a fan favorite.
4:32Justin Tranter:People love that song. I love that song. Girls scream it. So in this moment where you're in Los Angeles as an actor. Cray cray. What's the like the, you've promoted albums, you've promoted singles, you've promoted tours. You're here to promote a TV show. This is way better. Tell me why, tell me why. Because they plan it for you. right it's not you aren't the boss you're not on you're an employee you're an employee i'm an employee i am a cog in a machine right i love it yeah right it's so cool and it's such a it's such a practice of detachment because in music you're never detached right you you have these pain this series of painful vaginal births and then you have the scars to show for it for the rest of your life.
5:21Like, the decision you make is your decision and you are marked for it. You know?
5:26Justin Tranter:Yeah. And this is great. I go to work. There's a TV writer. There's a director. There are lines. You say the lines. You do your best. You learn a lot from other people. You play off other people. It's very vulnerable. What did you, can you remember a moment on set where you like, were like really learned something that like changed you as an actor? I can tell you that. Can you tell me, please? There was a scene where we were filming in the, like, living room space. Yeah. Right? And, like, you know, they had one of those psych walls up between the people sitting at the bar and the people sitting on the couches because they want to film the coverage of the people on the bar.
6:08Justin Tranter:Right. Christine Baranski has to say a line to me. And I'm at the bar and there's a fucking wall between us. Yeah. And it starts. and Christine Baranski, 70 however years old, is basically does a front hand spring into a somersault, into a back bend to deliver that line into my eyes. Yeah. She is doing parkour over couches. To be a collaborator. To make sure that I am a good, that I do my best because she is a good fucking scene partner. Yeah. It was the best lesson of my life. Right. That's how you work. Yeah. That's how you work. What, what? Right, Morgan? Right. Tell me, Morgan. That's how you work.
6:48You have to work that hard.
6:50Justin Tranter:If you're just tuning in, that's Morgan, our producer, who is a genius, but also a lesbian and also a friend of King Princesses. So Morgan always has good off-screen chemistry with the guests, but you're sensing a different level here. And please don't stop. Please keep delivering every line. She's a part of this. She is in the show right now. We're all here. Jimmy's here. Hey. So what... Jimmy saved my life. Even though you delivered that story in a really entertaining, beautiful, funny as fuck way, it actually is an amazing lesson in collaboration. And an amazing lesson that applies to this podcast of like Unfamous.
7:27Justin Tranter:In this moment, Christine Baranski was off camera. She was not, they were not filming her. She was unfamous in this moment. but so that you could be famous and fucking deliver and act your ass off while the camera was on you. Chop wood, carry water. She went above and beyond. People think that it's fucking supposed to be easy and fun all the time. It's not always easy. Art is work. Art is work, but you literally chop wood and carry water and get it fucking done. And that's why relationships like these are as strong as they are. Yeah. Because it works when there's trust. Yeah. And when there's delivery on both sides and when there's support to support each other, when you both need to be supported as an artist, I felt supported by you as a songwriter.
8:20That's what this is about. Yeah. Like you, you have been my Christine.
8:23Justin Tranter:Yeah. You've delivered that line. You've done a full, I've done a backflip for you. I've tucked and rolled girl. Yes, exactly. What I have a specific question as someone who has co-written with you and collaborated with you. Why is it so horrible? Why is it the worst? No. Why was it the worst experience? I love walking into a session and there is specifically a young woman. Cause when I met you, you were even, you're still very young. It's about that. I walk into a session and I saw an 18 year old who was in charge. And my job was just to like get in where I could fit in and make you the best version of yourself in certain moments.
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9:38This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
9:41Justin Tranter:But I know that I'm probably not normal. I, being the huge flamer I am, I walk in and see a lesbian in charge. You're a diva, Tamer. And I love it. You're a tamer of divas. Have you had, like, dudes who have been like, why is she trying to produce? I have. Very rarely because I have been, you know, session writing or, you know, making my way with my little fucking backpack across town by myself to men's houses to write music since I was 12 years old. Yeah. And they're like, everyone was like, so normal. My parents were like, you've got this. You got this. Have fun, girl. I'm like, I'm going to Gary's house.
10:21They're like, great. But I will say that I've been doing it for so long that honestly, I just learned really young what felt good and what didn't feel good. So it's very rare that I'm put into a situation where I feel like I'm being actively not listened to or disrespected. It's very rare, but it happens. And it happened a couple of years ago. And I was, I was verklempt. I couldn't believe it. Really? I was like, girl.
10:51Justin Tranter:Name names. You don't have to. You don't have to. Not ever. But like, it's just, yeah, no, occasionally somebody just like wants to, is the producer, is the writer, whatever, and just wants to make you feel fucking small. Yeah. Because they're, because they're angry. And it's like, and they don't like, they want to, they want to deconstruct the power construct of being an artist and a producer. Yeah. Or an artist and a songwriter. And it's like, girl, it's not that deep. It's friends making music. Yeah. The opportunity we have every day is to have fun and make music. Yeah. With people who are interesting.
11:24Justin Tranter:Yeah. And smart. Yeah. And talented. Like, I have been in situations like that, but my takeaway is always, God, what a sad life you live. Right. You fucking asshole. How do you, in those moments with asshole, with fucking asshole. We never act like that in the studio. I love being in the studio. And even when you're taking charge, you do it with so much joy and comedy that everyone feels welcome. Everyone feels invited. It's camp. Yeah. You get to be at camp with your friends. I thought you meant making music is camp in terms of like the genre. No, I'm not that gay. I'm not saying camp on your podcast.
12:00Trying to bait me into saying gay stuff. No, I'm not saying gay stuff on this. No, it's literally like being at summer camp. You're with your friends making music, smoking weed. I don't understand. This is the best part of the whole thing. It should be fun. Somebody said that to me. Jake Portrait said to me, he goes, you're 25. You should be having more fun.
12:19Justin Tranter:Yeah. I said, what? I'm 25? I feel like I'm 90. 97. Can't move. Yeah. The suite of making music and being 97, you have a new album coming. Absolutely. She's album Anna. Before we like, you tell me just like blanket statements about the album, I want to like zoom, like was there a moment writing the new album? Because I, she's moved to New York now, so I have not worked on the new album. So these are genuine questions. I don't have. But I'm saying it on the pod. He needs to come to New York. We're going to do it. For the next album, I'll be there. Like, at least two weeks. Because no one helped me with lyrics on this one.
12:59And you know that I love your lyrics.
13:01Justin Tranter:I mean, I am a lyric queen. You are the lyric girl. Thank you. So, was there a lyric on the new album where you were like, oh, fuck, this is what the new album is? Was there, like, a song turning point, a riff, a lyric that you were like, okay, I've got it? yeah I think the one the song that I like first wrote the the um title track uh girl violence I mean the album being called girl violence yeah and it's a weird it's the sexiest thing I've ever it's an intro but it's like a you know I really like how we did it and how weird it is and it kind of sets the tone so the record when girl violence happened yeah because the lyric there's a couple first of all there's you know why does nobody mention girls can be violent and i hate it but i kind of like it i mean oh but then but then the last line of the song is and i guess it's true love because it truly fucks with me and that was like i was like that's a bar I was like I may have not finished college but but I read a damn good lyric you know you have those moments with yourself where you like write something down and you're like oh I'm really glad of me I did this in this moment yeah you know not always but right now sometimes you're like I just hate the cunt in the mirror yeah but then this you know that's what makes it's therapy for yourself yeah you finally get a thought out correctly and you're like I did it God, that feels like I just like took a huge shit.
14:37Like I released something. Yeah. You know, like I just released something.
14:41Justin Tranter:Chipotle has been freed. Huge breedable. Has been relieved from the bodice of Cherry. Should we talk about her? I need to talk about Cherry. So basically Cherry is this woman, this ancient demon that I created, but who has existed. I just put a name to her. She's been around. Yeah. We all know her. We're talking cave drawings. This goes back. JFK assassination. Like, it's not, it's serious, guys. Cherry is an ancient demon who possesses women to act fucking crazy. And what she does is she just enters you. And we've all met her. I've met her. she's been inside of me. She's been inside of all of us.
15:36Justin Tranter:In many ways. She's been inside of you as you and she's been inside of you from other women who put themselves inside of you. Yeah, totally.
15:47That's the thing.
15:48Justin Tranter:Jerry has taken over. Yeah. So basically what, so girl violence is what she does. Girl violence is subliminal. It's not a punch. It's not a kick. It's not a shotgun. It's not a shotgun. It's not a knife to the neck. sometimes it has been, but normally it's not what we're talking about. Normally it's like emotional violence. It's emotional violence. Lesbians are very familiar, right, Morgan? So with Cherry, it's like she is the deity that you, when this happens to you or a friend of yours, you can say Cherry was there. Cherry came. She came. And it felt right for her to be, you know, a part of this, a part of my album.
16:31but now she's taken over. Yeah. And it's really bad. Like she's fucking driving me crazy. Like she's become, now Cherry, she's entering, she's trying to enter me.
16:39Justin Tranter:She wants to get famous now. Now she's the star. You've given Cherry the platform. You're about to. I feel bad about it. Yeah. Now I feel sorry for myself. I think it's, I feel sorry. It's, what I love about. It's a big symptom of girl violence is feeling sorry about yourself. It's feeling sorry. Yes. What, and well, if you're watching this visually, not just listening, will show Cherry on screen. Please. King Princess has created an unbelievable visual of what Cherry, the, the, she's a, she's a demon cartoon. Sexy, sexy. But the problem is, is that you're saying it as though, like, it's gotten out of hand.
17:18Right. I mean,
17:20Justin Tranter:it's, but it's, it's a Frankenstein situation. It's, she's, what? Now I'm fucked. Now you're fucked. Now Cherry lives. I've given people a tool of violence. You've given them an excuse. I mean, we've all— Because girl violence, specifically emotional girl violence in lesbian relationships, I don't think has stopped anytime soon. And let me tell you something. But now you've given it a name. The fact that there aren't teams of scientists studying this at all times is fucked up. I think we could make it happen. You and I should start a university. I think— Well,
18:01Justin Tranter:done, done. Right? Or is it my crazy? No, I don't think you're crazy at all. And I think that we could, I think we just pitch it to Harvard because starting university sounds exhausting. Yeah, I'm never doing that. Never doing that. That was a good idea. This is what happens when you smoke weed again. You have an amazing idea, but it's too big. Yes. We can't do it. It's actually just not, people are like, that's girl, that's so crick, right? That's the - Can't do that. with an album coming this TV show about to drop do you feel excited for the King Princess domination that's about to ensue do you feel nervous do you feel like this is finally fucking time or do you feel all of those things together like how it's a big moment for you I feel all of it like your first acting role is in a fucking TV show with Christine Baranski and Nicole Kidman I know guys And fucking Murray.
18:56Sometimes life is really crazy.
18:58Justin Tranter:And then you have an album and you're on an indie label now. Yeah, totally. And you have more creative freedom and more creative joy than you've ever had. And let's just say it. I got more money from them. They're lying to you, girl, when they say, like, the indie labels are where it's at. Yeah. Like, I've been on major labels. I've been on indie labels now. And I can tell you, people who love and care about art are preferable to work with. Yeah. Like, it is really that simple. Yeah. Like, you know, everybody's allowed to make their choice. And I made both. I tried both. Yeah. And now I just find myself in a group of people who allow me to be fucking crazy.
Read the full transcript
19:38They literally say to me, like, I'll be like, okay, here's my idea. It's a strip club in a women's restroom at the Bronx Community College. We'll shoot it there. And we'll turn it into a strip club. We'll cast all my friends in it. And it's going to be amazing. And it's going to be like gay hell limbo.
19:54Justin Tranter:And they said. And they said, certainly. Certainly it is. They said, certainly. They said, that's a great idea, Michaela. That's really cool. And I will tell you. What the fuck? It's the best video you've ever made. I got to see it this morning. But Jesse, you've seen me a lot of different seasons, right? You've seen me in times in my life where we've known each other since I was 16. Like, you know, right? 17? Young as shit. But you've seen me through all of this. And it's no different than most people's experience with being in the music industry. It's like a non-linear vibe. You go up and down, you move around, you figure out, you learn these lessons and you go, I have to change stuff.
20:31I have to make it.
20:31Justin Tranter:You've seen it all. What do you think is your favorite lesson that you've learned? Not in like, oh, I'm going to make my art this way. And like how to navigate the art, navigate the business, navigate collaboration. What is your favorite lesson that you've learned? trust your friends trust your close friends and collaborators like you've noticed when any anytime something goes wrong I call you yeah or I call people that I trust their opinion of and I'm like I would like to talk about this yeah because it's like it's really hard to acquire trustworthy people but once you have them don't fuck with it yeah you know like it's I've I've really had to like make some tough decisions you know about working with people or not working with people and you have to have family and people that you trust to like be like to talk it out whenever your first night here it's our debriefing night it's our debriefing night we're doing the we're doing the full debriefing at the white house we call each other idiots at least three times in that debrief because we're disagreeing on some sort of like pop culture conversation and i love that like how fucking amazing is that like i sometimes you school me sometimes she's i got I got passionate.
21:45Last night or two nights ago. You got like.
21:47Justin Tranter:I got passionate. And I, what did I say? I said, okay, you're right. Actually, I hear you on this one. I hear you. Yeah. Maybe it's, maybe this is my ego talking right now. Yeah. And you know what? Like, how cool is that? It's amazing. That's so special. Trust your friends. Trust your collaborators. Yes. Yeah. And I think that's a really important lesson. Also, just like, girl, learn about contracts. That. Yeah. Contract work is. I know it's so crazy. there's so many tiny little words written on a page. Yeah. It's horrible. If you have a lawyer you like and trust, have them sit with you and explain.
22:23Explain it. What the fuck is going on. And don't feel stupid when you ask dumb questions because sometimes it's like, I didn't go to law school. So I have to ask some really simpleton questions, okay?
22:33Justin Tranter:I will ask the same question. 37 times. I am 44. I'm going to be 45 in a couple of fucking weeks. I will literally be on lawyer calls or financial calls or this and that. And I'm like, I'm so sorry. I know my lawyer has been with me since the start of my major label career. Because I used to be in a band before I wrote songs for other people. So he's been with me since 2008. Yeah. I was 28. So I luckily got into the scary part of the music business at old-er. Old for the music business. but I don't know what lawyer talk. Yeah. So I'm 28, but when it comes to lawyer talk, I'm fucking two. No, I'm...
23:15Justin Tranter:So I'm still... I'm in vitro. I'm fucking in vitro. I'm a thought. First of all, I was not only in vitro, but 17. So already in vitro. So I was like, you know, I had to really, like my mom, who is, bless her heart, Agnes Patricia. Legend. Star. What a star. I got it all from her. Amazon Health AI presents Painful Thoughts Why did I search the internet For answers to my cold sore problem Now I'm stuck down a rabbit hole Filled with images of alarmingly Graphic sores in various stages of ooze I can clear my search history But I can never unsee that Don't go down the rabbit hole Amazon Health AI gets you the right care Fast Health care just got less painful She's the perfected version of me Cause she's straight And older She has time Yeah So But she was like really In the beginning like Was like Michaela the lawyer Is gonna be really important Yeah And I was like totally And then I was like There's something really fun about this though Like cause at first you're like This shit's boring And then you're like Whoa It's like video games Yeah It's like fucking video games So I was just like Oh okay and then they started explaining it to me and I was like, oh, I have a passion for fashion.
24:36I have a passion for this. I have a love for law. I have a love for law.
24:43Girl, I have a love for law. Love for law. I didn't know it. Yeah. You know? I'm like, got one of those, gah! Yeah. You know? Yeah, a gavel. A gavel! By the way, I was walking outside. I got one of those, gah!
24:56Justin Tranter:Wait, sorry, you're walking to the backyard at the tranchion. Do you know that Dumbledore's wand is in that bush? Sure don't.
25:06No, it's Dumbledore's.
25:09Justin Tranter:Oh, wait, I have seen this. It's the elder wand. No, I have seen it. There's moments where I'm at night. It's the elder wand. I see. Not a full-sized, but a kind of petite version. Wait, we need to look at this when we're done because it. You didn't notice? I don't think I noticed. So. The witch punch. I have one last serious question and then we'll get fun. What the fuck? There was a witch party. It happens. We had a witch party and there's a wand here. I leave town for six months. And there's a witch party. No, the witch party was before you came last time. Oh, and then there was Morgan's lesbian party.
25:40Sorry, Morgan, to air you, but whoa.
25:44Whoa.
25:45Justin Tranter:You were here for that. The cleanup, girl. What is crazy about the lesbian party is that the lesbian party started out because most lesbians are going to go home and they're going to go to bed early. So I throw lots of parties in this house. and after the witch party, I was at a lesbian brunch with Morgan and the girls were like, like gays always get like big fucking mansion parties. Why don't lesbians? I was like, well, you can have my house, throw a fucking lesbian party. This is the problem with you though, is that you're like, I will make your dreams come true and then you literally do. I love it.
26:19And then we're picking off wet toilet paper from the ceiling of your fucking gorgeous bathroom and we're like - Last time you were here, you broke a fridge. No! Yes. No! Yes. No! Morgan, that was literally you, girl.
26:38Justin Tranter:Okay, wait. All right, all right. All right, we're going to get back to collaboration. We're going to get back to collaboration, but there was a legendary... We'll finish this later. There was a legendary lesbian party in this house, and tonight, your cast members are coming over. See, there's lots of great things happen here. Well, you say that this is the house of manifesting. which I really believe because I think that manifesting is real and I think that, you know, it goes both ways. Like you manifest good shit or you manifest really terrible. What's the worst thing you've ever manifested?
27:08That I would be canceled on the internet no matter what.
27:14I was like, God, I'm going to get canceled. Then I was like, fuck, I shouldn't have said that out loud. Oh, fuck. Yeah. And then, you know.
27:21Justin Tranter:It happens. Six weeks later, there it is. There it is. It's like, oh, God, I got to keep this thing's powerful. Keep it on track. I'm looking, trying to look up. Only good thoughts. Okay, last year's question, then we're going to play a really quick fun game. As an actor and as a songwriter slash rock star, what do you learn about yourself as an artist by now doing these two different mediums? It's a great question. Thank you. Be proud of yourself for that question. Thank you. I think that it's something I've been thinking a lot about because with the acting stuff, you're investigating a character, but that character is rooted in you because it's entirely just acting feels like it's empathy or something.
28:13It's just like empathizing with something and recreating those emotions. and some of that comes from you and some of that comes from other people that you know or something you've read or something you've watched and like with music but doing that isn't that precious because it's parts of you but it's not the entirety of you but it allows you to explore these parts that maybe you didn't even know existed
28:36Justin Tranter:and the audience isn't going oh this defines Michaela but it also is like then you're investigating these things you take something out of it like with this character in this show Like she's a really angry bitch. It's like me if I hadn't gone to therapy. And by making that character me not having gone to therapy, I was investigating what it was like before I went to therapy, which is my childhood. So then I was investigating my fucking childhood, which was amazing. And then you're like, oh, this is beautiful. I'm like sitting with a fucking notebook. Yeah. Gay. Writing out what I think this kind, Like, what are this cunt's mother did to her?
29:17Like, you know, like I'm like... And it's amazing. And then with music stuff, then I feel like my brain is more activated to go places that are creative and weird and like storytelling. And it's not just all thinking about myself, which is literally so boring. Yeah. Thinking about yourself is so boring.
29:38Justin Tranter:It's so... It's... Self-exploration is really important, but also... You should be doing it a lot. So it should eventually get boring. But also, but it becomes. I know my fucking self. I've been dealing with this bitch forever. No, I know. And then, but the thing is, is everyone, what's so amazing about art is when you listen to a song or watch a movie and you're like, you relate to it. And sometimes it's not your story. Yeah. And you fucking relate to it. And you're like, oh my God, like I'm not a straight woman, you know, sad about losing some cock, but that woman singing right now is making me sad about losing some cock.
30:19Right. You know, and you're like—
30:20Justin Tranter:Because she wrote that shit so good. Because she wrote that shit so good that now I'm missing cock. Right. You're like, what's happening? Yeah. You know? Yeah. And that's art. So with the acting stuff, you're like— You're asking yourself to go one step greater and go like, what, you know, how do I feel something? Yeah. And with music, it's so nice to bring that in, like with the music videos and stuff, because it's so much less precious. It's just play. Yeah. I will say watching your music video, your new music video this morning that I got a preview of, you're performing better. Yeah, girl. Because you just acted in a whole ass show.
30:54I ain't scared anymore.
30:55Justin Tranter:Yeah. Because it's like, you know, I don't know, the camera's really interesting. It's a really interesting mirror. Yeah. It's just a mirror. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And then you're watching it back and you're like looking at certain things and you're going, oh, I was feeling that. Or I was feeling this. And now I feel that in music video or now I feel that in songwriting. In lyric, yeah. Lyric. Yeah. And I think that's really cool. I think that's really special. It's beautiful. It's all just tools in a lesbian tool belt. Do you know what I mean? Like I've got a big old fucking cat, you know, the tractor cat brand fucking lesbian tool belt.
31:32Justin Tranter:You know that most of my friends are lesbians. I of course know what you're talking about. I got a huge fucking meaty tool belt. I'm trying to add tools to the tool belt. I got it right now. I got it. I got a hacksaw and I got a fucking, I got a drill, a diary and I got a notebook for my thoughts. Okay. Like it's fucking cool. It's really cool. I just like all of it. And the tool belt gets bigger. The more different kind of art you do. You're like, ha ha, I'll do Broadway. Yeah. You're like, ha ha. Move bitch. No. Yeah. But you learn so much. Writing a song with and for a pop star is so special.
32:07Justin Tranter:And I love it. when I go and write a song based on a script, it's so different. When I go and host the fucking pre-telecast of the Grammys, I learn something new. And one thing about you is you rise to the occasion. I love it. Because you don't care. I don't care if you've never done something before. You're like, I'm gonna figure it out. I'm gonna figure it out. You're gonna figure it the fuck out. I will work. I will hire the right collaborators to make sure I kill it. To help me and explain things to me. I've been wanting to do a podcast forever. And I just kept thinking, oh, I'll just figure it out on my own.
32:35Justin Tranter:I'm figuring it out on my own because I'm so cunt. when everything I've done in my life has always been successfully, everything I've done successfully is collaboration. It has to be. And so then finally it's like, oh, let me just get a collaborator on the fucking podcast. You want to make a podcast about collaboration, get a fucking collaborator, you dumb cunt. You know what? We are not, we are not like singular. We're not solo artists as human beings. Like that's not - Even though it might look like it, it's never a solo artist. That's not what we're, but dating back to when we were nomadic, we were humans did better in packs we're pack animals yep we're not supposed to be alone yep we're not supposed to be fucking withering alone and and i think that people who think they know everything and are afraid to ask for help oftentimes come to really bizarre answers really bizarre and like when you have people to bounce things off of you i mean i've yeah it's it's amazing it's what you're supposed to do as a human being that's why we've been making fucking art as a civilization for so long.
33:39Justin Tranter:To wrap it up, because I know we have to wrap it up. We're going to play a game. Tell me. It's called gagged or dragged. And we've discovered in the last podcast we shot that we shot, you can also pick meh. So, okay, I'm going to list something. If you love it, it's a gag. If you hate it, it's dragged. If you really don't care, I don't like, why did you ask me that question? You idiot. It's a meh. Gotcha. Okay. are you ready always and we're gonna go quick unless you want to explain okay then we can pause method acting drag drag drag drag like what yeah it's just I just like do you have a friend like if you're method acting like does that mean you have no friends because you can just be insane but I just don't yeah I mean maybe I'm just not that good you know what I mean like there's a part of me that's like maybe I'm just fuck my drag I guess I'm like I don't know I've got to be me Acoustic versions Of songs That make everything sadder That's a gag Come on Just a girl and a voice And an acoustic guitar You know that's my tea bitch Spotify bios written in third person What is third person?
34:57Justin Tranter:Oh fuck I'm a songwriter I'm a songwriter You're not a novelist. No, but it's written about me. Like if it's like. She. King Princess was born in 1912. Unfortunately, that is what mine is. Is it? Yeah, but drag. I'm dragging myself. I just want to say. Even my new one. Morgan wrote these, so she set you up for that, not me. Fuck you, Morgan. God, she's always trying to see me fail. Saying you hate L.A. while being in L.A. No, that's fierce. That's good. That's what I do all the time. And also I think it's so fierce because it's not like a girl. You have to come here. Right. So it's fine to complain as long as you do it.
35:42Justin Tranter:However, you complain about being in LA when you get to stay here. But I never complain about here. You don't complain about here. You put everything outside of these walls. No, I say very specifically, Justin, the reason why I stay within the confines of these walls is because I will complain. Moaning on the track. Always yes. Always yes. Great, great. Always sex noises. Yep. Cargo pants that unzip into cargo shorts. Drag, but I own them.
36:10I hate you because I know which ones. And I didn't bring them because I had a feeling. I didn't even know that I forgot that it happened, but I had a feeling. I looked at them and I said, not you, you're staying.
36:24Justin Tranter:You're staying this time. Posting thirst traps with an earnest caption that says something about healing. Drag. Drag. Who the fuck does that? A lot of people post thirst traps and they're like, I'm on a journey. They're like, I'm at the asylum. Yeah. They're like three months at the asylum. Here's my hole. Yeah. Holes never felt tighter. Writing about scissoring and calling it cinematic tension. No. I think that's a gag. I think it's fabulous. What? I just think writing about scissoring, but then like trying to like make it about, like claim it's like really glamorous, I think is fabulous. I'm more into like Lars von Trier wrote Nymphomaniac about fly fishing.
37:12Like the whole thing's a metaphor for fly fishing. So you'd prefer that? Like we can go. Scissoring's too exciting. We can get better. Yeah. We can get better.
37:22Justin Tranter:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, come on. This, that question brings me to my last actual real question, which I wasn't even planning. Your new album, right? Because you've been really gay for a very long time, which when we all start writing songs when we're younger and gay or newly gay, there's always so much like pain and yearning, which I love. I've been a part of those songs and I fucking love them. what do you think your new album is adding to the lesbian canon or what do you hope it's adding to well i just think it's expert level we're it's not we're not doing she's an expert tag i mean it's it's just i've been gay so long it's not fun anymore there's nothing fun and exciting about this okay it's no there's no like ha ha ha why do you have a boyfriend?
38:17Right. No one has had boyfriends in years. We are talking about being in a relationship, you know, with a woman. And we're not even thinking about gay anymore. We're just thinking about how we hate each other. You know? Being gay is not the problem. Being gay is not even a factor. I forget. I forget.
38:41Justin Tranter:But what you don't forget is that you hate this bitch. What I forget is that we are not getting along. Right. You can never forget that. I am not forgetting that. But what I am forgetting is I'm getting, I don't even fucking think about it until somebody brings it up. I don't even think about it. Yeah. I'm just like, I'm fierce and I like pussy. Like, what's new? Stop writing about fucking weird, unrequited shit. I did it already. It's fine. It's done. Well, and you don't have to write anymore because you did it. That's out of your system. It wouldn't be true. Right, exactly. That's what I'm saying.
39:10Justin Tranter:You did it. Mine's like, you know, You didn't take out the fucking recycling, did you? But in a cunt way, in a sexy way. I think there's no way to top you didn't take out the recycling. That's a great lyric. Did you write that down? You write it down. It's yours. I'm not taking publishing on that. That's all you, baby. Let's split it. It did happen here. This is collaboration. You know I would be like, it was 50-30. We literally were here together. We were talking. He brought it. He brought it out of me. I did ask the question. There you go. On that note, I just made more money. Thank you so much.
39:49Justin Tranter:That was another episode of Unfamous. I love you.
40:05Justin Tranter:Hello, hello, everyone's favorite part of every podcast where we say please follow and subscribe to this podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss future conversations. And also, pretty please take a cute little second to rate the show. It's one of the biggest ways you can support us. See you next Wednesday.
From the publisher
King Princess makes bold, chaotic, deeply self-aware pop. But more importantly? She knows how to build art through collaboration, trust, and a healthy amount of beautifully unhinged creativity.
In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with longtime collaborator and pop provocateur King Princess to talk about songwriting, acting, queer storytelling, and what it actually takes to survive the music industry while staying true to yourself.
From writing together when she was still a teenager to watching her step into acting alongside icons like Nicole Kidman and Christine Baranski in Nine Perfect Strangers, the conversation moves through creative evolution, artistic freedom, and the lessons that come from building a career on your own terms. They unpack everything from navigating labels and contracts to the power of trusting your collaborators, plus the creative chaos behind her new album and the mythological world of “Girl Violence.”
It’s hilarious. It’s brutally honest. And it’s a real look at how artists grow when they stop pretending they have to do everything alone. If you love pop culture, music, and the messy, magical truth behind how things get made, this one’s for you.
Follow, subscribe, like and comment wherever you watch and listen.
Credits:
Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter
Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart
Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart
Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart
Director: Morgan T. Stuart
Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary
Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri
Camera Assistant: Sharrae Rucker
Special thanks to Mark Beavan and Jimmy Knehans
Shout out to Chloe Pappas and Leslie on Patreon.
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