Say Hello to Your Summer Anthem—“Poly Pocket” by Lani Watson

It’s official—Barbie summer walked so Poly Pocket summer could run. With a sparkle in her eye, a mic in her hand, and her heart in technicolor, Lani Watson has delivered a hyperpop gem that’s cheeky, tender, and unapologetically her. Her latest single, “Poly Pocket,” isn’t just a bop—it’s a bold declaration of identity, wrapped in synths and smirks, and ready to soundtrack your pride, your party, and your next late-night drive.

Lani Watson isn’t your run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter. She’s a kaleidoscope of contradictions: soft and fierce, grounded and soaring, sassy and sincere. Hailing from California and now based in Nashville, Lani is on a personal mission to write across genres like she changes hiking trails—fearlessly and with flair. From Americana to Celtic, from indie soul to pop rebellion, there’s nothing she won’t try, and frankly, nothing she can’t pull off.

But let’s talk “Poly Pocket.”

Produced by Kory Shore (with mix by Collin Hanley and master by Sam Moses), the track is a 2000s-dance-pop fever dream brought into 2025. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed: synthy siren sounds, strutting string bass, Lani’s sugar-satin vocals, and—get this—actual samples of belt buckles and rustling sheets. It’s sensual, smart, and self-aware. Like the best polyamorous relationships, it’s built on communication, creativity, and a damn good time.

Lani doesn’t just write songs. She paints them, runs them up a mountain, wrestles them into harmony, and then gifts them to the world. “Poly Pocket” is more than a dance track—it’s a manifesto of multiplicity, an ode to variety, and a celebration of queerness right on time for Pride.

We caught up with the artist herself to talk about how this glimmering anthem came to be. Below is our exclusive interview with the one and only Lani Watson.

ALT RECESS INTERVIEW: Lani Watson on “Poly Pocket” and Embracing Her Kaleidoscope

1. Hey, welcome to ALT RECESS Lani Watson, we're honoured to have you with us! What inspired this fresh new single "Poly Pocket" and what was it like creating this masterpiece?

Lani Watson: Hello hello! Thanks so much for having me. Poly Pocket was so fun to write. It was inspired by opposition to the perceived societal expectation of being a perfect “Barbie girl.” I actually first wrote the refrain back in 2014, but didn’t know what to do with it. I never finished the song until I came out as polyamorous and ten years later, it’s finally done!

Through significant time spent evaluating where I fit in the world, and what I want versus cultural expectations of me, I found my way of expressing my experience of colorful multiplicity. I thrive in variety and finding the right people to share time with all of the versions of myself. I compared the perceived Barbie standard to the incredible variety that Polly Pocket dolls allow with all of their little rubber outfits, and I thought it was a cute, fitting metaphor for my life. I’m continuously seeking new and different experiences and the Poly pun makes me smile.

2. The production on this track is top tier! Who created the production behind "Poly Pocket" and were there any collaborators and contributors you'd like to shoutout?

Lani Watson: Kory Shore is fantastic—he is the alchemist of turning emotion into sonic vibes. Shout out to the belt buckles, zipper pulls, and rustling sheet sounds in there that we sampled ourselves. Kory is so much fun to work with, it was hard to keep a straight face when he was flapping a pair of jeans into the mic for ear candy. It’s such a joy to create with him.

3. In your experience, what makes a great Lani Watson record? What are some of your checklist boxes you need ticked before you're ready to release a song?

Lani Watson: The people I have the honor of working with make my records special. I’m surrounded by empathic, inventive, humorous, and unwaveringly supportive artists who help bring my dreams to life. I think my uncensored expression, original sound sampling, and cheeky storytelling make my songs interesting. I don’t write about things I don’t care about, and I don’t follow any particular structure. I let each song take me in whatever direction it needs to to accurately emote my experiences.

I feel whole getting to combine my musical and visual art as I create my own album covers. And before I release a song, I make sure I loop in my acapella experience and write way too many harmonies that I then scale back to a Goldilocks sound.

4. What would you like listeners to take away from "Poly Pocket" and Lani Watson as an artist?

Lani Watson: I hope listeners learn that polyamory exists! I want to showcase the option to relate in multiplicity and freely customize your relationships. I hope people associate excitement, inclusivity, joy and adventure with the concept of polyamory, and have curiosity about the kaleidoscope of ways one can be in relationships.

Writing this song felt like I was fully in alignment with myself. I wish for it to reach those in the rainbow community who haven't yet heard their feelings, needs, or relationship styles represented in pop music. And I hope they can’t stop dancing to it on repeat! I think they’ll see my envelope-pushing side and think of me next time they want to dance. I want people to listen to Poly Pocket, then be surprised by the variety in the rest of my discography, and understand that I can only be unreservedly myself—a sassy, conflicting combination of silly and serious, allowing space to be all of the different versions of myself whenever I need them.

Whether you’re glamming up for the club or belting it in your bedroom mirror, “Poly Pocket” isn’t just a song—it’s your invitation to color outside the lines. Add it to your playlist, blast it in your car, and don’t forget: the most vibrant lives don’t fit in one box—and neither does Lani Watson.

Follow Lani Watson on your favorite streaming platform and socials to keep up with her genre-bending adventures. One thing’s for sure: this summer, the pocket isn’t just Polly—it’s polyphonic.