Exclusive Interview: Stella Prince Bridge-Building Folk and Modern Reality with “Hand In My Pocket”

We sat down with Woodstock-born singer-songwriter Stella Prince to discuss her captivating new release, “Hand In My Pocket” (released July 7, 2026). Raised on the timeless sounds of Levon Helm, Pete Seeger, and Joni Mitchell, Stella’s journey began at age four with voice lessons, quickly evolving into rigorous conservatory-style music theory, guitar, and piano training at Bard College by age seven. Now based in Los Angeles, the prodigiously talented 22-year-old has established herself as a formidable voice in contemporary folk music—fusing classic 70s sensibilities with modern storytelling into her signature “Gen Z Folk” style.

From independently booking over 1,000 shows across the US and Europe to selling out residencies at LA’s Hotel Cafe and London’s Green Note, Stella has proven her immense work ethic. Recently welcomed into the Recording Academy’s New Member Class of 2026, she has co-written with Hall of Fame songwriters like Liz Rose and Matraca Berg, recorded in Iceland’s legendary Hljóðriti studio with 3x Grammy-nominated producer Dr. Blum, and consistently advocated for female representation through initiatives with Change the Convo and Book More Women. In our interview, Stella opens up about reinterpreting Alanis Morissette’s iconic 90s anthem, stepping off the pure DIY grind, and bringing raw vulnerability to her upcoming debut album.

Interview with Stella Prince

Your new single “Hand In My Pocket” reimagines Alanis Morissette’s iconic 90s alt-rock anthem through a modern Gen Z Folk lens. What drew you to this specific song, and how did you approach stripping back its original grunge-pop energy to find its intimate acoustic core?

Stella Prince: Well, strangely enough, even though the song came out 30 years ago, it feels really relevant to what my generation is going through right now. Approaching it from an acoustic, folky perspective felt right to me as that’s how I see the world. There is something so powerful about vocals and stripped down guitar. It feels more raw, and urgent. And I thought it would be interesting to make a completely different version than the original.

Alanis Morissette was in her early twenties when she first sang “Hand In My Pocket,” and you’re navigating that exact same age now. How did sharing that age perspective change how you delivered lyrics like “I’m young and I’m hopeful / I’m lost and I’m lonely”?

Stella Prince: It is THE song for my age group. I don’t think that will ever change. When you’re in your early twenties and you’re trying to figure everything out, this song will forever be the most relatable. It is how many of us feel at exactly this age- where we have duality of optimism and pessimism, strength and fear, anxiety and hope. The way things are right now in the world and taking it day by day and step by step.

You’ve had massive success taking legacy tracks—like your reimagining of The Carpenters’ “Close to You”—and giving them a contemporary folk identity. What is your philosophy when taking on a timeless classic so that it feels like a lived-in Stella Prince track rather than just a nostalgic cover?

Stella Prince: I think my version of “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield is a good example of that. I recorded it in Laurel Canyon, 60 years after its original release, and I was nervous to reimagine it because it’s such an iconic track. Then I thought, “How would I want this song to sound if I was listening to it for the first time in 2026?” So I added both classic 60s production and contemporary sounds together, and made it my own that way. Blending genres and sounds is so creative for me.

Beyond your single releases, your upcoming debut album features an unreleased song written by the legendary Diane Warren, recorded at Iceland’s historic Hljóðriti studio with Dr. Blum. What was the energy like in that Icelandic studio, and how did that unique environment shape the album’s sound?

Stella Prince: Recording in Iceland was a once in a lifetime experience. It was 12 hours a day for 10 days straight, which I had never, ever done before, so that alone was overwhelming. I learned a great deal. It was a lot of trying different things. I tried a 12 string guitar for the first time and fell madly in love with it. I tried an electric guitar for the first time. It was amazing getting to experiment sonically and also be in such a beautiful setting. I walked to get lunch every day and almost lost my breath because the landscape was so incredible. Just walking out the door and noticing what’s around you is enough to stop you in your tracks.

You’ve co-written with country songwriting royalty like Liz Rose and Matraca Berg. Coming from a background of writing and managing everything yourself for years, what was the most surprising thing you learned about your own creative voice while sharing a room with these Hall of Fame songwriters?

Stella Prince: I was honestly in awe when I first started those co-writes. I remember meeting Liz and Matraca for the first time and thinking, “Oh my god, she wrote the soundtrack of my childhood.” Those kinds of moments just get you. I couldn’t believe I was getting the chance to write with such an incredible songwriter. I learned to just sit and take it all in, and watch what other people are doing. Sometimes you have to be able to look around and listen before diving in to your own ideas.

Having played over 1,000 self-booked DIY shows across the US and Europe, you’ve recently transitioned into building a core team and booking iconic dream venues like The Troubadour and Moroccan Lounge. How has stepping off the pure DIY grind altered your headspace when preparing for a headlining tour?

Stella Prince: I’ve been lucky enough to find a great team and build a group of people who truly believe in me. It’s so different now than how it was when I was doing everything on my own. I’m really able to focus more on the things that I love- songwriting, and performing. Even just simple things like being able to say, “Let me loop you in with my team!” to someone via email is a powerful reminder that I’m not in this alone.

As the founder of an all-female showcase with Change the Convo and through your partnership with Book More Women, you brought over 20 female opening acts on tour with you. Why was it vital for you to use your growing platform to actively rewrite line-up demographics in the folk industry?

Stella Prince: I really wanted to give female artists an opportunity to perform and any support that I can. It’s truly as simple as that. Because I remember how I felt when I was just starting out. I sat in my bedroom and I thought, “How the heck am I going to do this?” It felt beyond impossible. Nobody was going to help me. I didn’t know a single person in the music industry. So anything that I can do to give someone a step up is so important to me.

From lecturing at elite institutions like Vanderbilt, Belmont, and UCLA on building independent music careers to being voted into the Recording Academy’s New Member Class of 2026, how do you balance being an active student of the music business while remaining an artistically free creator?

Stella Prince: I’m just trying to take everything in. Every experience, every feeling. Everything. That’s how I write songs. My favorite song I’ve written is a song called “Good Luck is Hard to Find.” And one of the first lines of it is “Thought I’d have a car by now but I’m still too scared to drive.” And that was referring to when I moved to LA last year and refused to drive on the highway for nine months because I was so scared. It’s just real life. And that’s what being a student of songwriting and music is. Putting life experiences into your art.

You were homeschooled in Woodstock and began rigorous conservatory-style music training at Bard College’s prep program when you were just seven years old. Looking back, how did studying there shape your emotional maturity as a storyteller?

Stella Prince: I would not be the person I am today without that program, period. It was the single biggest thing that impacted me and shaped me more than any other experience growing up. I discovered my favorite singers through that program. My favorite voice teacher gave me a Karen Carpenter song to sing when I was 7, and that’s how I heard her voice for the first time. My favorite guitar teacher gave me a Joan Baez song when he was supposed to be assigning me Spanish classical guitar. Those teachers totally shaped me and changed my musicality.

With “Hand In My Pocket” setting the stage for your debut album and upcoming short documentary, what core message or feeling do you hope listeners carry with them as they step into this next major era of your career?

Stella Prince: That we’re in this together. I’m a 22-year-old navigating all of this for the first time. Not just my career, but life. We’re all figuring it out right now. This year has been crazy music-wise, but also personally, and independently. I moved out, I got my first apartment, my first car, traveled by myself for the first time, all of these milestones. I want people who listen to my music to know that they are not alone, and that I’m going through all the ups and downs of life in these crazy times too.

Summary

Stella Prince’s acoustic rendition of “Hand In My Pocket” stands as a masterful bridge between generations, distilling 90s alt-rock angst into a raw, modern folk reflection on early-twenties adulthood. By combining world-class conservatory discipline with genuine vulnerability, Stella honors the lineage of folk icons while carving out a distinct lane for herself. As she prepares for the release of her debut album, upcoming short documentary, and headlining tour, her music remains a grounded sanctuary for anyone navigating the uncertainties of growing up. Make sure to stream “Hand In My Pocket” on all major streaming platforms today and follow Stella’s ongoing journey!