55. “Even Goddesses Have Insecurities” – Dareen on Her Debut Album

Dareen came back with a whole album and a completely different energy.She was Episode 2 — one of the very first guests on loves music — and back then she was just getting her feet wet again after a decade away from recording. Now she's returned with Goddess, a full-length debut that explores femininity, power, vulnerability, and self-doubt through dark, ethereal alternative pop. Julian and Dareen get into the making of the album, what it means to be a woman making music about womanhood without alienating anyone, and why the creation itself might matter more than the numbers.In this conversation, we get into:How an album she never planned to make became the most cohesive thing she's doneThe song she'd pitch to a label and why "Power" is the oneWhat men should take away from a feminist album that isn't anti-menWhy indie music culture lost its sense of discovery, and whether scenes still existThe advice she'd give artists battling post-release blues and self-doubtAbout Dareen:Dareen is a Polish/Lebanese/Gambian singer-songwriter based in Greece and the host of the Hymn of the Goddess podcast, a community platform amplifying independent female artists. After a 10-year hiatus, she released her debut album Goddess in 2025 — a conceptual project blending alternative pop, trap-soul, and dark electronic textures.Connect with Dareen:Instagram: instagram.com/dareen.mp3TikTok: tiktok.com/@xoxo_dareenSpotify: open.spotify.com/artist/7azOWyR2mZ7PSy71udacABThreads: threads.com/@dareen.mp3LinkTree: linktr.ee/darxxnMerch: dareen.printify.meMusic Mentioned in this Episode:Songs:Power — DareenCleopatra — DareenThe Villain — DareenGoddess — DareenGood Enough — Dareen (feat. Kaylee Wilson)What's Wrong With Me — DareenMisunderstanding — DareenIn Disguise — DareenSex on Fire — Kings of LeonFade — TinasheEspresso — Sabrina CarpenterAlbums & Projects:Goddess (album) — DareenDid You Miss Me? (EP) — DareenOnly by the Night — Kings of LeonBrat — Charli XCXArtists & Bands:DareenKaylee WilsonKings of LeonTinasheLana Del ReyMadonnaNessa BarrettMitskiBillie EilishThe WeekndCharli XCXSabrina CarpenterTate McRaeAddison RaeBritney SpearsJ LoWhitney HoustonMichael JacksonTaylor Swift---------------Follow the OFFICIAL "loves music" playlist on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/library/playlist/p.4Y0J406i03DQrX"loves music" playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qE3kq89oyg3tFNbmRfHEO?si=vopaKQnNS8OHn0r2fFTVBgCheck out the "loves music" podcast website: https://www.podpage.com/loves-music/Julian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianjones417/Julian on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@julianjones417Check out Julian's book: https://a.co/d/0hzWNkiDThis podcast is managed by Wildwave Podcasting: https://www.wildwavepodcasting.com