A Chat with Stephanie Meincke (03.03.25)
Describing herself as a “professional overthinker”, singer-songwriter Stephanie Meincke will think about something over and over and over and over… One thing that keeps her sane is her music. We speak with Meincke to discuss the cathartic music of her EP Never Not Thinking, her Danish heritage, future plans and more.
OSR: Your debut EP, Never Not Thinking, is set to release on March 14, 2025. Can you share the inspiration behind this project and what themes listeners can expect?
Meincke: I’ve always been an overthinker, and this EP is my way of addressing that. It’s about the constant noise in my head and the struggle to quiet it down, especially at night. In my opinion, we’re in some kind of “overthinking epidemic” where many of us spend more time analyzing life and figuring out what to do, instead of actually living life and just doing it. I also think that social media and big tech firms work their asses off every single day keeping us engaged, which often results in me doom-scrolling puppy videos on Instagram instead of actually dealing with the noise inside my head. This EP is my attempt to say, “Hey, let’s deal with our overthinking instead of escaping it.”
OSR: Your EP Never Not Thinking has been described as a musical anti-quick fix to the attention-disrupted reality of doom-scrolling and algorithm-driven influence. How do you hope your music helps listeners navigate this digital overwhelm and reconnect with their own thoughts and emotions?
Meincke: I want my music to be a reminder that we’re not alone in these feelings. When I overthink, problems tend to seem bigger in my head than they actually are in the real world. My hope is that by expressing my own “overthinking issues” through my music, I can encourage listeners to acknowledge theirs and maybe even say them out loud. Also, put down the phone. Puppies on Instagram won’t fix anything.
OSR: How has your Danish heritage influenced your songwriting and musical style?
Meincke: Growing up in Denmark, I was surrounded by strong singer-songwriters such as Tina Dico, who inspired me to start writing my own songs when I was 13. Danish music has a raw honesty to it that I try to bring into my own songwriting, even when blending it with pop influences from the rest of the world.
OSR: You’ve mentioned collaborating with some incredible people in the studio for this EP. Can you tell us more about these collaborations and how they shaped the final product?
Meincke: The EP is produced and mixed by Linus Valdemar, and recorded with my band in a lovely studio in Copenhagen during a crazy, crazy heatwave. Everybody in the studio was sweating like crazy those days, and every time we had the tiniest break during recording, we opened every door and turned on every fan we could so that we could cool down. It felt kind of odd to be inside a warm studio during those days; however, we had so much fun and laughed a lot. My band consists of four of my best friends, and they played a huge role in bringing my songs to life, and I couldn’t have done it without them.
OSR: As a self-proclaimed overthinker, how does this trait impact your creative process and the music you produce?
Meincke: Overthinking can be exhausting, but music is the one thing that shuts off my brain. When I sing, I can’t overthink, I just feel. That’s why songwriting is so important to me. It’s a way to turn all those thoughts into something tangible instead of letting them spiral. However, releasing music as an overthinker is something else. I have already thought through a lot of chaos scenarios in my head about the whole EP release days. Luckily, I have a very lovely team behind me, and that helps a lot.
OSR: Your music blends traditional songwriting with pop elements. Which artists have influenced this fusion, and how do you incorporate their impact into your work?
Meincke: I grew up listening to “the big voices of the radio”, artists like Celine Dion and Alicia Keys. More recently, artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Kacey Musgraves, and the Danish artist Eee Gee have influenced my approach to storytelling and sound.
OSR: You’ve performed intimate versions of your songs accompanied by additional guitarists. How do these live arrangements differ from the studio recordings, and what do you enjoy about each setting?
Meincke: In the studio, we got to experiment with textures and layers, which gave the songs a fuller sound. But when playing them live in a stripped-down setting, I am able to bring out the raw emotion in a different way. I love both, but there’s something special about the intimacy of live performances. However, I also LOVE singing my songs on stage with my band behind me.
OSR: Mental health is a recurring theme in your music. What message do you hope to convey to listeners who may be facing similar challenges?
Meincke: That they’re not alone. If you’re struggling, talk about it. Say it out loud. It helps.
OSR: Can you share any memorable experiences or challenges you encountered while creating Never Not Thinking?
Meincke: Recording during a heatwave was definitely an experience! We were melting, but somehow, that intensity made its way into the recordings. Also, writing these songs forced me to be really honest with myself, which was both challenging and freeing.
OSR: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your music career, and how do you envision your sound evolving in the future?
Meincke: In the spirit of my EP’s title, all I can say is: I’m never not writing. So sooner or later, there will be more Stephanie Meincke songs to share with the world.
Many thanks to Stephanie Meincke for speaking with us. Find out more about Stephanie Meincke on her Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
