Dublin’s rising pop provocateur Pastiche has returned with a magnetic new single, Hot Mess Express, taken from her highly anticipated debut EP Femme Fatality, due October 16th.
The solo project of Jade Roche, Pastiche has steadily carved out her name as one of Ireland’s most compelling new pop artists—pairing hard-hitting subject matter with glossy, dancefloor-ready production. Her latest release arrives on the heels of a show-stealing performance at Forbidden Fruit and a coveted RTE 2FM Rising Artist nod for 2025, cementing her place at the forefront of Ireland’s new generation of pop.
Produced by Alex O’Keefe, Hot Mess Express marries fluorescent synths with a propulsive beat, creating an irresistible sonic backdrop for a raw, deeply personal narrative. Lyrically, the song dissects the chaos and contradictions of womanhood with both humour and unflinching honesty. Written during a tumultuous period marked by chronic illness, fertility treatment, and emotional upheaval, the track is a high-octane testament to losing control as a form of reclaiming it.
“Pastiche, for me, is what I always wanted to be as a woman – strong, independent, confident, all the things that I wish I was but that I feel like I’m not,” she says. “It’s a song about spiralling, something I tend to do quite often. I get nervous when things are going well, because I know in an instant everything can fly completely off the tracks. I long for stability, comfort and love but that’s not really what you get in this industry or this life. This song represents for me the moment where the chaos catches up with you. Sometimes you really just need to feel out of control to gain that control. I’m in control of being out of control.
‘Hot Mess Express’ is not pretty, it’s unhinged, it’s tongue-in-cheek—but it represents something real: exhaustion, frustration, the pressure to always be okay, to be perfect, the weight we bear just being women. It’s about losing it and owning it at the same time. Sometimes, being a ‘mess’ is the most honest version of yourself—and the most dangerous.”
Sonically playful yet emotionally grounded, the track previews the thematic heart of Femme Fatality—an EP that dives deep into issues of body image, sexuality, infertility, and self-worth, while championing strength and transformation. Described by Pastiche as “an unapologetic, dark, and honest reflection on the female experience,” the project promises to be as thought-provoking as it is hook-filled.
Already a name to know on the Irish circuit, Pastiche’s past singles have earned slots on top Spotify editorial playlists (New Music Friday, NPOPUK, EQUAL) and scored major airplay across RTE, Today FM, BBC NI, and more. Her breakout single Forfeit Control made waves on the Irish Radio Breakers Chart (peaking at No. 3) and racked up over 12.5 million radio impacts in Ireland in 2024 alone.
Live, Pastiche brings her vision to life with genre-defying energy and undeniable charisma, having already lit up stages at Primavera Pro, Iceland Airwaves, Indiependence, and Ireland Music Week, while supporting the likes of Alice Glass and Lyra.
With Hot Mess Express, Pastiche offers a rebellious, resonant anthem for those teetering on the edge—and proves that sometimes, the mess is the masterpiece.
Listen below: