PBG 3 Question Interview with Joyce Tratnyek “Lavender” Single

Produced by a Girl™
Jul 8
3 min read

Joyce Tratnyek’s “Lavender” shimmers with the energy of a soft-rock summer anthem, radiating a spirit that feels both fresh and timeless. The track glows with modern shoegaze-pop textures, yet there’s a nostalgic, sing-along magic woven through every note. Inspired by the bold, boundary-pushing LGBT+ friendships and relationships that shape her world, Joyce creates a soundscape that is at once deeply personal and universally inviting. The chorus is pure gold; catchy enough for rooftop sunsets, basement hangs, and the dance floor at your favorite gay bar. At just 22, this NYC-based singer, songwriter, and producer pours her artistry, sensitivity, and sharp emotional insight into every layer, building heartfelt, self-produced songs from her basement with nothing but Logic Pro, a guitar, and boundless imagination.

1. There’s a playful spark in the way “Lavender” blends lighthearted sarcasm, honest sentiment, and genuine joy; especially in those lyrics about being seen, judged, and still finding safety with someone. How did you land on that emotional balance, keeping the song uplifting without letting it get weighed down?

I just wrote what I truly wanted to say to those who inspired the song, in a very stream of conscious way. Many of these original lyrics made it into the final song, I wanted it to feel very lighthearted and not too edited, to not lose the original spark of the song.

2. You crafted and mixed “Lavender” yourself, and the visuals are drenched in dreamy pastels, camcorder nostalgia, and that unmistakable 80s-90s grain that feels like a memory you can touch. How essential was it for you to keep both the sound and visuals feeling intimate, handmade, and truly connected to the people and moments that inspired the song?

I definitely felt that grainy, homemade nostalgia was the only way forward for this song, the only way it felt authentic and natural to me. Truly, making it sound more modern or hi-fi commercial was never even something that crossed my mind. The 80s-90s grainy camcorder nostalgia is something I often crave, even though I’m a 2000s baby (lol), so I’m so glad that this song scratches that itch!

3. “Lavender” comes across as a beautifully personal Pride Month anthem, celebrating queer love in a way that feels expansive. What drew you to explore that kind of layered, deep connection in your writing?

Thank you! I’m very privileged to have so many relationships with other queer people in my life that are extremely close and loving and often blur the boundaries between friendship and romance. I feel like these kinds of relationships are so common in queer circles but don’t receive mainstream acknowledgment.

I’m really interested in love songs that have a bit of complexity to them, where the message is more than just ‘you're the only one for me babe.” For example, songs that can be inspired by more than one person at once, or songs that have a bit of an affectionate eye-roll quality to them: loving someone despite all their flaws and somewhat annoying traits.

4. Bonus Question: What does Produced by a Girl mean to you?

It means showing young girls that they can produce and engineer music themselves and make their creative visions come to life, and don’t need to pay some guy with a home studio and a power trip to do it for them. You can have complete control of your own art, and there is nothing that feels better than that!