An Interview with Greta Kline

“I Broke DIY”

Number of times “DIY” is mentioned in this interview: 28
Number of times “punk” is mentioned: 11
Number of times “Chet Hanks” is mentioned: 1

Ten years ago, Greta Kline began writing and recording music, and she hasn’t been able to stop since. In the early 2010s, the songwriter released an endless stream of scruffy, intimate songs on digital platforms under nearly as many pseudonyms: Ingrid Superstar, Little Bear, The Ingrates, etc. Eventually, Kline settled on the name Frankie Cosmos.

Now, Frankie Cosmos—at once a band and the alter ego of Kline—is a Sub-Pop recording artist. Superficially, there’s a world of difference between her newest record, Vessel, and her older releases, such as the 2011 mini-LP, Collaborative Farting (featuring a first track titled “Wagner Vs. Star Wars,” that consists of Kline humming the Star Wars theme and “Ride of the Valkyries” simultaneously, in stereo, for eighteen seconds of relentless aural sadism).

Spiritually, however, Frankie Cosmos’ music is still very much the same; despite the increased production values, one gets the sense that Kline is still writing music primarily for her own edification. Frankie Cosmos’ songs are secret handshakes, and it’s that quality, gleaned from the tenets of early-aughts Tumblr-emo and twee’s innocuous cliquishness, that has made Kline something of a bellwether of contemporary indie rock.

Frankie Cosmos’ detractors like to insinuate that Kline’s parentage—she’s the daughter of hyper-successful actors Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline—is disqualifying, that she’s a Jakob Dylan-esque hanger-on who bought her way to blog-fame. (I remember someone wondering aloud on a music message board if Kline’s bassist had to “buy his own strings.”) Although I’ve never been that cynical, I had my own questions along this line of thinking: How can the heiress to a Hollywood fortune identify as a “punk” or “indie” artist with a straight face? Does Frankie Cosmos’ bassist have to buy his own bass strings?

My suspicions were quelled after five minutes; in reality, Kline is one of the most candid and thoughtful musicians I’ve ever spoken to. And I have, unfortunately, spoken to a lot of musicians.

—Morgan Troper

I. “Health is Cool Now”

THE BELIEVER: I heard this story about something that happened at a Frankie Cosmos show in Portland, and I have to ask about it. Somebody offered you coke and you declined their offer.

GRETA KLINE: Wow. I don’t remember that at all. Was it the person who offered it to me who told you this story?

BLVR: Yeah, they played the show with you.

GK: That’s so funny.

BLVR: I’ve read that you don’t drink or do drugs, which resonates with me....