Inside FEVERS’ Dollhouse: The Meaning Behind “Motel,” Dolly, and Her Fairytale-Inspired Album

Montreal-based alt-pop artist FEVERS is building more than just a musical era—she’s crafting a world. Blending doll-like aesthetics with emotionally raw storytelling, her sound sits at the intersection of dreamy pop and haunting alternative, drawing comparisons to Lana Del Rey and Melanie Martinez while remaining entirely her own.

With her latest single “Motel,” FEVERS leans into surreal, cinematic storytelling using the idea of a motel as a metaphor for escape, identity, and the search for belonging. As she steps into a new era led by her “Dolly” persona and a fairytale-inspired album, she’s inviting listeners into a universe where softness and darkness coexist.

“Building a universe is my number one favorite thing about doing music,” she says. “My second favorite thing is having people join that universe.”

We spoke with FEVERS about the meaning behind “Motel,” the evolution of her Dolly persona, and how she transforms hyper-feminine aesthetics into immersive, narrative-driven pop while using her work to explore identity, queerness, and the experience of finding a place to belong.

Building a visual world

One of her earlier standout releases, "Unwanted" —released in June 2023, with its music video following in September—helped establish FEVERS’ cinematic approach to storytelling, blending emotionally driven narratives with striking, film-inspired visuals.

"Unwanted" was the first song I ever heard by you! I seen how the music video gave Pearl vibes. The music video was so good and in my opinion super underrated! Can you tell us the story behind how you filmed that music video and came up with the outfits and location?

I had told my videographer, Matt, that I wanted a video clip inspired by the movie Pearl. I remember us spending hours on Facetime trying to figure out a storyline for the music video, our phones falling flat on our faces until 1am from brainstorming all night. I’m the one who found the ranch, which was located a two hour drive away from Montreal. Since the ranch was located in a forest, we kept getting bitten by mosquitoes throughout literally the whole shoot. The location was gorgeous; mountain views surrounding the ranch and cute horses that we were allowed to pet. Fun fact, that last scene where me and my friend Arielle walk head-deep into the water was not planned. We had like 5 minutes to shoot that scene before the sun went down or we'd lose the dreamy, pink and purple sky. So we did that in one spontaneous take and when we came out of the water, the sun had set and we were getting bitten by mosquitoes in our wet clothes. That shot is my favourite out of the whole video.

That same attention to visual storytelling would later evolve into the fully realized world of Dolly, where fashion and identity play a key role in shaping her artistic universe. Drawing inspiration from artists like Lana Del Rey and Melanie Martinez, FEVERS leans fully into her “Dolly” aesthetic, often sourcing pieces from Etsy.

I search on Etsy for hours to find costumes for my looks but I recommend Vina Of The Valley if you want an outfit that’s giving “Dolly”

Her artistic voice began taking shape early on, influenced by repeatedly singing along to Lana Del Rey at around 15, which she credits with helping develop her tone. But it wasn’t until 19 that she began writing her own music—an experience she describes as deeply tied to self-discovery. As a queer artist, that perspective now plays a central role in her work both sonically and visually, shaping the themes she explores and the stories she chooses to tell.

“It was kind of like at the same time as when I started discovering my sexuality,” she shares.

"Motel" and the idea of escape

If Dolly is the face of this era, “Motel” is one of its emotional cores. That becomes even more layered when viewed through the lens of identity. As FEVERS has shared on social media, “Motel” was written as a reflection on the experience of being closeted, using the motel as a metaphor for isolation, secrecy, and the search for a space that feels safe.

Image by FEVERS' best friend, Eva.

Let’s talk about your recent single, “Motel”. I think in most people’s minds when they think of a motel they think of either a quiet place to rest or a cheap romantic getaway. However, in your song you mentioned “the home of the broken dolls, they live inside a dream, you belong in the motel broken baby can’t repair you at all.” Can you explain what inspired you to write this song?

When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with vintage motels purely for the aesthetic, but now I see them as an interesting metaphor. They are a temporary place to stay, isolated from the city and all the noise, where you go for a getaway. I wanted to capture that feeling in my song that is about getting away from a “home” that doesn’t make you feel like home.

At the center of this era is Dolly, a character shaped by childhood imagery, fantasy, and visual world-building. Drawing inspiration from classic fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Alice in Wonderland, and even Barbie, FEVERS uses Dolly as a vehicle to explore both innocence and darkness within the same universe.

In the "Motel" music video, you showed both the sweet and sassy side of you, and you included some older cartoons to help tell a story. Can we expect to see some more music videos this era featuring your Dolly character?

Of course! Dolly is the main character of my next album, and we will see her in every music video. The album itself will be telling the fictional story of Dolly, so it’s important to me that the music videos support the album’s concept.

That narrative extends into the album’s fairytale-driven concept.

Your single "Apple Pie" started off this era with the "bad wolf" storyline. Is this a hint that there are more fairytale inspired songs to come?

Yes! The whole album is inspired by classic children’s tales, so expect to hear more references about the Big Bad Wolf, The Three Little Pigs, Hansel and Gretel…the list goes on!

Visually, the era is also defined by color, especially pink. FEVERS describes it as a key part of her creative process, explaining that colors inspire her to write under someone else's perspective; often drawing inspiration from imagery she curates, particularly on Pinterest. For FEVERS, building this kind of universe isn’t just an aesthetic choice, it’s her favorite part of being an artist.

"Soft pink inspires me to write as if I was in the shoes of a doll"

It's FEVER's world, and we're living in it

For those just discovering her music, FEVERS points to "Apple Pie", "A Thousand Men", and her upcoming single "Little Lamb"—which she calls her favorite in her entire discography—as the perfect introduction to her sound. Together, these tracks offer a glimpse into the layered, character-driven storytelling that defines her work.

As she continues developing this next chapter, FEVERS has been open about the scale of the project. What was once expected sooner has now evolved into a more expansive vision, with her upcoming album set for a 2026 release. In a message to fans, she shared that the process has been more demanding than anticipated, emphasizing her commitment to building not just an album, but a fully realized world through visuals, storytelling, and sound.

By Marianna Georgiadis

About the artist

Naomie Rose Latreille, known artistically as FEVERS, is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter whose sound fuses the unapologetic flair of 2000s girl-pop with the emotional rawness of alternative music. With her ethereal “princess” vocals and immersive storytelling, FEVERS crafts sonic worlds that uplift women and give the queer community a voice.

Inspired by icons like Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, and Marina & The Diamonds, FEVERS transforms personal stories into glossy yet haunting pop anthems. Her distinctive blend of sweetness and melancholy has quickly set her apart in Montreal’s emerging alt- pop scene. Her sophomore album is set to be released this year, featuring the singles "Apple Pie", "Motel" and her upcoming single, "Little Lamb."