As one half of the synth-pop duo Chairlift, Caroline Polachek built her musical house out of longing and vulnerability. But Pang, Polachek’s solo debut under her own name, is more like a castle of confessions. Produced by Polachek alongside PC Music’s Danny L Harle, Pang confronts heartbreak, change, and surrender by pushing these feelings to fantastical heights.

Over the phone, the 34-year-old describes Pang’s aesthetic as “expressionist storybook goth”—with an emphasis on the “expressionist” part. “Many of the elements associated with storybook mythology and gothic aesthetics are actually not expressive,” Polachek explains. “For me, expressionism is this too-close-for-comfort, spilling-out-from-inside-of-you relationship to music, which is so important in the vocals and songwriting on the album.”

This outpouring of emotion is not only crucial to the success of the songs, but to the album’s visuals as well. Inspired by a Northern Renaissance-themed 1998 Versace ad campaign and the gloomy look of certain classic Disney films, the world of Pang is rooted in dark realism and ornate romanticism, with a touch of the supernatural. On the cover, against a celestial background, Polachek hangs from a rope ladder in a white corset and black leather pants. Her video for “Door” is a kaleidoscopic vortex of starry night skies and apocalyptic sunsets, while in the “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings” clip, she flits around a glowing red cave casting spells.

Below, Polachek details what sources she drew from while conjuring Pang’s extended universe.