Halloween came early at The Abbey this week, or at least Kim Petras brought spooky pop energy and heartfelt honesty to MISTR’s National PrEP Day celebration. The Grammy-winning pop star opened up about her iconic Halloween album Turn Off the Light, her love for horror, and whether fans can expect another eerie era anytime soon.
The event, hosted by LGBTQ+ telehealth platform MISTR, celebrated the importance of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) in preventing HIV, while honoring queer joy and sexual wellness with live performances, celebrity guests, and a crowd that could only be described as “frighteningly fabulous.”
Speaking with Gayety on the blue carpet, Petras lit up when asked about the resurgence of her Turn Off the Light tracks every October.
“For me, the best. I mean, I think Turn Off the Light is objectively the best Halloween project that’s ever been made. So yeah, you should be streaming it, and you should educate yourself about it and get really spooky. It’s a classic—it’s never going to die.”
Released in two parts between 2018 and 2019, Turn Off the Light has since become a cult favorite among queer fans, blending camp horror aesthetics with glossy electro-pop. Songs like “There Will Be Blood” and “Close Your Eyes” have become staples of Halloween playlists around the world.
But when asked if she’d ever revisit the haunting world she created on that album, Petras admitted she’s hesitant to touch perfection.
“Spooky season is kind of my one,” she said. “I definitely am always thinking about how I can tell more scary stories in pop. I have loved Turn Off the Light so deeply that I kind of have gotten to the point where I’m a little bit scared to touch anything about it.”
When asked if she’s “scared of pro music,” and Petras laughed in agreement. “Yeah, for sure,” she said. “But I’ve been thinking about other stuff to do with it. I’ve been really getting into just writing a lot of stories and things, and it’s always had kind of a plot. So yeah, I’m always kind of in talks with people about, can we make this into something more?”
Though she didn’t confirm any plans for a Turn Off the Light sequel, Petras didn’t rule it out entirely. “I’d love to drop more spooky music,” she teased. “Spooky music has my heart.”
Between Halloween hits and nonstop Pride performances, Petras has had a whirlwind year. The pop star joked about her packed schedule — and her recent recovery from surgery that left her performing in a medical boot all summer.
“I needed to be on stage so badly,” she said. “I was not able to walk properly for six months, and as soon as I was done [with surgery] I was like, I have to perform. It’s what I live for. So yeah, I’m really happy everyone was there. I’m sorry I was in the boot, but now I’m back to business, girls!”
Despite the setbacks, Petras said performing again “made my life” and left her “so much happier.”
