powli 'Fingertips' Meaning: Berlin's Flirty New Pop Power Move

Berlin has no shortage of rising pop talent, but powli has something many emerging artists would love to have: an official vote of confidence from the city itself. If her single "Fingertips" has you curious, here's what the song is about and who's behind it.

Who Is powli?

powli is a Berlin-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. According to Musicboard Berlin, the city's music funding body, she plays piano and guitar and blends pop with rock, indie and hip-hop. Musicboard lists Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey among her main influences.

In 2023, Musicboard Berlin awarded powli a €6,000 grant as part of its Project Scholarship program, linked to her work on a debut album titled cinnamon. Her Spotify bio calls that funding a crucial boost for her career. Her first single was "Money."

What Is "Fingertips" About?

"Fingertips" was released on January 19, 2024, and her bio says it marks the beginning of a new musical identity that blends hip-hop and pop.

Lyrically, the song plays with power and flirtation. The narrator opens with questions about where things are headed between two people, then flips the script. She knows she's someone's favorite, she gets her way without hesitating, and she doesn't feel like explaining herself. The key twist: since the other person claimed not to care, she decides she gets to be unfair, too. It's a playful turnaround, taking someone's indifference and using it as permission to have fun on her own terms.

That theme matches how her bio describes her writing: confident, empowering lyrics alongside more personal themes drawn from her own life, dreams and the people around her.

Why "Fingertips" Works

A lot of flirty pop songs are about chasing someone. "Fingertips" is about holding the cards. That shift in perspective is what makes it stick. It's cheeky without being cold, and it fits neatly beside the Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey influences Musicboard highlights, artists who also love playing with power and mood.

The song is also performing. At the time of writing, "Fingertips" has more than 14,000 plays on Spotify, a solid number for an independent artist still building her audience.

What's Next for powli?

The cinnamon album was in the works when Musicboard published her profile, and her bio frames her music around three big emotions: love, fear and dreams. If "Fingertips" is the new direction, it's a confident first chapter.

Where to Listen

Stream "Fingertips" on powli's Spotify page.

Sources

Musicboard Berlin — "powli"
Spotify — "powli" artist biography