Prince: After the Rain

 In episode 8 of The Violet Vault, host Ava Cyr explores Prince’s bold artistic transformation following the massive success of Purple Rain. This episode dives into the creation and impact of Around the World in a Day, Prince’s psychedelic and experimental 1985 release that intentionally moved away from the commercial sound of his earlier work. Ava discusses the album’s Beatles-inspired influences, dreamlike storytelling, hidden symbolism, and standout tracks including Raspberry Beret, Pop Life, and Temptation. The episode also explores Prince’s evolving image during the “cloud suit” era, his intense recording sessions in Minnesota, his expanding creative work with artists connected to Paisley Park Records, and his first major televised MTV interview in 1985. Ava examines how Prince resisted repeating himself creatively, even at the height of fame, and how this transitional era paved the way for Parade, Under the Cherry Moon, and future classics like Kiss. 

Transcript

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The first time Aviceer heard Prince was the day he passed. At 12 years old, she sat in her room listening to Purple Rain, and something in her changed. Now, years later, that moment lives on through the Violet Vault, a podcast exploring Prince's legacy, his music, and the world he created. Join Ava Seer as she opens the vault. One story, one era, one purple mystery at a time.

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Hello and welcome back to the Violet Vault. I'm your host, Ava Seer, and this is episode eight of our Purple Journey. Last episode, we explored Prince's Silverscreen debut with the gritty yet glamorous film Purple Rain. And although Prince finally found his commercial breakthrough with Purple Rain and was shot to global stardom, the album and film that propelled him into the spotlight was already becoming something of the past for Prince. In today's episode, we'll be diving into Prince's artistic shift after his Magnum Opus release and take a look at his seventh studio album, Around the World in a Day. Just two weeks after the Purple Rain Tour ended, Prince released another album, except this album strayed away from the commercial sounds of Purple Rain in 1999. Around the World in a Day was released on April 22nd, 1985, by Prince's own label, Paisley Park Records, alongside Warner Bros. Records. Instead of piggybacking off the success of Purple Rain, Prince took a completely different direction with this project, and he embraced psychedelic pop, experimental instrumentation, Middle Eastern-inspired textures, and colorful dreamlike storytelling. The influence of the Beatles, particularly the album like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club, can really be heard throughout the record. And initially the album received very little press. Warner Bros executives were repeatedly nervous because Prince refused to heavily promote the project the way he had with Purple Rain. In fact, no singles were released until nearly a month after the album itself came out. Prince wanted listeners to experience the album as a full artistic statement rather than focusing on radio hits. And despite the risks, the album still performed incredibly well. Around the World in the Day became Prince in the Revolution's second number one album on the Billboard 200. Two of the album's singles, Raspberry Bray and Pop Life, both reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album eventually went double platinum and proved that Prince could succeed commercially even while taking major creative risks. One thing that makes this era so fascinating is just how determined Prince was to avoid repeating himself. Most artists would have tried to recreate the exact formula that made Purple Rain such a massive success, but Prince almost seemed uncomfortable staying in one place creatively for too long. He was already searching for a new sound, a new aesthetic, and a new identity. And this will continue to repeat itself throughout Prince's career. And if you haven't looked at the album cover already for Around the World in the Day, I highly encourage you to. The artwork is packed with symbolism and hidden references. The colorful, crowded illustrations feel almost like a psychedelic painting from the late 1960s. And there are references to songs on the albums, members of Prince's Inner Circle, and imagery connected to spirituality and fantasy. And one of the figures on the covers has especially fascinated me over the years. And during this era, Prince would become known for wearing what fans call the cloud suit, which can be seen in the Raspberry Bray music video. And on the album cover, a figure is wearing that similar suit and appears with blonde hair. And that is indeed Prince on the cover. So Prince initially attempted to dye his hair blonde during this time period, but he reportedly had such a bad reaction to the chemicals, he ended up cutting much of his hair off and returned it to its natural dark color. And that's why in the Raspberry Bray video we see him sporting a noticeably shorter hairstyle. And that shorter look would carry into his next musical era as Prince moved away from his signature sideswept Jerry Curl that fans associated him with at the Purple Rain years. Now, musically, the album itself is incredibly layered. Songs like Paisley Park, Explore Fantasy, and Escapism, while tracks like Condition of the Heart show a softer and more emotional side of Prince's songwriting. Then there's Pop Life, which is one of the most interesting songs in the album because beneath its upbeat sound, the lyrics actually critique fame and celebrity culture. And at this point, Prince was experiencing an overwhelming level of attention. He was constantly being photographed, discussed in the media, and followed by fans. And the song reflects some of that exhaustion and isolation that came with becoming one of the biggest stars in the world almost overnight. Another standout track is Temptation, which closes the album in a dramatic fashion. The song blends funk, rock, theatrical storytelling, and even spoken dialogue. It almost feels like a mini rock opera and showcases Prince's willingness to experiment without worrying about whether mainstream audiences would understand it. And speaking of experimentation, this era also marked a period where Prince became even more deeply immersed in recording and producing. Around this time, he was spending countless hours working at Paisley Park-related studios in Minnesota, often recording through the night and barely sleeping. Some stories from band members described Prince as endlessly creative during these sessions, jumping from instrument to instrument, recording multiple songs in one night, and constantly chasing new ideas. Prince was also expanding his creative universe just beyond his own music. During this period, he was writing and producing material for other artists connected to his growing musical circle, including The Time, Shili E, and the family. His influence was growing rapidly, and he was beginning to build what would eventually become the larger Paisley Park Empire. Now, one major moment from 1985 that fans always remember is Prince's first major televised interview. For years, Prince had maintained an almost mysterious public image. He rarely explained himself and he almost never gave traditional interviews. But in late 1985, he sat down for a televised interview with MTV. Fans weren't used to hearing him casually speak on television. His soft-spoken demeanor contrasted heavily with the larger than life persona audiences saw on stage. That mystery became a huge part of Prince's appeal during the mid-1980s. And unlike many pop stars who constantly explained their personal lives to the press, Prince preferred to let the music, fashion, and visuals speak for themselves. And while Around the World in a Day was successful, it also represented a transitional moment in Prince's life and career. He was beginning to distance himself from the image the public expected him from. He no longer wanted to simply be the guy from Purple Rain. He wanted to evolve constantly, and even if it confused critics or audiences. This period also hinted at just how ambitious Prince truly was creatively. He wasn't just thinking album to album anymore. He was building worlds, aesthetics, symbols, and entire artistic eras. And perhaps most importantly, what was coming next would push his artistry even further. Because after Around the World in the Day, Prince would soon begin to work on one of his most celebrated albums of his career, Parade, which would accompany the film Under the Cherry Moon. This next chapter would bring a more European-inspired sound, black and white fashion aesthetics, and eventually one of Prince's most iconic songs of all time, Kiss. At the same time, tensions within the revolution were slowly beginning to grow, and Prince's relentless work ethic and constant evolution pushed everyone around him creatively, but it also created strain inside the band. The seeds of major chains were already starting to be planted. By 1985, Prince wasn't just a musician anymore. He had become a cultural force, unpredictable, innovative, mysterious, and impossible to categorize. And around the world in the day proved that he would never allow himself to be creatively trapped by expectations. Thank you so much for joining me on this episode of the Violet Vault. Next episode, we'll continue our journey deeper into Prince's ever-evolving world as we explore the parade area, under the cherry moon, and the creative explosion that would lead to Prince into yet another unforgettable chapter of his career. I'm your host, Ava Sear, and thank you so much again for listening.

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Peace and be pilot. The Violet Vault is hosted by Ava Steer, celebrating the sound, style, and spirit of Prince. Subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. Follow the Violet Vault on Instagram and Facebook for new episodes and bonus stories.