Photography by Simon Kallas
UK singer-songwriter Little Lapin has a way with sound that is both hypnotic and aware, a frayed alternative blur of romance's gone wrong "Love is a nice word but it's wasted on me" she sings in Baby Blue, to heavy late night epiphanie ballads "We can escape the haters, and the prison snitches, because we are creators, not just masturbators", stunning lyrics from Lovers Gate, sung with pressing urgency. The most important thing for an artist is to pay attention to the choices they have to make, the result bearing the impossible weight of the idea, we usally encounter the work as if it were ready-made, but the fragments of struggle sometimes remain, in the interstice of the song is its singer's mark, always singularly unique and in this case, damn good music. "Patience and perseverance go a long way", indeed. The power of these songs speak for themselves. AHC: What has this journey in music, so far, been like for you, the highs and the lows, and what sort of life lessons do you feel you've picked up along the way? Lucy: To describe my journey in music so far with just a few words is a very difficult task. That’s why I turn to writing songs; you can convey how you are feeling through music and although you are still using words, it’s the marriage of those words with the music that make the sentiment easier to express. I’ve often compared my journey in music to surfing. Sometimes I can feel like I spend most of my time battling against a wall of white water instead of riding waves. But as any surfer knows, once you’ve ridden a green wave, it’s worth wading through all that white water to get out back, where the ocean is calmer and more giving. Patience and perseverance go a long way; be prepared to paddle to the wave, rarely does the wave come to you. AHC: What first drew you to music and what was your early musical environment like growing up? Were there pivotal songs for you then that just floored you the moment you heard them? Lucy: I wasn’t born into a musical family although my mum, being a passionate ballet dancer, always listened to classical music and encouraged me to take flute and piano lessons during school. At primary school I remember learning Ralph McTell’s Streets of London and this was a song that always resonated with me. During secondary school, Everybody Hurts by R.E.M was one of those songs that had a profound effect on me and I started composing songs on piano which gave me my musical backbone. AHC: Do you remember the first song that you ever wrote? Or that first moment when you picked up a pen and realized that you could create whole worlds just by putting it to paper? Lucy: Throughout my teenage years I remember writing a lot of music, mostly piano arrangements and I rarely wrote lyrics as I didn't believe I had a singing voice back then. I had experienced a few negative responses from a music teacher whilst auditioning for school concerts which put me off singing for a while. It was around ten years later when I gained my confidence back, realising the power of the pen and my voice. AHC: Which musicians have you learned the most from? Or writers, artists, filmmakers etc? Lucy: When I first set out on my singer songwriter path in New Zealand, I was very fortunate enough to be surrounded by independent creative types which included musicians, DJ’s, artists and filmmakers. NZ has a very strong DIY ethic, which in my opinion, gives people more of an artistic edge. I've learnt a great deal from people adopting the DIY attitude. AHC: What do you think makes for a good song, as you're writing and composing, is there a sudden moment when you know you've found the right mix, that perfect angle of light, so to speak? Lucy: That would be like explaining physical chemistry between two people, it is either there or it isn’t. Sometimes the chemistry lasts and sometimes it doesn’t. Time tells. AHC: Do you consider music to be a type of healing art, the perfect vehicle through which to translate a feeling, a state of rapture, hope lost and regained? Does the writing and creating of the song save you in the kinds of ways that it saves us, the listener? Lucy: When I write music, my intent is clear and less convoluted than if I were to talk in conversation. Inevitably with language, there will always be misunderstandings, some bigger than others, some more dangerous than others and music seems to transcend all the trappings of conversational language. Music is very therapeutic and chances are that if I put my heart on the line by writing a song that is personal to me there will be a listener who has felt that same emotion. Sadly, the majority of songs played on radio today seem devoid of any emotion or feeling and this makes me even more determined to write songs that are heartfelt. AHC: What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town? On-tour, on-the-road? Lucy: I’ve got many fond musical memories but to try and single out a particular memory would be like choosing one favourite film over another so I won’t go there. AHC: With the traditional ways that we listen to music rapidly changing, does it affect how you write and put together an album? Too often people are downloading and engaging with singular songs rather than albums as on ordered and thematic canvas, do you regret that your work may not be received in the way it was intended or created? Lucy: I’m confident that people who listen to my music will want to listen to the songs in context. Albums are a body of work and if listened to as intended, will take the listener on a musical journey. I do put a lot of effort into ordering tracks on my albums however if someone wants to download just one song i’d rather they listen to one song than none. I understand people lead busy lives and don’t always have time to listen to a body of work but that won’t stop me putting out albums. With the amount of songs I write, I have to release albums otherwise my music wouldn’t be heard. AHC: When you set out to write an album of songs, how much does 'where the world is' in its current moment, culturally, politically, otherwise, influence the kinds of stories you set out to tell? Lucy: I’ve never set out to write an album of songs, more so that I write when I am inspired. An album happens when I have an album’s worth of songs good enough to record. I try not to get caught up in politics as everyone has their own truth and I’m not interested in trying to change anyone’s slant on the world. I just want to give people an insight into an artist’s world by sharing my stories. AHC: Do you have any words of advice for other musicians and singer-songwriters or anyone who is struggling to create something of value out there, who are just starting out and trying to find their voice and their way in this world? What are the kinds of things that you tell yourself when you begin to have doubts or are struggling with the creative process? Lucy: Be true to yourself and write for you, not for an audience. If your songs are good they’ll eventually find an audience. If I am struggling with the creative process it usually means I am too comfortable and lacking inspiration. This is when it’s time to try something different, perhaps a different guitar tuning, a different guitar or a different instrument. AHC: Do you have any new projects you'd like to mention? Lucy: I’ve finished recording album number three which is due for release in the spring of next year. I’m very pleased with how it sounds and it’s a progression from my sophomore album. I hope to follow this up with a live studio album with my newly formed band. For more visit www.littlelapinmusic.com/ littlelapin.bandcamp.com/ Comments are closed.
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2024
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