We recently spoke with Alt Pop R&B singer-songwriter LVXI about her debut album, The Secret Life of Lucy, which is out now. Her sound combines dreamy, ambient synths inspired by artists such as Drake, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, and Rihanna.
Image credit: Exavier Castro
Here’s what she had to say.
How excited are you to release this new album?
Bursting at the seams! Releasing music is definitely an act of delayed gratification, as I’ve been listening to these songs non-stop for the last 2 years and they’re only finally making it into the wild. It’s especially exciting because this album has gone through a lot of evolution. The initial album started out a lot sadder as I documented a real life drama as it unraveled in real-time… but after going through a few cycles, it has since become much richer in storyline.
What were some goals you had in mind for this record?
It wasn’t meant to exist. I wrote the first song crying into my bed and trying to deal with a level of raw emotion that I had never felt before (the first song didn’t quite make the album!). I didn’t want to work with anyone at the time, so I found a freelancer online to help me with a beat. I started using songwriting to cope with what was going on in life by telling it through music, watching a movie. One thing led to another, and I met Chase Hattan, my current producer. He helped me take my songs to a new level and really craft a unique, cinematic sound. Now I can’t help but want to share my work with the world, to share my story and allow others to connect with it as well.
When people listen to LVXI, what are you hoping they get out of it?
I like to call my music “high music for late night drives.” It’s the type of music I feel like you listen to when you’re trying to escape and find clarity from within. There’s a dreamy, cinematic element to all the songs, because sometimes the world around you does feel unreal- especially when you’re one foot in your vision, and the other in “reality.” There’s a fine line between genius and delusion, I like to say…and sometimes not really a line at all. I also hope people feel a little bit like the hero of their own movie when they listen to the songs. We go through a lot of emotions from start to end; pure unadulterated joy, betrayal, disillusionment, loss of self/loss of others, recklessness, triumph and awakening. It’s like a hero’s journey.
What is the best thing about being able to perform music in your opinion?
I like to know that people are all experiencing each line differently, yet there is a sense of connectedness in the moment. I like to think people are listening and feeling the words on a deeper level through music, like we’re reliving a story together… and that connects all of us.
What was the process like in terms of selecting which songs would be featured on your album?
I sent Chase 20+ demos, and he narrowed the list down to what he called 5-star and 3-star based on single potential. It was a little rough for me initially (I was so invested in everything I wrote), but I ultimately trusted his objective opinion. Based on our top three 5-star songs, we then chose the remaining based on similar style (do these feel like part of the same body of work?). We planned on releasing 10 songs as part of the album, but as we worked together, Chase inspired me so much that I wrote more and would send him a song nearly every week. It was a good thing too, because my later writes were more upbeat/poppier, which helped to balance the album.
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