1. Thank you very much for your time! Before we introduce your new release to our readers – what kind of drink would you recommend to zip on while they listen to your new music?
Hey! Thanks for having me. For my new single ‘No Bodies’ I’d definitely recommend a red bull vodka. It’s a fun song, so you need the fuel from the red bull to give you that necessary energy boost.
2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!
Yes, so my newest single No Bodies dropped in February and I’ve been loving the fan response so far! It was such a fun song to create, I got the whole song concept from an Instagram comment I saw that said ‘no face, no case’. So essentially the whole song is about the fun of having a secret hookup.
With No Bodies going, I also have a solo release coming in April and a collaboration track with an up-and-coming EDM DJ. Both songs are very different, one is slow and personal and the other is upbeat and is going to get people excited for the summer. Really excited about both.
After that, I’m going back on the road to perform a bunch of shows in Colorado and Los Angeles for a few weeks starting at the beginning of June. I’m really excited to go out west and perform in front of new crowds. I’ll be announcing all my show dates on my Instagram and website very soon!
3. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
5 important Lánre facts are:
- God, family, friends, and my fans mean everything to me
- I’m a product/stan of the 2000’s era of pop & RnB
- I write some of my songs while I’m dreaming
- I’ve been singing and performing since I was 8 years old
- My songs are for people who are in love, heartbroken, or who are happy to just be trying to figure it all out
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
I feel like my personal fashion style is comfortable while still being stylish if that makes sense? My music kind of does the same thing, on the surface it’s really catchy and relatable, but each song has a deeper message to it.
These aren’t necessarily fashion brands, but visually I’d compare my music to the art that Takashi Murakami and Keith Haring create. It’s colorful, unpredictable, and makes you think.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
As I mentioned earlier, my songs can relate to all sorts of people. I’ve been through a lot of heartache, happiness, disappointment, triumph and everything in between. So I write about my experiences hoping that it connects with people, which is why I make sure the melodies are all digestible for the most part. My song ‘Beautiful Lies’ for example is about when I was dealing with depression and going through an identity crisis in my early 20s. But when you first listen to it, you may think it’s just a party song at first.
Some of my favorite songs have deeper meanings to them like ‘Mirrors’ by Justin Timberlake or ‘Love Drought’ by Beyoncé. It’s those hidden elements that subliminally make listeners want to listen to the song again and again to understand the hidden messages. That’s the approach I take to my songwriting.
I feel like I just gave one of my biggest writing hacks away haha.
6. Besides music, do you have any special talents?
I’m really good at holding my breath underwater! Like, I can stay underwater without coming up for abnormally long periods of time. When I was a kid, I used to prank people by pretending I was drowning by laying in the water for minutes at a time.
I’m also a really good swimmer, so it helps to be able to hold my breath like that.
7. Being on stage feels like….!
Being on stage is the most euphoric sensation I’ve ever experienced. I go through every emotion when getting ready for a show, anxiety, excitement, happiness, terror, you name it! But it never fails, as soon as I step onto the stage, I immediately get this sense of comfort and intuitive energy. I’m not sure how that started for me, but performing has always been my favorite part of being a musician. There’s something about being able to connect with a crowd through their eyes and body language, it’s truly magical.
8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??
I’m a mix of self-taught and classically trained. I started singing on my own when I was 5 or 6. I was (still am) obsessed with the Lion King, so I would learn all the harmonies and adlibs of the songs. I drove my family crazy but they knew I had a passion for it so they sent me to a school for performing arts where I learned how to sing and perform classically. I was introduced to music theory, singing techniques, and piano there.
Fast forward to when I was 14, my older cousin Mike used to send me beats and told me to start writing to them. It didn’t come naturally to me at first, but I’m so grateful that he encouraged me to write my own songs back then because that turned out to be one of my major talents as a musician.
9. A question you’d like to answer, but have never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
I’m surprised I’ve never been asked which song of mine is my favorite. My favorite song is always one that hasn’t been released yet, so right now it’s actually a collection of 3 songs that all tell parts of one real-life story about me. It’s about me being afraid to fall in love again, accepting/being thankful that I am in love, and celebrating that I’m truly in love for the first time in my life. Each song is a completely different genre too, which makes the story interesting. The first of these songs called ‘4:44’ comes out on April 16th, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
Bonus question: No one’s ever asked me what I’m currently binging on TV and it’s Severance on AppleTV. One of the craziest shows I’ve ever watched!
Your Instagram: @lanre.official
Photo Cred – Garrett Cardoso