Hello Luchi and welcome back to College Radio Charts! We last spoke in late 2023. How have you been since then? How has the summer of 2024 been treating you so far?
Hey, thanks so much for having me back. Yeah, I have been good, thanks. I took a little bit of time off to regroup and was back in the studio at the beginning for the year working on some new tracks so it’s been busy behind the scenes. So far, the summer has been good although anyone from the UK will know the weather has been rubbish but apart from that I can’t complain too much.
Congrats on the new single “Web of Lies,” which dropped this week and hit the iTunes Charts in the UK at number 2. Can you tell us the story behind this song and what inspired you to write it?
“Web of Lies” is a song that I wrote last year after a pretty bad break up, which sadly is the story of my dating past. The song tracks the relationship from at the start how the person will lure you into a false sense of security and then you end up in a tangled mess of lies that they have created until you finally decide that they have had too many one last chances. My songwriting is pretty direct so you can tell the story of that relationship from the song as while I don’t seek revenge after a breakup, I will write it into a song haha. The song pushes that the universe will take the trash out and karma will come knocking for them which is what I live my life by.
“Web of Lies” explores some deep themes. Can you share a bit about the recording process for this track and how it compared with your previous singles?
The song is a bit darker in sound to what I have released before and I love how it feels like you are almost being haunted by the backing vocals and adlibs that are coming at you from all different angles. I think it suits the song to be a bit more edgy and harder as it was actually written as a piano ballad and was a lot more vulnerable sounding but when I got together with my producer Chris Stagg, we just went for it and I love what we came out with. After a little 6 month hiatus, I think it’s the perfect way to reintroduce myself to my audience and sets up what I have to come for the rest of the year music wise experimenting with different sounds and styles while still keeping it pop. The recording process is pretty much the same now for me as my producer Chris and I have got into a routine, we do a lot of the work remotely as we live at opposite ends of the country and then we have session musicians all over the world who record their parts remotely, and the only part we come together on in person is the vocal recording. I usually put together a rough demo of what I want the song to sound like then we spend some time going back and forth with ideas and because we have worked together so long, he knows what I want sometimes better than I do haha. It just works that way so why fix something that isn’t broken.
Your journey in music started at such a young age. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced breaking into the industry as a young adult?
I always say I was born with music in me, it was my first love, my first friend, it still is the place I go when I need to feel so I always knew that music would play a big part in my life. I started writing songs at about 13 and it was mostly for therapeutic purposes as I had a tough home and school life and I needed a way to get all my feelings out. Those songs were full of teenage rage and hormones but it got me thinking about how to structure a song and interesting ways of saying things in my lyrics. The it was 5/6 years later when I was 18ish that I started going into studios and recording demos. It was a good few years that I done that as I really wanted to find my sound and what style of music felt most authentic to me. I tried out everything from dance, to rock, to rnb but landed back in my favourite genre of pop. During that time I had a few managers and a few label offers but they always wanted to make me something that I wasn’t so it just never felt right. I knew that the only way I could do it was to be authentically me so it was 2017 I decided to become independent and release the music I wanted to. So far, it’s going well and there have been many highlights along the way but I still feel like I am paying my dues in the industry. It’s hard to get noticed out there as there are a lot of people releasing music so it takes time to build that audience and be seen.
As an LGBTQ+ and mental health advocate, how do these aspects of your identity shape your music and message?
I think things like I use same sex pronouns in my song as I feel it is important. Some people at the start of my career advised me against this and said if I didn’t want to change it to female pronouns then I should make it more neutral but from when I got into the industry, I never hid the fact that I am gay because I am proud of it. With the mental health side of things, I think that it is spoken about a lot more now which is great but again, I am not ashamed of my story and I am lucky I am still here to tell it as there was a point in my life that may not have happened so I fight really hard to break the stigma of this as well as for LGBTQI+ rights. I work with a suicide prevention charity in the UK called “Samaritans” as part of my way of giving back so it really puts a lot of things into perspective when you hear peoples stories and I’m always trying to help in anyway I can. Even some of the messages I get in my DM’s, they are heartbreaking but I’m so glad that my story and my music can help people and I will always take the time to reply to people, it’s a real privilege for people to open up to you in such a vulnerable way.
Mental health is a significant part of your advocacy. How do you manage your own mental health while navigating the pressures of the music industry?
I am still working out the balance but its things like taking breaks when I can, making sure I filter in time for loved ones and to live between the music. I write mostly from my own experiences so I have to live life to get these inspired and you can always tell where I am at from my music, if I’m falling in love, out of love, whatever is going on, my lyrics give me away all the time haha. It can be hard too as with social media, you do get some hate but I just delete and block these days. Also being independent, I answer to me so I get to decide what works for me and what doesn’t. I have a small team who I’ve worked with for a long time now and it just works better that way for me that I can take a break when I need to and disappear to recharge. Last year, there was a lot going on in my personal life and I decided after releasing “Fix This Love” that I needed some time just to refuel as I was mentally drained and the beauty of my career is that I can do that and now I’m back and ready to go again.
What’s one thing about the music industry that you wish more people understood?
That there’s no such thing as an overnight success. You have to pay your dues and work hard, network and do what you can to find your place in the industry. I think that reality TV talent shows maybe gave a false impression of this but I do wish that people knew that it takes at least 10 years to actually make it for most people. Also to be nice to everyone as the industry is actually quite small and everyone knows everyone so you can easily get a bad reputation if you are not a genuine person.
Your music often draws from personal experience. How do you balance vulnerability and creativity in your songwriting?
I don’t really know how to write any other way. Whereas in life, I sometimes wont articulate how I feel in words, in lyrics, I am brutally honest and that’s where you know exactly what I am thinking. Yeah sometimes its a bit more dramatic than the situation actually is as there’s a bit of artistic license for drama but the roots of all of my songs come from a place of truth and a real life situation I have been in.
What’s been catching your ear lately? Are there any musical gems that you’ve discovered in 2024 that people should put on their radar?
Oh there are so many. I love hearing up and coming artists as there is so much talent out there. Someone I have been a big fan of for a while now is Sekou. His voice just moves me to tears every time and this year he was nominated for the Rising Star award at the Brits 2024 which previously was won by the likes of Adele, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding and so many more amazing artists so he is definitely one to watch out for. Micheal Rice is another artist who is making his way up the industry and appeared on American Idol this year, another voice that has the ability to move me to tears. There are so many and my mind is going blank now but I always share artists who I love and think people should get on board with on my instagram stories so follow me on there for some recommendations.
You worked with Stargate and their team at LAAMP through 2021. How has this collaboration impacted your music and professional growth?
It was really amazing to be selected by Stargate and be part of such a wonderful program along side other up and coming songwriters, producers and artists. Stargate have written and produced some of my favourite songs from being a young kid to now so it was a dream come true to be able to learn from them. Even when I go out to LA now, I pop in and say hello and they are always so welcoming. We got amazing mentorship from Stargate themselves and people like Ne-Yo, Emily Warren, Charli XCX, Justin Trainter as well as people behind the scenes in the industry too. I still work closely with some of the team there and some of the writers I met on the program.
Your song “You’ll Hurt More” was a runner up in the International Songwriting Contest 2023 and you have received many other accolades in your career, How does it feel to get that kind of recognition for your songwriting?
It’s always lovely to be recognized for your work and especially by your peers. It just gives you that reminder that you are doing well. Although I’m not one for chasing accolades and things like that, it is nice for the old music CV haha. I think in particular being recognized for my writing is special because that it the main thing I love to do in the industry. Songwriting comes as natural to me as breathing so for people to enjoy what I am putting out, it means a lot.
You’ve worked with several up-and-coming artists on their debut projects. What advice do you give to new artists trying to find their voice?
Take your time, live your life so you have experiences to write about and know what you want to say. I’ve worked with a lot of young artists who don’t really know what direction they want to do in and are unsure of themselves still and I always say there is no rush, take the time and find out what you like. Study the songs that you love and see what it is that draws you to it. Don’t let anyone tell you who you should be, know yourself and there will be a place for you in the industry, you just need to find your lane.
Social media has become such a crucial part of an artist’s career. How do you use platforms like Instagram to connect with your fans?
I like to show my personality on instagram so a lot of the time I am sharing my life on my stories and also I often put up new music I am working on to see what the reaction is. I love to get that direct feedback as I am working on it to see if it is resonating with my audience. I also love to chat to people in the DM’s so feel free to message me anytime and lets chat and connect.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next chapter of your music career, and what can fans expect from you in the near future?
Well I was in the studio at the start of the year and I have a whole bunch of music recorded and ready to go. I’m so excited because I’ve experimented a little with some of the sounds on these tracks and I cant wait for everyone to hear them as I think they are some of my best work yet. The “Web of Lies” story isn’t over yet either so keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks as there may be something more coming with the song. I may have mentioned it earlier in the interview so lets see if people can work out the easter egg *hint hint* haha
Thanks for spending some time with us today, Luchi! It’s always a treat to reconnect with you. Where can people go to find out more about your music and stay in touch with you?
Thanks for having me, You can follow me on instagram and TikTok to stay in touch with me and reach out any time. My DM’s are always open.
