A Q&A with LLORÉN
Cinematic retro pop from British artist LLORÉN…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
My latest release is called ‘Take Me Away’. It’s the opening track on my upcoming album and invites listeners into my world, where I’m just a girl ready to leave planet Earth and all its baggage behind to find a better life somewhere far away!
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
Honestly, making music is really enjoyable for me. There’s not a lot of hardship in it. I get to travel the world, work with my friends and bring my creative vision to life. There’s nothing hard about that!
Who produced the release, and what did they bring to it?
I worked with multiple producers on the album, but for ‘Take Me Away’, there was only one person who could truly bring it to life: Anna Shulze. Female producers only account for around 6% of music producers today, so I get really excited when I get a chance to work with Anna. Not only is she at the top of her game, but she also understands the source material. She gets the feminist angle, and working with her feels like a breath of fresh air! That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy working with the other producers on this album, who each brought their own unique qualities to each track!
What do you want listeners to take away from your music?
Whatever they want! I think, with everything that’s going on, most of us want to eject ourselves from the planet right now. So, while addressing some serious themes, I want to offer escapism with the option of some deep introspection if one wishes! It’s fun and camp without being shallow, but it doesn’t demand anything of you that you don’t wish to give. We are all tired!
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Every song is different. I started writing ‘Take Me Away’ in my Airbnb in LA after the news that the US had bombed the Strait of Hormuz. “Do your women do chores, are your boys starting wars” was quite literal. I took what I had to the studio that day, and Anna and I got to work and I knew then I had to make a whole album. Some come in the studio, others begin their life while you’re driving or doing some menial task. They all end up in the studio eventually and that’s when I agonise over whether the drums are right? Cut to a few versions later and we’ve usually got it!
Which bands or artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Specifically this project? Gosh, I guess M83’s ‘My Tears Are Becoming a Sea’, production-wise. It has some great movements, and the climax is enviable! Lana Del Rey, too, for her cinematic epicness-specifically ‘Young and Beautiful’. Other than that, I’m very influenced by visuals, and I fell in love with the retrofuturist aesthetic! I devoured cult classics like Barbarella and anything remotely kitsch and spacey. It really helped me develop the story arc!
Which countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play?
I’ve always really loved the German fans. I’ve played some support slots for bigger artists over there, and they really show up. They’re there to see the whole show, not just the main event! So I would love to go back! In terms of venues? I’m happy to play any venue with decent sound and adoring fans, big or small! Sometimes the small ones are the best!
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
‘Take Me Away’, so that’s a great place to start! It’s the opener for Chapter 1 of the album and a great way for me to welcome you into my world!
What ambitions do you have for your career?
I’d love to keep doing what I’m doing, but on a bigger scale! If I had the budget to put together a really cool intergalactic-themed show or shoot a three-part short film to go with the chapters of my album, I’d be a very happy girl!
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
It’s usually some form of gratitude, either to the audience or to whichever gods let me get through it without messing up the chords, live loops or lyrics!
Follow Lloren on YouTube.
