If you’re in need for a feel good pop song, Lo has got you covered. Her latest single, “Drumline,” is upbeat and puts you in the best mood. If that’s not impressive enough, Lo writes, produces and plays all of her own material. She’s authentic and this is true in her sound. Take a listen to “Drumline” and add it to your library because I guarantee it’s going be stuck in your heads!
Lo, what made you want to create bubblegum pop? It's my absolute favorite so I'm so stoked for your future projects!
Lo: My background as a dancer is definitely to blame. My favorite routines were always the ones that were bombastic, energetic, and fun to perform to. When I write, I'm constantly thinking to myself, ‘Would I want to dance to this in front of a stadium of people? Can I put in a special moment here?' I love how unabashed and bright pop music can be. Right now, I think it's on trend to be 'vibey' or 'edgy', but honestly, I just want to create music that is true to which 'Drumline' definitely is!
More importantly, how empowering is it to be a one-woman show?
Lo: It's definitely a huge blessing to have the capability to write, sing, and produce a song all by myself. Plus, it's fun to shock people who may perceive me as just an artist by coming into the studio and being able to intelligently engage in the process on the technical side. When I first came up in the music industry, I couldn't afford demos so I learned how to produce them myself! It took a LOT of time, but looking back, I'm so glad I did it because it gives me an extra ability that really allows me to craft songs from start to finish. I'm hoping more and more female producers start breaking onto the scene. However, I definitely believe in the power of a great collaborator! I was so lucky to work on 'Drumline' with Breakfast, who's been a close friend since the beginning of my journey. He was on the other end of MANY a phone call when I was first learning how to produce, and has been a great encourager and mentor of mine along the way, which makes creating something with him extra special!
Can you tell me about "Drumline?"
Lo: "Drumline" is a bombastic, colorful love song that celebrates that giddy excitement we all feel when we stumble upon a magical person. The concept was actually inspired by an experience I had dancing at an SEC championship game, in a stadium of 98,000 people! I remember performing next to a live drum line and absolutely falling in love with the sound and the aesthetic of it. Since then, I had the idea of comparing a heart beat to the rhythm of a drumline, but was just waiting for the right time to make it into a piece of art. Now that it's out in the world, I hope it encourages people to be silly and goofy and celebrate those moments of unabashed joy!
Okay, so your background is even more impressive. What was it like to be the first person in your family to go to college? Let alone Vanderbilt?
Lo: Wow, thank you! My older sister Taylor and I were the first two in our family to have the opportunity to attend college, and growing up we both took our education very seriously because of this. I was a perfectionist and workaholic to the extreme, because for me, getting a college education wasn't just about me, it was about my family. It really was the first of my big dreams to come true and it showed me that if you are persistent and don't give up, you can absolutely achieve your wildest ambitions. Getting a full ride to Vanderbilt was a surreal moment, as was walking across the stage cum laude on graduation day! Even though I'm in a creative field, the rigorous challenges I faced there shaped so much of my world view and work ethic in music. I often think, ‘If I could make it through that insane schedule, I can do anything!' Haha!
I know authenticity is very important to you. How do you maneuver that and how do you maintain it as you grow as an artist?
Lo: That's a great question and one I'm still figuring out each and every day. I think sometimes I drive Prescription (my publishing company) crazy because I'm extremely selective about the ideas I work on for my artist project. I decided early on that I wanted to be a big picture, long-term kind of artist. I want my brand to intentionally be focused on confidence, joy, and strength so with every song that I write for myself, I try to make sure it exudes one of those values. I want to be a bright light in the world. I know I will continue to grow and change as time goes on, but I think if I can keep my core purpose behind what I do aligned with that vision, my artistry will always remain authentic to me.
What's next for you?
Lo: More singles and more shows! I want to release as much music as I can and tour. This year is going to be a big one for building the Lo brand. And it's only going to keep growing!
What's something your fans might not know about you?
Lo: I'm a classically trained pianist. If you ever want to hear a little Debussy action, I'm your girl!
