Getting To Know... Lorana

Having recently finished her songwriting masters degree this summer, Belgium-born but London-based singer and producer Lorana has since spent her time working on new material. And as she readies us for the release of her new self-produced EP 'Here In Between', she has now unveiled the first track to be lifted from it, 'Am I?'

Self-described as "Lorde collaborating with Bon Iver and Maggie Rogers", her newest offering is a sweet and blissful slice of dream-pop that sees her dabble with throbbing synths and warming atmospheres. With its subtle tones coupled alongside her bright and euphoric vocals, this latest release is the perfect introduction to an artist with so much bold and captivating energy to give.

So with her new single finally out, we sat down with Lorana to find out more about her earliest origins and what has inspired her throughout her career so far.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

As a child, I was obsessed with the flute. I went to music school and picked it as my first instrument. After a while, I fell in love with singing and then came the inevitable realisation that it’s impossible to do both at the same time. I think I was about twelve when I was drawn to the piano in our living room and after a few years of practice, that’s where I wrote my first songs.

What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?

Especially in this release, the duality I feel between my small Belgian hometown, Alken and the bigness of London city, in all its aspects. Ever since I moved to London, I’ve been experiencing a lot of contrasts between both places and the way I experience life in each one. I’m very much an overthinker and most of my inspiration comes from thoughts that keep coming back. Once I notice a thought or idea isn’t new, I’ll pinpoint it and write it down. Then I let it sink in a little deeper for a while and pick it up when it feels ready.

What kind of music did you love as a teenager?

My first memory of music discovery isn’t browsing through my parents' vinyls, it’s sitting in the back of the campervan and trying to figure out the lyrics of songs my dad would play to us through the cd player on the radio. On one of our holidays, he took me to a local record shop in Italy and let me choose the cd I wanted to listen to next. I choose one by the Italian singer Laura Pausini. I don’t speak Italian, but until this day, I can sing along to every song on that cd. Then, I discovered YouTube and pop music in general and fell in love with artists like Passenger, James Bay and Ed Sheeran. Now, I tend to turn to the old classics my mom and dad familiarised me with and on the other end, I really like discovering and analysing more leftfield pop like Bon Iver, Maggie Rogers, Lorde, Orla Gartland, Naaz...

Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?

It was actually ‘Let Her Go’ by Passenger. I heard it on my way to school, in the car with my mom and 15 year old me just absolutely loved it and wanted to be able to move people in a similar way. I remember getting home that day and literally googling ‘How to write a song’, in Flemish of course cause my English was very poor. Looking back at it now, I love how naïve but excited that younger version of me was. With this first release it feels a little like that initial wonderment, but I’ve come a long way and I realise I still have a long way to go, and I absolutely love that.

When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?

I am definitely not a morning person, but I always try to get up early and then some energising music I can sing along to is what I need to get me going. Think Maggie Rogers, Lorde, Dermot Kennedy, Bleachers...

How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?

I’d say about 50% percent, but I’m very much a ‘concept’-person and I often write to them or generalise the feelings I’m experiencing. What I really love is writing about a specific situation I went through, then exploring how I’m not the only one that experienced something like that and finding ways to tell my personal story in a more universally open way. That balance is something I really enjoy exploring.

What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?

A few years ago, I performed a song with Passenger in Brussels, that was a big milestone for me. I think right there and then my mindset changed and music became my only option. Although I also feel like I didn’t have a career yet and I’m only at the very beginning of what will hopefully turn out to be one now. In case you’re curious, here’s the video of that magical moment:

Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?

That’s a hard one, cause I really try to explore a lot of different things. But, at the top of the list is definitely analogue film photography, embroidery, reading and minimalism.

If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?

I think I would have pursued a career as a writer cause that’s what I wanted to be as a child. I’m also very drawn to things like photography, philosophy and architecture, so maybe something in those fields.

And what advice would you give to those looking to start a career in music?

This is gonna sound cheesy, but learn to love the journey. I spend way too much time looking ahead and caught up in trying to reach goals I set out for myself, only to realise that goals often shift along the way. Your future will never be set in stone, especially not in this field, so you need to accept that and work with the determination that you will play the shows of your dreams, without the promise you will. For myself, I feel like this release is only my first baby step and I’m still learning to enjoy the process more and more each day.

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Lorana's new single 'Ami I?' is available to stream and download now, with her new EP 'Here In Between' due out later this year. Have a listen to it in the player below.