After making a strong impact with his stunning breakthrough debut single 'Not Your Fetish' earlier this year, Australian artist LION is back on the grind once again with his vibrant new offering 'Attention'.
Capturing more of that bold and brash electro-pop aesthetic he is quickly building for himself, 'Attention' makes for an incredibly fun and flamboyant listen. With its rough and driven textures, pulsing atmosphere, and dynamic vocals layered throughout, he is definitely one to keep a firm eye on for the months ahead as well.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The piano; it was (and still is) my primary way of writing songs, exploring chord progressions and creating melodies.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I definitely grew up on a diverse range of music, but I always gravitated towards pop. Artists like Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Shakira, Rihanna and Little Mix were some of my childhood faves; and I still love them to this day!
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I ever owned was Little Mix’s debut album, DNA. Little Mix was a UK girl group who won X Factor in 2011, and I was SUCH a huge fan! I used to binge Little Mix live videos on Youtube often!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Oooo this is a tough one! There’s this K-pop song called “Killing Me” by CHUNG HA; it’s an emotional EDM track reminiscent of the 2010s and the melodies are just so beautiful, as well as the lyrics.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
If I’m focusing on lyrics, I usually like to start by writing poetry. And then I pick lines from my poems and use them to flesh out a song. Being out and about is also really inspiring, there’s noise, sound and music all around us all the time.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Lately I’ve been loving AURORA, Ashnikko, Troye Sivan and Sam Smith!
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My dream show to open for would definitely be a Beyonce show/tour; that would actually be mindblowing, I’d lose it.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part is seeing my music connect meaningfully with people, there’s nothing quite like that. Music is all about community, so these community experiences are very special.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part for me is all the different hats I have to wear; I’m very involved in my artistry so I write my own songs, produce them, choreograph for them, and edit my own videos. It can get quite overwhelming so I just have to remind myself that I’m only one person, I can’t do everything at the same time perfectly, and that’s what makes me human.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I remember watching Lady Gaga talk at SXSW in 2014 and she said to never suppress the spirit of artistic rebellion; forgetting the charts, the numbers and the stats and just honing in on your authentic voice. I’ll never forget that one and now it’s one of my artistic principles.
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LION's new single 'Attention' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.