After making his mark with the terrific debut single ‘Saving Grace’ earlier this year, emerging St.Louis-based singer and songwriter Luke Lanzon is back in fine form once again on his latest effort ‘46’.
Conjuring the same fresh and dynamic sound as acts like Tame Impala and Animal Collective, ‘46’ showcases more of the artist’s more uplifting tropes. Swimming in a warm and breezy mix of lo-fi hooks and subtle production, it already feels like he is on his way to becoming one of this year’s most captivating new artists.
So with the new single working its way around now, we joined him in a chat to find out more about his influences and what he has in store for us in the near future.
Words by Chris Bound
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Chris) Hi Luke, how are you today?
Luke) Pretty swell, thanks. It was looking pretty dreary this morning, but it turned out to be a bright and sunny one. That's Missouri weather for ya.
For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound and who have been your biggest influences so far?
I guess you might call it harmony-fuelled indie pop with sprinkles of psychedelic rock. My two biggest influences are probably the Beatles and the Beach Boys, but as far as contemporary music goes definitely Tame Impala, Panda Bear (and Animal Collective, as a whole), The Shins... stuff like that.
And aside from music, what other inspirations have worked their way into your music over the years?
I'm an English grad, so the books and poems I've read over the years really got me into the habit of thinking critically about what details to pick out and write about. One of my favourite writers is Raymond Carver, whose work is often very minimalistic, and I love just how concise and vivid his imagery is. It made me want to get better at saying more with less.
You have just released your new single ‘46’. Can you tell us how that track came about? Is there a story behind it?
I wanted to branch out of singer-songwriter territory and write something that would work better with the band I was playing with. It's ultimately about being young and moving fast through life, and the types of relationships you might miss out on if you don't stop to appreciate what you have in the current moment. I’m certainly guilty of this, but I never seem to realize it until it’s too late. Hindsight is 20/20, after all…
Can we expect a new EP, or even an album from you in the near future?
Definitely. I've been stockpiling songs for over a decade and never really knew what to do with them until now. I have a few singles that are in the works that will be released as soon as they are finished, but for now I'm hoping to find my audience before committing to a larger project.
The coronavirus outbreak has obviously affected everyone’s plans, but what have you got in store for the rest of the year?
It can be difficult to find inspiration with everything going on in the world, but I've done my best to remain productive. I'm continuing to flesh out my demos with various artists and producers while also trying to have more of a social media presence. It's a weird thing to transition to, but it seems like something you have to commit to in this day and age to get heard.
And finally, what is the one thing you hope to achieve as an artist?
I hope to connect with more like-minded creatives and continue working and growing together. It's a tough ladder to climb, but finding others in this space is a big motivation for me to keep going with it. I don't think I'd be here doing what I'm doing now if it weren't for the people in my circle that continue to motivate me and provide friendly competition.