L E A – Happy Never Ending

By starrymag | January 30, 2023

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) You’ve been described as “emo alt-pop,” but how would you describe your sound?

A) That works!! Anything pop punk, alternative pop, nu-, emo. Think of modernizing your favorite songs from the 2000s!

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Mayday Parade, Secondhand Serenade, Go Radio, Select Start, Hollywood Undead, Paramore, P!nk and Every Avenue – just to name a few that have inspired me growing up!

 

Q) Your EP Happy Never Ending comes out soon! What are some themes you’ll be exploring on it?

A) Situationships, financial struggles, struggles of being an independent artist, fun flings, independence and rockin’ out.

 

Q) How did you and Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens join forces for the title track?

A) I gave Kellin an almost complete song and he wrote his verse and contributed some awesome backing vocals and screams!

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) Honestly, it depends. Sometimes I have an idea and I just sing a melody and imagine the instruments in the background or I’ll write to a type beat for inspo. I’ll also write one or two liners in my notes app to revisit later!

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I make the calls! Usually my producer, Chase Coy, does his magic and creates a structure around my melodies. I’ll make comments here and there on how I want certain parts to go or give him an overall idea of the sound I’m going for. When Chase and I put our musical minds together, it usually turns into something pretty epic.

 

Q) What track(s) off Happy Never Ending hold a special significance for you and what makes them so close to your heart?

A) Omg, literally all of them. This is my favorite project I’ve done to date. I even got the EP title tattooed on my HAND. [laughs]

 

Q) What songs off your EP are you looking forward to performing live?

A) Well, upon finding out how hard it is to sing “FTS (Sick of this)” live [laughs], every one but that one. I’m kinda kidding – I love the song and it rocks hard, but it is a BEAST. I’ve performed the first three tracks live already and my favorite live is “I Guess I Like You Anyway.” I’m really excited to sing the title track, “Happy Never Ending,” live though.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new album Happy Never Ending as a whole?

A) To just have fun with it. I want this project to be something people can rock out to when they hear it, but something they can also resonate with if they look into the lyrics.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) House of Independents in Asbury Park New Jersey is one of my favorite venues and I had so much fun performing there with Emo Night Brooklyn. Marathon Music Works in Nashville for Emo Night Nashville was also a blast too. We love a big stage, and those moments were some of my first, sold out, large capacity shows.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Derek Sanders from Mayday Parade or Secondhand Serenade are top for me. Otherwise, I’ll leave the rest a mystery since it may come to life in the future!

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) 408 for sure. We’re mutuals, but I look up to them and their sound because I’d classify my music as similar to theirs. Same with Magnolia Park. Otherwise, I band hop a lot and don’t tend to stay on one artist for long.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Social media and the online world are so important to me because I’m able to reach an audience bigger than if I was touring. It’s a great tool for artists and I love to connect with people. I often use social media as a creative outlet as well.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you SO MUCH for being here. I hope anyone who joins my journey knows that they are a friend of mine and I would do anything to show gratitude for their support.