Louis Swagú – butterflies

By starrymag | September 23, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) With this new album it’s a mesh of a lot of different styles. There’s a ton of bedroom and indie pop influences mixed in with a touch of hip-hop here and there.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Not even sure where to start. I take a ton of inspiration from a lot of upcoming pop artists right now – Mina Okabe, Fiji Blue and Joji to name a few. In a lot of aspects, I take huge inspiration from Quadeca as well.

 

Q) What made you want to transition as an artist from rap music to pop music?

A) One of my songs on my last tape was added to a bedroom pop playlist. I hadn’t really considered anything pop related before then, but the more and more I listened to that track, the more I thought about trying a more pop sound. I tried it out and everything about making pop music is just more fun.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “butterflies.”

A) So, “butterflies” is a track about a past love that you still have feelings for. No matter how much you try to push the emotion away, it stays with you. The song was an idea for a while that I had wanted to do, but once I connected with some lush production, I knew it was go time.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think it’s the vibe mostly. A lot of what I’m going for with my music lately is the vibe. It really is just a cute song that is super catchy – a real ear worm.

 

Q) Pauline Mykell is featured on the song. How did the two of you come to collaborate on the track?

A) Pauline is super talented. She is an amazing vocalist. I had the song and hook written originally, but I knew that a female vocalist would take the hook to another level. I had scoured the internet for days when I came across Pauline. I reached out to her, and she was down to work on the track. I don’t think the song could have turned out any better than it did. It’s definitely one of my favorite songs I’ve put out.

 

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

A) Not always. One thing about me is that I’m always thinking about music. So very often I’ll be out doing whatever, and a melody will pop into my head. I instantly have to whip out my phone and record a voice memo of it. Once I get a main melody, then I start either hitting up producers or I start producing myself.

 

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

A) Most of my recent tracks I at least have some co production credits on. Whether it be a few drums here and there, or some risers and distortion, I’ve altered most instrumentals at least a little bit.

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) I actually just dropped my debut pop album. It’s called azure and as of August 26th it’s available everywhere.

 

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

A) I haven’t done a lot of live performances yet actually. I’ve only done a handful. I’m still early in my career, but I’ve done a few open mics and listening party performances. I’d love to perform a lot more soon.

 

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

A) My dream is to collaborate with Mina Okabe. She’s a Danish pop artist and her music is utterly fantastic. Her voice is stunning. I truly think she is next up in the pop scene and I would absolutely love to make music with her.

 

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

A) I’ve been bumping Quadeca’s From Me To You since it dropped last March. I really dig experimental music and I’m big on production value. Quad’s album is the perfect accumulation of those two things. I’m excited for him to drop more.

 

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 is by far the best way to connect. I have a relatively large Instagram presence @louisswagu and there’s something so simplistically great about the instantaneous connection you can make with fans. It’s a great way to meet new people and an even better way to keep in touch with the fans you already have.

 

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

A) I love all of you more than life itself. You guys are why I keep doing this and why I create. I’m gonna strive to grow and be better with each project I put out. Azure is out now, go run up the numbers and I’ll get back to work.