LULU SIMON INTERVIEW
Lulu Simon is an on-the-rise pop singer currently supporting Emei on a nearly sold-out tour. She released her first song “Wasted” in 2018 and has released a handful of singles since. Her latest, titled “Stay,” came out on Nov. 10 and is available to buy and stream on all platforms now.
When did you start making music and what made you want to start?
I think I really started making music around 7th grade, when I first learned how to play guitar. But when I was six years old, I remember wishing on my birthday that I had written the song “Lucky” by Britney Spears, and I think that’s what really made me want to start making music hahaha.
When I listen to your songs, I get a very summery, windows-down pop kind of feel to them. Is pop music what you’ve always wanted to create or are there other genres you want to dive into at some point?
First of all, thank you! That is my favorite kind of music, I love to feel like, very cinematic in a convertible, so I think there’s definitely a huge part of me that is drawn to making music that is sweet and easy to listen to, but at the same time I’m not against writing anything outside of that nature, I feel like I kind of drift in between genres sometimes. I think I’d kinda like to make a country record someday though.
You’re currently on a nearly sold-out tour with the artist Emei. What can people expect to see from your set at the shows?
I think my shows are very conversational, I love explaining the lore of the songs; why I wrote them, who I wrote them about, etc. I think my band sounds really tight, but I hope more than anything people feel like they got to know who I am as a person a bit during these shows.
Are you planning any covers for the shows? I think you would do a Carly Rae Jepsen cover a very great amount of justice…just saying!
I think if I had a longer set I’d definitely toss a cover in there, but because I’ve got a limited amount of time to play I’m just really focused on playing my own songs and introducing them to people who may not have heard of me before. But you KNOW I’m a Carly Rae stan, and if I were to cover one of her songs, I’d do a different one every show HA.
What are your essentials to bring when going on tour?
I never go anywhere without my own makeup mirror, my makeup routine is so specific and if I don’t have the proper lighting to do it, then we’re in big trouble.
Your new single “Stay” is coming out on November 10. How are you feeling about it coming out after more than a year of not releasing any music?
To be honest, I’m quite nervous. Sometimes it can feel really disheartening releasing music and focusing on streaming and playlisting and numbers and statistics and blah blah blah. But really I just love this song and want to share it with people, and if it’s well received then I’m grateful, and if it isn’t, I’m still grateful I was able to create it for myself, if for no one else.
What are some of the things, musically or outside of the music world, that inspired you when making “Stay” or other new music?
I think I’m honestly inspired by every single thing that has ever happened to me, to some degree or another, whether that’s like, experiencing an emotionally fraught situation or just like, watching a dramatic film that moves me. I best express myself through writing and music, and I’m a very sensitive person, so I’m happy just to let it out of my system. “Stay” was inspired by drama and the grandiosity of drama, and I just wanted to create something that felt huge and cinematic.
Can we expect an EP or album coming out any time soon?
I’ve got a lot of new music cooking right now, but I’m not quite sure about the packaging of it all just yet…but there’s definitely much more on the way!