Our second interview with our favorite new artist, Ms. Lolene! We were lucky enough to interview her for a second time, and let me tell you, it was amazing talking to her! She's so inspirational! She talks about her experience being in a girlgroup, and writing songs for Christina Milian. It's a must read, if I do say so myself! Read and comment please.///
Q: You've been raised by a single mother. How was it like for you? How did it help you pursue your career?
Lolene: It's all I've ever known as a person. That was my path in life. It was great because it created this special bond between me and my mom. It taught me how to be independent as a female in the world. It really brought out my strength of character and ambition, and it made me more driven and a lot stronger. I really want people out there who come from single homes to know that you don't have to be a statistic. You can go out there and do great things.
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Q: You're very inspirational, did you know? I mean, your quotes are amazing, and you really have a way with words.
Lolene: Thank you! That means a lot to me 'cause I don't wanna be just another airhead singer. I wanna spread positivity, and uplift people through my music. I want to become a voice, in general, not just through music, so that really means a lot to me, that you say that.
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Q: What I really like about your music is that it's really diverse. One minute, you're doing these sexy club songs ("Sexy People"), the next you're doing these really inspirational and personal ballads ("Ordinary Girl"). Where does that come from?
Lolene: It comes from me being a writer, fore mostly. I could've made any kind of album; I could've made a reggae album, I could've made a rock album, or even an alternative album. But I really love pop music. I love pop so much, and it really is an honest reflection of who I am. I'm very upbeat, I'm very happy, I love to go out. The thing about my album is, you know when people sometimes want to go out and party, but other times they feel sad or want to reflect on themselves for a minute, so I wanted to write music that could bring out all those emotions for young people.
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Q: Actually, your songs could be your diary. They could be anyone's diary. I mean, you've got so many emotions on there, and many people can relate. Your music is relatable. It's universal.
Lolene: Exactly! I'm an English girl living in America making music for the world. There's no boundaries, it's just pop music. That's my cause for [debut album] The Electrick Hotel. I want everyone to come check in, and check me out. It's got many different levels and different floors. It's just a house of music.
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Q: "We are architects of dreams and dreams come true."
Lolene: Yes! Say it. Love it. Live it.
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Q: How did you come up with that?
Lolene: Architects are people who design and build, and so we design our own dreams, we conceive them as people. I believe dreams come true. If you can dream it, you can do it, so we are architects of our own dreams, and you can achieve them if you work hard enough.
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Q: Where do you come up with this? You're really inspirational. Like what you said before about being raised by a single parent. You did it, you pursued your dreams, and it gives people in that situation hope. You made it, and so can they.
Lolene: I don't think I made it. I think I'm making it. I'm on a journey. I'm making it slowly, but surely, you know? I'm just enjoying my career. It's important for me to recognize the achievements I made, and am, hopefully, going to make. I always say I wanna be the brown Madonna. I wanna be international, universal. It's important for me to keep growing and building my career. I'm very thankful to my fans right now, and the future fans I will have who like my music, and will join me on my journey, you know? To all the great bloggers, as well! Like you! I'm thankful to so many amazing bloggers who really got behind me, and I'm just thankful to everyone.
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O: I've been a fan for forever, and you've been growing in front of my eyes. You're finally making it. You just shot a magazine cover, right?
Lolene: Yeah, I did. My single, "Rich (Fake It 'Til U Make It)", is my first official one. My previous one, "Sexy People", went to number 5 on the dance charts but we never released it as an official song. We even made a low budget video just for fun. This time, though, with "Rich", we're going for a larger platform. I'm really excited about it 'cause it had such tremendous feedback online. I can't wait for it to take off on radio.
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Q: How did the song "Lion Heart" come about?
Lolene: "Lion Heart", I think, is one of the best songs I've ever written. It came about, because, you know, I live in L.A. and I think love is a really hard thing to find. I think people are really scared of love because they're afraid of getting hurt, so I think, to give your heart to someone really takes a lot of courage and bravery. It reminded me of a lion heart. In order to be brave enough to love someone you have to be courageous and bold, and just go for it. So when I talk about having a lion heart, I'm talking about being brave enough to love someone, and everything in your life that happened before this person is gone, and now, it's a new life with your lion heart.
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Q: "Lion Heart" is the next single, right? "Ordinary Girl" and "Die Without Love" should be the ones after it.
Lolene: We're focusing on "Rich" right now. Once we're done with that, we'll release "Lion Heart". I can't wait to unveil it. But "Rich" has to do really well in order for me to release the other songs. I really like "Die Without Love", too! I also love "Under the Bus", "Beautiful Disaster". It's a 16 track album, by the way! So there's like loads of songs.
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Q: You actually started your career as part of a girlgroup. How was that experience?
Lolene: That was really fun. Those are fun memories. They were actually best friends of mine. Back then, I was just getting to know how to write music and sing. Just finding my way. So we would sing together for fun. We spent a lot of time together, even heading to the studio, but nothing came from it. It was a good time for me 'cause it was an experience I shared with good friends of mine.
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Q: You're not actually a newbie. You've been writing songs, doing your thing, just been underground for awhile.
Lolene: Yeah! I do feel like a new artist, though. I'm not from America, so everything is pretty much new to me, but it's affecting me positively, which is wonderful. But yeah, I have paid my dues and come a long way.
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Q: You actually wrote songs for Christina Milian that were never released. ("Diamonds", "Invisible Man")
Lolene: It's such a shame, 'cause they're such good songs. But that's what happens. I've had loads of artists record my music, but a lot hasn't come out. It just happens that way. It's just the way it works. But she's a great person. I love Christina, and we wrote many great songs together.
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Q: Her versions of "Sexy People" and "Kiss It" were recently leaked.
Lolene: I know! Her and I are good friends. At the time I was making my album, I was writing a lot of music, and she was making her album. I was writing for her seperately, but also writing my own. She was there when I recorded a lot of my songs. I wasn't sure at that point what I would be using, and what I wouldn't. Now and then, I would let her cut some of my songs, just to see how it works out. It's kinda sad they're out there. They weren't intended for that.
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Q: You signed with J.R. Rotem's publishing label, Beluga Heights. How did that come about?
Lolene: I was in L.A. on a writing trip and his manager Zach [Katz] got a hold of one of my demos, so he invited me to meet with him and Jonathan. I sang for them and played them some of my work. We really got along, and they really liked me as a writer. They ended up bringing me here [L.A.] from England, and signing me with their publishing label.
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Q: I couldn't help but notice there aren't any J.R. or Danja songs on your record, though. Why is that?
Lolene: I did all my writing for other artists with Beluga Heights, so it made sense for me to branch out and work with new producers for my album. Just have it as a new situation. J.R.'s music has a certain sound, where mine has more of a European sound. It just made sense for me to work with different producers to make a personal album. I'm so thankful to J.R. for the opportunities he's given me, though. I'm really good friends with Danja, too. But I'm not gonna put a song on my album just because it's a Danja, or J.R. song. I want to put the best songs on my album.They might be from a kid you've never heard of, but I wanted to work with people who are up and coming. I'm not really attracted by name, I'm attracted by sound.
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Q: You actually said you're looking for the "new RedOnes" of the world.
Lolene: Yeah! I wanna be innovative. I'm not trying to tag onto any names that are famous. At the end of the day, I don't need fancy names to make me feel valid as an artist. If the song's great, the song's great.
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Q: What advice do you have to people who want to follow their dreams?
Lolene: I would say take your craft very seriously, first of all. If you want to be a singer, or a writer, or a producer, it's very hard work. It's not a walk in the park. You have to be really dedicated to it. Be prepared to get a lot of rejections, that comes hand in hand. But, most importantly, once you've prepared yourself for rejection, never give up. EVER. Never let anyone tell you you're not good enough. Also, to be polite. Be persistent, but not annoying. Never give up. Follow your heart, always have faith and keep following your dreams 'cause they will come true.
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How amazing is she? Honestly, I was mesmerized by her. She's just an honest and down to earth person who's doing what she loves. Inspirational. Hope you enjoyed reading the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it! Her single, "Rich (Fake It 'Til U Make It)" is out now, so request it on radio and get it off iTunes! Her debut album, The Electrick Hotel, is out in August!
