CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS 125: LARA ANDALLO ON BEING A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH AND TAPPING INTO WHO SHE IS

Interview by Brooke Gibbs.

Leading the swelling R&B renaissance in Australia, Lara Andallo cemented her frontrunner status with the release of her confidently charged debut EP DIAMONDS & DEJAVU.

Year 3000 is a touching LGBTQI+ anthem that captures Lara’s honest thoughts surrounding equality. “Wish we’d find love in the year 3000. When I can say I love you the way all the boys can, without judgement.” The anthem comes in-time for the start of Sydney World Pride.

Futuremag Music Editor Brooke Gibbs sat down with Lara Andallo to talk about her exciting new change in using both pronouns in her music when it comes to her bisexuality, as well as being true to herself in other areas as well.

FMM: Thanks so much for joining me. I'm really excited to talk more about your music and your upcoming EP, which is released in two weeks. How does it feel leading up to that?

Lara: Honestly, doesn't feel like it's even real that it's coming out in two weeks yet, especially because I wrote this in lockdown. So, for it to actually be coming out and coming to fruition, it's really cool.

FMM: How did you find writing in lockdown? Do you find more inspiration having to be locked inside or was it quite harder to find that that motivation?

Lara: Honestly, I thought it would be harder, but it was actually easier for me, I think, because I did a lot of journaling. Lockdown is when I actually got into journaling and really gave it a go. It helped me a lot in terms of self-discovery and self-reflection, which I think then funneled back into the music for me.

I write most my stuff pretty much by myself anyway, so for me, I could still do what I needed to do from my room. Most of the project was just naturally written in this room.

FMM: It sounds good that you were able to use that time to be productive because I know, obviously, live music wasn't happening, but you were still able to work towards your musical career, which is great.

I love the EP name, DIAMONDS & DEJAVU. Can you tell me more about that and how that represents this piece of work?

Lara: Yeah, it's crazy. When I was recording the demos, for some reason, before they were even lyrics, I kept saying diamonds. It would just come out when I was in freestyle, so I held onto that. Obviously, one of the singles is called Diamond In The Rough.

I was just like, there's something about diamonds that's really resonating with me in this project. When I thought about it a bit more, for me, diamonds are made under pressure and I felt like this project was me coming… A lot of these songs were when I was coming to a crossroads of ‘I've been in this scenario before. I've felt this feeling before, but I chose a different direction from what I have in the past.’

That's why the deja vu part came into play for me because it was like, I've been here before, but I'm acting different. I feel different towards this situation. So for me, that's what the diamonds and deja vu thing is. Because for me, diamonds represent power and strength, but they're translucent. You can see through them. Light goes through them. They've got so many faces and like, I have so many sides. So, that's where that kind of came from for me.

FMM: Yeah, I love that contrast. I feel like that name is just sums out the whole work as a whole. So in saying that, what do you hope people take away when they listen to this project?

Lara: For me, this EP was really me tapping into who I am, at least at this point, and in the evolution of me, you know what I mean? Because we're all forever changing. I hope that people listen to this project and feel like they can tap into different sides of themselves and be empowered by different sides of themselves. Whether that's like sexuality, whether that's how you choose to present yourself, being vulnerable, being powerful, like these contrasted emotions and feelings, like being open to those things and letting them be your strength rather than lagging in insecurity.

FMM: Yeah, of course. And when you tap into who you are, for those who are coming across your music and they don't know who you are, how would you describe who you are and what your music is about?

Lara: That's a good question. I think that I would describe it as… in terms of sonically or lyrically?

FMM: Up to you. Just say someone's coming across this EP, they don't know who you are, they haven't heard your music before. How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn't know who you are?

Lara: Yeah, musically, I feel like it's very much influenced by early 2000s RB, but futuristic, that's always been my approach because I love that kind of music. But then also lyrically, I think, even with my bisexuality in one song, like, Meantime, I'm talking about a girl and a guy. So it's like, I feel like that will sometimes confuse the listener but also make their ears kind of perk up as well, which I love.

FMM: Yeah, I love that because as you said, they've been having confusion. It makes them really, like, listen to your lyrics as well and enjoy what they are, not just the sound of the song.

Lara: Yeah, literally, I've had people in the past, Diamond In The Rough, like, people are like, ‘oh, wait, did you say that?’ And I was like, ‘yeah, that's exactly what I said.’ And that's what you want people to do. You want them to actually listen to the lyrics, too and enjoy not just a song, but also what you're trying to say.

FMM: Exactly.

Lara: Even like what you want. It's a dancing record, it's an empowering record. But I've seen people comment on YouTube as well, saying like, low key, these lyrics are actually super empowering and have intention. And I'm like, yeah, you can still dance to it, but if you really listen to it, I'm really saying some things.

FMM: Yeah, and that must feel great that people are saying that, because that's a huge compliment to your songwriting abilities.

Lara: I appreciate that. It is. Because that's, for me, I love having those club records and those upbeat records that people can move to. But for me, there's always something underlying that… There's a bit of a more intentional lyrical context behind it.

FMM: It's interesting you say that, because one of my favourite songs, Year 3000, that's about your sexuality as well. What's your experience been like growing up as a queer artist?

Lara: Yeah, this project, this EP, is the first time that I'm really being open about it in the past. And the mix tape, I actually did have records on that project that I was talking about, a female, for example, but I didn't use pronouns. People just assumed, you know what I mean?

This Is the first time that I've actually gone in and used pronouns as well for myself more than anyone else, just so I could feel like I'm being authentic to myself. I think only now am I stepping into being a queer artist, because that's not what was happening in my last mixtape.

So, I don't actually know yet what it's been like, but in terms of growing up as a queer creative, I guess, closeted. It was super interesting when I started going into writing sessions because I didn't know how open I wanted to be when I was writing with other people.

I think low key, that might be a reason why I wrote everything by myself and still kind of do because I had that kind of guard up in terms of how open I could be.

But, when I worked on this project, I collaborated mainly with who executively produced this project and I don't think I've had a closer relationship with anyone I've worked with in the past. I think that's why this project was able to be the way it was, because of that relationship too.

FMM: Yeah, I think that's great because it can also encourage other queer artists that might also be writing songs about same-sex but not being able to use the pronouns and doing what you’ve been doing.

Lara:Yeah, exactly.

FMM: How did you know when you were personally ready to start making that change in your music?

Lara: Yeah, it was not an executive decision or anything like that. Head To Toe was the first record on this EP that I wrote and I remember hesitating because the first line of that song is, ‘you know, the vibe. I could give your girl butterflies.’

I was like, am I going to say that or am I going to change that line? When I decided no, that's what I'm going to say, then I obviously knew where the song was going to go. It's either I do it all like I say it, or I just play it safe again. Same thing with Diamond In The Rough. There were things where I was like, will I say the pronoun? Do I say something that could be more gender neutral or doesn't necessarily… you know what I mean?

I thought about those things and then I was like, well no, I'm just going to say what I need to say.

FMM: Yeah, and I guess it's when it's true to who you are…

Lara: Exactly. So for me, I guess once I did Head to Toe, I was like, well, this is what… this has opened the gates for me as a writer. Okay, if I'm going to say this, then I can go further on the next record and then the next one.

So, Year 3000, that happened. I think, really in the middle of lockdown, like right smack bang in the middle. I had been doing a lot of journaling and self-discovery and just self-reflection. I didn't realise how much insecurity I still had around my sexuality, I guess. So that song was like a big thing for me to write and I think I probably wouldn't have written it if I wasn't in lockdown and had that isolation to write it myself.

FMM: I just want to congratulate you on that because that's a huge thing. It's great that you've been able to discover that and feel comfortable in yourself and say, ‘I'm going to be true to who I am,’ especially on such a public platform as well.

Lara: Yeah, I felt like for me, that song, I had been waiting five years to write that song. That's how it felt.

FMM: How does it feel now to reflect on that, and think, ‘yeah, I just did that. I’m being true to myself.’?

Lara: It's honestly insane. I think 15-year-old me looking up to artists such as Kehlani and at the time, she identified as bisexual and she was the only artist back then that I ever knew. Female artists, especially in RnB, that were just publicly loud about their queerness. I always thought, well, I can't imagine doing that even though I knew who I was. So to be at that point that, it's real.

FMM: Yeah, that's huge. Well done on that and making that move. Going back to Year 3000, it's about a year free from all the politics that come around it. So what does Year 3000 look like to you in your ideal world?

Lara: I love that. I mean, Year 3000 in the context of this song, it's a time where there’s no love that’s not valid. That's the first thing for me. And there's a lyric in the bridge.. what was it? In a thousand years, your face will be beauty without pain. For me, that's about me, but that's also about potentially that significant other. It's like there's so much hidden pain behind queerness.

I think it's great now that we can be empowered by it, but there's always that underlying, like there's that hardship and I hope that in 1000 years people won't have to carry that same weight. That's what I hoped.

FMM: I guess that context makes it even more special that it's going to be released at the same time as Sydney World Pride. How are you going to be celebrating? That's, like the perfect anthem to get up and dance to for Pride.

Lara: Yeah. Literally, that week… this interview is going to be released around then, right? So I can say because in that week, I'm gonna be doing Songhubs with Troye Sivan. I got selected for that Pride Songwriting Week. So, that's what I'm going to be doing.

FMM: That's huge! Well done.

Lara: That'll be really cool to be around all LGBTQIA+ creatives, because I've never been in that setting, to be honest. Especially in RnB, Hip Hop. I guess for the most part, most of the producers I've worked with are, like, straight males. So, it'll be really cool to just be around queer creatives that way.

FMM: It's good to connect with other people who get who you are as an artist as well and have that same experience.

Lara: Exactly, and obviously, Troye has done exactly that. He's been such a role model for queer artists, so it'd be really cool to have that week with him.

FMM: Well done. That sounds like it's going to be a really exciting celebration for you.

Lara: Yeah, definitely.

FMM: You've just come back from supporting some really incredible artists on sold-out out tours. How was that experience like for you?

Lara: They were definitely, like, my highlights of last year. For me, performing is my favourite part of being an artist and really getting to bring the music to life and have that energy exchange with the audience. That's my favourite part. The Blast tour was so fulfilling for me. I love his music. I have for years. It was amazing to see him do his thing, but also, obviously be able to go to places like Auckland and tap into crowds that I haven't got to perform for in the past. It's my favourite part of all of this, so I loved it.

FMM: From having that experience of supporting these incredible artists, what sort of tips did you take away that you'll implement into your own tour when you go out and perform as you?

Lara: I think from these artists or from the tour in general?

FMM: The experience in general, like performing for sold-out crowds, seeing how artists work.

Lara: Yeah. I mean, both like, Blast, Baker Boy, all of them have insane work ethic and there's a sudden way that they move on to it. It was cool to watch artists of that caliber and on that level and see how they handle these tours, obviously, because I haven't toured on that kind of level.

So, that was really cool for me to see how they moved. But, in terms of just the general experience of tour and performing for sold-out crowds, I think what I'll take away and what I've learnt is really, I feel like I come to life when I'm on stage. I just want to be able to give as much of myself to these audiences and just be as open as I can be on stage. So, honestly, that's what I learnt the most is just being as authentic as I can on stage and how I feel like. I don't want to hold that back on stage.

FMM: Yeah, I love that because I feel like that's how people are going to relate to your music and how you're going to connect the audience when you do these performances.

Lara: Definitely.

FMM: So are you going to do any performances for this EP or how can people come out and support you if they like this release?

Lara: Yeah, I'm going to be doing a tour later in the year. I don't even know if I'm meant to be saying that. I'm actually not sure, but I'm going to be doing touring for the EP at the moment. Live wise, that's where I'm at.

FMM: That sounds really exciting. What are you most looking forward to about performing these particular songs from the EP?

Lara: I haven't performed Year 3000 yet, and I think that's going to be so fulfilling to be able to sing that one live and for people to sing once I'm in an audience where they know the lyrics for Year 3000. I think that's going to be a really special moment.

FMM: And with this EP… so three of the songs from the EP have been previously released as singles. Why do you feel like those particular songs were the perfect preview of what's to come from the bigger picture?

Lara: Yeah, I mean, Head To Toe I thought was the perfect introduction for me just because it was about previous insecurities that I'm now empowered by. I felt like that was a perfect introduction and it was showing different sides of me. Then you've got something like What You Want, where I'm talking about how women are always put in this box for the male gaze. I felt like they just had very distinct kind of opinions. They kind of really set the tone of where I'm at and that's what I felt like I wanted to do.

FMM: I feel like people are picking up on that because you've got some really good TikTok success off the music you've been sharing there. Tell me more about that and how it feels knowing that people are listening to your music and understanding you?

Lara: Even with TikTok, it's crazy because I love that the things that are doing well on TikTok are like me performing Head To Toe on tour. It's something that's organic to me. It's me on stage and then that's what's doing well on TikTok, which is really cool because I feel like obviously with the whole TikTok virality and songs on TikTok, you can get into that headspace of ‘let me make music for TikTok’ and ‘what's going to work for TikTok?’ So I think for me, it's really cool that music that I'm just making for myself and that I love, and the way that I like to show it, is doing well on that kind of platform. Hopefully Year 3000 also resonates with people in a month or two.

FMM: It's interesting what you just said, about getting out of that headspace of trying to make music for TikTok. Do you find that you specifically try to make stuff with TikTok or you try to make one thing that's universal across everything?

Lara: [Shakes head] Yeah, no. I've never gone into a session and been like, yeah, but I think that it is easy to get trapped into that world of what is going to work for the masses, what is going to work for that 15 seconds that goes viral on TikTok. Of course, those kinds of thoughts can pop into our head. But for me, the reason I love this is because of the self expression. It can't be anything else. For me, that's it.

Also, the other aspect for me with the music that I make is always thinking about how it will translate live for me. So that influences me more than anything.

FMM: When you say translates live, has there ever been a time where you've written a song and you think, ‘this is going to sound so great’ and then it hasn't translated as well live?

Lara: I've had opposite of songs that I thought I didn't think were going to be live tracks, but then when I do them live, everyone jumps on them, like Said&Done from my last mixtape. I usually open up most of my sets with that and it always gets the crowd going. I just didn't think that that was going to be one of the songs that would be doing that. For some reason, when I wrote it, I just didn't think of it. I thought it was a bit more chill, but it translates for live. In terms of something that hasn't, I mean, I hope not. I don't think so.

FMM: I guess what you're saying there is that people obviously have different tastes and what you think might not do as well, people are obviously resonating with and that's because of their own interpretation.

Lara: I guess one thing is When The Lights Go Out, obviously for me, I think that's been one of my more successful records. And that for me, it's obviously more of a ballad. It's a slower tempo track. So that was kind of a surprise too. And just because a lot of my music is more dancy and more danceable, so it was cool to see that record resonated with me, too.

FMM: And speaking of live music, I love your sound because there's a lot of different genres at the moment, but I love that old-school RnB is coming back and that's what I love about this particular EP. Tell me more about that sound and how that resonates to you.

Lara: I am super influenced by old school artists as a performer and then also, as an artist. So like Janet Jackson, Sierra, even on the pop tip, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera definitely influenced me in terms of the visual side of things as well with music videos and shoots. Old school RnB has always been such a big influence on me and even in dance, as a dancer, I was always dancing to that music. So I feel like it's just in my blood.

FMM: I thought about that too, because I used to dance as well growing up. I grew up in the 2000s with all those big RnB hits songs at the time. So when I listened to this EP, to I felt like I was going back to that time.

Lara: I love that!

FMM: What I love about from what I've learned from you today is how comfortable you feel like in being yourself and not really caring what people think, just being true to yourself, no matter how people see it.

What advice do you have for other artists who may not have that confidence in themselves to come out and be themselves in their music?

Lara: I feel like first and foremost is just to be gentle with yourself. Like, for me, it was such a process, I didn't force myself to get to this point. I think with the more writing that I did and the more self reflection, like behind closed doors, that I did, is how I got to this point. So in terms of advice, it's like, I think just really getting to know yourself and your boundaries and then just trying to take those steps with the writing and just honestly being gentle with yourself throughout that process because I think there's no other way. It's just going to have to happen naturally.

If you're being hard on yourself about it, it just won't happen. And I think it just needs to happen naturally so that it feels good. Because the thing is, the more you hold yourself back from saying your truth, the more resistance there is. Because for me, when I was holding back from saying things in the past, it made me feel a bit tense. I'm still saying my truth, but just not the whole way. That's how I felt like I was saying what I need to say, but just not the whole way. I think the more tense and anxious it makes you, the more you need to do it. It just happens naturally. The more you do it, the more people will love that.

FMM: Thank you for sharing that. I feel like that's really good advice for anyone that wants to try and do that as well in their own career.

I'm really excited for you, and I hope to see one of your shows some time soon.

Lara: That would be great, yeah. 100%. You have to come one time.

LARA ANDALLO AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES

Wednesday 21 May – Mary’s Underground, Sydney NSW 

Thursday 1 June – Laundry Bar, Melbourne VIC 

Thursday 8 June – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane QLD