CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS 130: LORA TALKS ABOUT BEING MORE VULNERABLE IN LATEST SINGLE, 'DRIVE'
Words by Mark Griffin.
Rising-Sydney artist, LORA, has unveiled her gripping new single drive, the first track taken from an upcoming EP set to be released in spring 2023. Futuremag Music’s Mark Griffin caught up with LORA to talk about the new release and to get to know her more!
FMM: Alrighty. Uh, we might as well dive right in then. So… new single Drive.
Lora: Yes.
FMM: Exciting.
Lora: Yes. Came out today, which is very exciting.
FMM: How’s the release going so far?
Lora: Um, pretty good, I would say so. People have started messaging me about it, which is always awesome. Yeah. So good I would say.
FMM: Sweet. *laughs* Well, that's better than bad, so that's good. Yeah.
What's your process for writing a song? Like Drive, take me from when it started to today.
Lora: So Drive, I wrote in London with a producer named Joe Mason, and we've basically been working together since I started. And, so we've kind of got a lot of trust with each other. But basically like drive, we just got into the room. Joe came up with the keys in the track and it just, it was just one of those songs that came together in like two hours and then over the next like six months just finalized some things, did some mixing and it was basically done. But yeah, I mean each song kind of has a different start. Like we will start it a different way [it] just depends on the situation. But yeah.
FMM: Do you find you start lyrics first or the music?
Lora: Usually the track will start first. Then sometimes I'll be inspired from the track and start writing lyric ideas and then I'll, I've got the lyrics there, so I'll just run some random melodies with the lyrics. And then sometimes I'll sing a melody in and then I'll write the lyrics to the melody. But, um, yeah, that's usually how it goes.
FMM: And do you find that the lyrics you pull from personal experiences or are you just writing about things you're imagining?
Lora: So the first EP that I did, I was just kind of writing about everything, but this project is a lot more like personal. Um, and I'd say like to me, the album, well not the album, the EP is more about being vulnerable. And so I'm, I'm kind of doing a double whammy where I'm being more vulnerable with what I'm saying in the EP and then also like my life and my experiences.
FMM: Does that make it scarier releasing the song because it is more of you?
Lora: Yes, definitely. I think that's why I was so hesitant to do it for so long… because people can kind of now look at the lyrics and be like, you know, what's that saying about her? But yeah, I think it… I really enjoyed writing a bit more personal… scary thing. It's good.
FMM: Was that just something where you felt, because you had the other album under your belt that you were ready to now do that? Or what brought on that change?
Lora: I don't really know. It just, it just felt right. I just started doing it. I think like the more I'm writing, obviously the more you improve, so, and I think I'm just, as a person, I'm learning to be more vulnerable in general, so it, it kind of translates into the music side.
FMM: And so what is Drive about for you?
Lora: Drive is about falling for someone, but feeling like overwhelmed with what you feel and hesitant to show them who you are and if they don't like it, um, like what would happen if they don't like, don't like what you see. So it was actually basically what I had with my now current girlfriend, but it was before we'd gotten together. I knew I had feelings for her, but I was terrified with that because I didn't know what that would mean. *laughs* Obviously it turned out well, but, um, yeah. Uh, yes, love.
FMM: Yeah. Cool. So that sort of sounds like what the song is about is kind of similar to how you feel about releasing it in some ways; where it's that moment when you want to be vulnerable with someone but you're afraid to do it. And that's kind of what you've done with the song. Is that something that you sort of found as weirdly symmetric?
Lora: Yes. Yeah, definitely.
FMM: And then what is it like, have you done this one live yet?
Lora: Yeah. Yeah.
FMM: What's it like having your girlfriend there while you're singing about her?
Lora: It's good. I.. the first time I played it, the song before I was like looking at her a lot for comfort and then I kind of got a bit flustered looking at her and I completely forgot the lyrics so I had to like, so when I performed it the first time I refused to look at it, but I, um, performed it, uh, a week ago and it was nice. It was a nice, a nice moment.
FMM: That's cool. Yeah. And how does she feel about it?
Lora: Um, well she likes the song, which is great. But, as long as I don't dedicate it to her before playing it, she's good ,
FMM: So you don't wanna make it too embarrassing for her live?
Lora: Yes.
FMM: When you play live, obviously there's a lot of production on the track. Do you play with a band or with backing tracks? How do you do that?
Lora: Yeah, so, both. We use backing tracks but, I usually have a guitarist and bass player, so he does both. His name's Brock and then I have a drummer named Alfie. Then, the rest we’ll fill out with tracks.
FMM: Okay, cool. How do you find interpreting the songs with the live drums especially? It would change it up a bit, I would assume.
Lora: Yeah, it does. I personally think it translates really well and other people seem to think so as well. There's something about live drums that kind of just brings something to energy to life.
FMM: Is that something that you'd consider adding in, in future with the recording process?
Lora: Um, yeah, definitely. I think, I mean, I think it just depends on what the song needs and if I feel like it needs live drums; you can get so much good sound out of like, just stuff on the internet and, and like samples and then all your plugins and stuff make it sound like it's live. So yeah, I don't know. I think, I think I would definitely get to that point…
FMM: And do you find… are you someone, when you're writing the songs, you just talking about like finding sounds… do you get really nerdy and into like finding the exact right snare and dialling in your 808s and all of that? Or do you leave that to your producer?
Lora: I usually leave that to my producer, but when I'm doing it, like, and I'm at home and I'm writing, I get very fixated on it and then it kind of just like, I'll sit there for three hours trying to find the right sounds and then get frustrated and give up and then come back the next day and be like, okay, let's try again. So I'm just learning to not be so picky and just kind of… ‘cause I know that I can send it to my producer and he'll… I have full faith in him to just turn into something, fantastic. So…
FMM: Yeah. Awesome. And so obviously you, you trust Joe a lot. How did you guys get connected with each other to begin with?
Lora: I actually went to school with him. He was in the grade above me but it was a big school…
FMM: … In Sydney?
Lora: Yeah, in Sydney. Yep. It was a big school and I think at school we maybe talked once or twice and, I was posting like covers on my Instagram and he sent me a message and was like, oh, you know, would you wanna write one day? And I was like, yeah, that sounds great. So I went to his and the first session that we did was we wrote a terrible song, and I walked out of it being like, “well, I'm never doing that again.” But then he sent me a message a few days later and was like, do you wanna come back and we'll try again. I was like, yes, let's do that. So I went back and then, then, um, we wrote, I think Defined, which is on the first EP that I released, so, yeah.
FMM: Nice. And so when, when did the first EP come out?
Lora: Uh, so there's an EP that came out, I think the end of 2020. And then, and then I had the Adulting one, which came out in April last year.
FMM: So obviously Covid then all through that time. How did that affect starting a new project?
Lora: Um, I don't, to be honest. I don't really know because it started at that point, so I only know… like, I only knew that. It's not like I had a chance to perform live or anything like that, so I don't really know how it affected me. Now it's, I mean, it would've been great to perform and you know, do that kind of side of things, but, I'm getting to do it now, so I'm not too, I think it's, I'm fortunate in the way that it turned out I got to get some music out there. I got to get comfortable writing before I started like, performing and, and putting it on stage.
FMM: And in that time, what would be the biggest career highlights that you reckon you've had so far? Something where you sort of like, wow, that's a real moment.
Lora: That's a good question… I mean, I did go to London and to LA last year and just got to write with a bunch of people. So that would definitely be a highlight. Like, I've also always listened to Triple J so getting played on Triple J was like a shock for me the first time. Yeah. And still is every time.
FMM: And I saw BBC one, you got played on BBC one as well.
Lora: That was also a shock because I was in London when that played, so that was…
FMM: Wow. Yeah. Cool.
Lora: Yeah, very cool.
FMM: International radio. That's pretty, that feels massive.
Lora: Yes. Yeah, it was bizarre.
FMM: And then what are the goals in the next 12 months that you really wanna see for 2023?
Lora: I wanna get this EP out I'm obsessed with, so I, I really wanna get it out.
FMM: How many tracks are gonna be on the EP?
Lora: Five songs, and then live shows. I wanna do a bunch of live shows. I'm doing an East Coast tour with some friends, with IOAKIM and the band Friends of Friends and, I'm super excited for that. So this year it's just like putting the music out and doing lots of live shows.
FMM: Are there any venues that you really wanna get to?
Lora: I mean, I'd love to do like, down the track, play The Enmore. I feel like that's iconic for an Aussie artist. Yeah, I'd say that would be like, that would be really cool. And then, you know, long, long, long way down the track, like Hordern take it bigger, you know..
FMM: Hordern, that's such a ah, yeah, I don't like the Hordern…
Lora: You don't like it?
FMM: It's just such a bland room.
Lora: See, I think, I don't know, I've been to so many concerts there that I'm like, it's got that nostalgia.
FMM: Yeah, that's fair. You're just imagining yourself on stage.
Lora: Exactly. You'd be looking out being like, how did I get from here, from there to here, you know? Yeah.
FMM: Crazy. Any artist you'd really love to open for?
Lora: I love Benee. I'm a big Benee fan. Yeah. Um, opening for her would be really cool. And I think our music in a way would like work well.
FMM: Yeah, I can hear that. That would work. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Anyone, if we're just being like stratospheric big, that you'd—
Lora:— Billlie Eilish, of course. Yep. Um, I'm, I just, I love Phoebe Bridges. I don't know how I would go opening for Phoebe Bridges, but I just, I'm a big fan of her, so that would be very cool.
FMM: Is it the, like the lyricism with Phoebe Bridges, what is it that hooks you in to her?
Lora: All of it. Her voice, the way she sings. Her lyrics, every bit of it makes me cry. So that's always good.
FMM: Is that something that you'd like to be able to do with your music? Have someone say that about you, that you make them cry?
Lora: Yeah. Yeah, definitely, because it means that they like connect it to it in a way. So yes, I would like that.
FMM: Have you got some sad songs in the tank?
Lora: I do have one that's out and then I've got one that's coming.
FMM: Awesome.
Lora: Yeah. Hopefully get some tears.
FMM: Nice. Do you know when the EP’s dropping yet? Are we allowed to say?
Lora: Don't know specifics, but I'd say around mid-Spring. Middle of the year.
FMM: Well, we'll keep an eye up for that one. And then, a lot of indie artists at the moment are complaining about the pressure to be on social media all the time, posting. Is that something that you are finding that you're struggling with or is something that you're sort of from that younger generation you find a bit easier to deal with?
Lora: I do find it quite difficult, but I am starting to find ways to enjoy it. My girlfriend helps a lot with, you know, helping me come up with ideas for content and stuff like that. So it does make it more fun now. But you know, you wanna make music, you're here to do music, so it's, it's good and bad. Yeah… it's good and bad.
FMM: Is there a channel that you found has been the best way to connect with people and it feels a little bit more authentic?
Lora: Not yet. I feel like I'm just starting to like, get into the social side of things. Like I'm terrible at it, so the last two years are a write off for me on socials. So, um, yeah, I'm just starting, so it'll be building that now.
FMM: And then just in terms of balancing everything else as an indie artist, like obviously you end up being like your own tour manager, your own social media manager and everything. How do you find… I assume you have a day job?
Lora: Yes, I do. I…it's stressful. I mean, it's, I guess it's just what you’ve gotta do.
FMM: So what about making music keeps you doing it?
Lora: I just… I love writing. I'm obsessed with writing. Something about it, like, I just feel so content after writing a song that I love and I don't think there's anything that can like, compete with that feeling for me. And it's also, it's therapeutic. It's music's just such a big part of so many people's lives, so it, you know, it's a massive part of mine and I'm lucky that I get to do what I do, I guess.
FMM: That's cool. And then… aright, so five years from now, sky's the limit, where's Lora?
Lora: That's a good question... I mean, I'd love to be playing shows, putting albums out at any capacity doesn't, doesn't matter for me. I just wanna just wanna keep doing it, that's all.
FMM: Okay. So like, so minimum being able to do it full-time, maximum, we're headlining the Hordern. Maybe some bigger venues.
Lora: *smiling* Yeah.
FMM: Love it. And while I've got you, anything else massively that you want people to know about the new single or about the tour?
Lora: That they should come along to the tour, that's all I think.
FMM: Well, what can people expect when they come see you live? What's a Lora live show feel, look like?
Lora: I'd say it's quite fun. It's cruisey, it's a cruisey show. You know, you might get a couple jokes in between that are terrible and, hopefully some good live performance.
FMM: Just like a good vibe-y time.
Lora: Yeah, a good time. That's what you can expect.
FMM: Awesome. Fantastic. Well, I'm gonna let you enjoy the rest of your day.
Drive by Lora is out in all the streaming places now and you can catch Lora live:
Meanjin/Brisbane 30th March
Eora/Sydney 6th April
Nairn/ Melbourne 7th April