After spending the last few months building up his reputation for bold and intrinsic alt-pop delights, newcomer Lucas AB has now introduced himself to the world with his debut single 'Only Over'.
Taking influence from the likes of Perfume Genius, Joanna Newsom, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The National, 'Only Over' makes for a wonderfully captivating introduction for the artist. Filled with deeply-woven synths, strong instrumentation, and a sweeping vocal performance shows us that this is far from the last time we will be hearing from this wonderful individual in the future.
So with the new single impressing us at every turn, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and what has inspired him most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I ever played was saxophone. I quit about 5 years in, and it's one of my biggest regrets as I've fallen in love with it since. So, I guess retroactively, it must be the saxophone.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Chasing the feeling I get whenever I listen to something that leaves me totally rapt.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
I was a textbook emo-to-indie case. My Chemical Romance and The Used (etc. etc.) eventually gave way to Bright Eyes and Neutral Milk Hotel (etc. etc.). I still identify as a lachrymose indie kid at heart, to be honest.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
I can't! I don't think it was any one single song that provided any sort of white light moment. So I'd say it was any song that gave me the sort of viscerally emotional feeling I get in my chest when I hear something that hits me hard.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Right now it's a lot of Oneohtrix Point Never, Caterina Barbieri, and Alessandro Cortini.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
Historically too many! But with this new song and most of my new work the "you" is abstract and untethered (save for an upcoming single, which is very conspicuously about someone).
What has been the most unusual moment in your career so far?
Probably when I realised, in creating "Only Over" that I had the capacity to record and produce on my own -- technical proficiency finally catching up to ambition was a real eye opener, and a surprising one.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
Books! And recently I've been loving helping my queen Jake Brush shoot video works.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
In another life I'd be a theoretical physicist, but there are many barriers to that, including a fundamental lack of any grasp on basic principles of mathematics.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
First of all, I must say that I hardly think I have a "career" in music, but for those who want to make music and aren't yet: listen widely, learn as much as you can, experiment, and stay as close as you can to the real reasons why you're making music. For me it's because I feel I *need* to, and for the joy it brings.
-
Lucas AB's debut single 'Only Over' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.