LP’s unapologetic authenticity is a refreshing departure from social norms, creating an environment where thoughts and emotions can be expressed without judgment or censorship (read: they curse like a sailor). Their biting sense of humor and colorful language is a freshly shaken martini of wit, irreverence, and audacity. But LP isn’t just funny and filthy. They are “a million different things inside.” Interviewing LP feels daring and intimate, like our conversation should be whispered– or maybe screamed. During their talk with GO Magazine, LP shed light on the inspiration for their newest album, Love Lines, and shared insights into their constant self-improvement journey.
After being single – like, actually single – for the first time in a while, LP was able to step back and evaluate their recent love life in Love Lines. Before working on their most recent record, they were falling out of love, falling in love, revisiting an old flame, maybe-cheating-maybe-polyamorous. Ultimately, it was their own role in their relationships that they wanted to examine.
“I’m trying to examine myself and my feelings as far as my culpability in it all,” they tell GO. “It’s just life … move on, forgive and forget, and learn.”
While this album is about their more recent relationships, all of their work has been a reflection of their relationships and love throughout their life. “What else am I supposed to write about, my alien abduction?”
The story behind the album’s title, Love Lines, is an ode to LP’s attempt at polyamory. “I can’t say I’m a polyamorous person, but after all of this, I’ve found that I am a searcher, a seeker, and a part-time cheater,” they snicker. “I’m old school. I was raised by an asshole Italian man with a woman on the side. It’s an attractive model, but I don’t agree with cheating. You have to be honest. That’s what I’ve been doing now.” After a beat, they add, “Ugh, I can hear the collective groan of 1000 exes.”
While LP has recorded music videos for many of the songs on the album, they say that the video for the track “Dayglow” was “the gayest thing they’ve ever done.” The video was shot on location during Prague’s Pride festival, bursting with color and life. “It burns rainbows into your retinas,” they laugh. Vodafone, a British technology communications company, sponsored the music video and suggested shooting at Prague Pride, which was already taking place at the time. LP describes the video as a love letter to Pride and Prague, but the song has its own meaning. “I wrote the song about a relationship that was difficult but very explosively passionate. It felt kind of like an acid trip.”
As a queer icon, LP feels the best way to lead is by example, but LP says they’re not going to get up on a pulpit and preach to a crowd. Diversity and acceptance, they believe, are the keys to a cohesive community. “I’m just being myself, but I feel very uncomfortable telling someone how to live, including the people in my community,” they say. “But if you see me and you think it looks like fun – guess what? It is fun!”
Their androgynous style has become synonymous with their artistry. However, they don’t take it too seriously. When asked how fashion influences them, they painted a picture of a child carrying a shovel and a little hat, wearing their favorite beat-up cowboy boots and an outfit resembling an explosion of colors. “I just dress how I feel. It never seemed more apparent that I dress based on intuition than when traveling in an airport on Halloween. People were reacting to me like it was a costume. They were like, ‘Oh nice, great look!’ But I was just being myself.”
Although their look makes a statement, LP says they don’t “sound how they feel.” Their unique style and persona contribute to the diversity of voices within the industry, especially for queer women and nonbinary people, and they can’t be put into a box. “My voice is considerably more feminine than my presentation, and I don’t really give a shit,” they tell GO. “I think people expect me to be all rock and roll, but whatever I do, it’s coming from the heart. I find the most heart-wrenching part of myself, and I pull it out.” The difference between their look and their voice may add to the intrigue. “That’s why I think the live version of Lost in You has like a billion streams because when people heard it, I’m sure they didn’t think my ass was on the other side of it.”
At the end of the day, LP hopes that their music can bring some sense of comfort. “This record feels super free and California-y,” they say. “I felt very 70s. I had Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt running through my head while I was writing the album. It felt easy. I want them to feel like when you just hung out with someone fun and laid-back, and you leave that interaction feeling good inside. My music is deep, but it’s not that deep. I’m just trying to make somebody feel good.”
You can stream or purchase Love Lines now, and don’t miss LP on their North American tour!
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