For those people that haven’t heard of Luan Mei could you tell us a bit about your music, your story?
It all starts very unconsciously when I was a kid living in Madrid. In my case dancing came first, at 8 I’d go to sevillanas lessons, a form of flamenco dance. I didn’t realise how in love I was with music in any form, every day I’d be choreographing a dance in front of the mirror, singing to the cassettes and CDs my family would play all day, until one day I discovered that my mum had a guitar hidden for years at home. I started playing guitar at 12 and later on, during my teenage years, documenting my experiences of those moments in my diaries, which then became songs. Singing was a secret I kept for years from my family and everyone else, I was very shy and I didn’t want anyone to know, so I’d sing super loudly at home when my mum wasn’t there, it felt so liberating. Some of my singing inspirations were Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Freddie Mercury.
After years of playing, singing, and writing songs (now with everyone knowing), I wanted to study music away from Spain, as I felt very limited by my country, in many ways. I went to Brighton, UK, when I was 18 to study Songwriting at BIMM, graduated, found my band members, released some music, played loads of open mics at the beginning, and then gigs with my band, and here we are now, about to record my debut EP, always writing music, and learning how to play more instruments.
The music I write doesn’t have a specific genre, or at least done on purpose, each song is driven by the feeling of that moment when I’m writing it, regarding of any genre rules or standards. It’s a beautiful thing and it probably comes from growing up listening to flamenco, soul, funk, pop, rock, metal, reggae, jazz, blues, indie, folk, electronica, and any other genres, which still remains in me as a listener and it reflects on my sound.
What inspired you to get on stage and perform?
A natural drive and will to communicate something in any way. In my case, melodies, rhythm, and lyrics, all of that encapsulated in the feeling that’s being delivered, with the hope that the listener will absorb, interpret, understand, and ultimately feel the whole experience.
Are there any artists or albums that have influenced your sound and stuck with you?
Probably too many that I’m not even aware of, but I’d say ‘Sadnecessary’ by Milky Chance; ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ by Arctic Monkeys; Tash Sultana, Jamiroquai, Queen, Tracy Chapman, Earth Wind and Fire, Parcels, Alt-J, Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, John Frusciante, Hiatus Kayote, Jeff Buckley, Alicia Keys, Yellow Days, Phum Viphurit. There are definitely more but this list would be infinite if I carry on!
Where do you write songs, is there a particular mood, place, or feeling that you think you write best?
I like to think there isn’t a specific place but it’s true that the environment can help (or not) to feel more inspired to do something. I usually write at home or in general indoors (rehearsal spaces, studios, etc) since I’m living in England, writing outside with my guitar is more limited because of the weather here, but you get used to it. When is about lyrics, that can happen really anywhere, as long as I have something where to write some lines, anything can be inspiring, in any moment. Sometimes the mood can be the main energy that makes me create, but I’m not a fan of relying on it, as it can change. I prefer to just start writing music without thinking, and then probably the music itself will carry me into the mood, depending on what’s making me think of or inspiring me.
Could you tell us a bit about the writing/recording of Syncr Music Winning track Yellow?
‘Yellow’ is such a beautiful track. I wrote this song in 2018 when I was back from my summer holidays in Spain that I spent with someone who I fell in love with and it really was one of the most special summers in my life, but I had to come back to Brighton and she had to go somewhere else. Before saying goodbye, she gave me a poem that she wrote about us and that summer called ‘Del Verano’ (‘From Summer’), which I was reading in my flat back in Brighton, thinking about how much I missed her. I grabbed the guitar while I was in tears and started playing which is now the main progression of ‘Yellow’, and then I wrote the melody. That song was born in that precise moment, and it felt so easy.
I showed it to a producer friend of mine Batz Out, and he really liked it, so we decided to record it and arrange it together. He produced all of it, we then sent it to master and I released it in 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic. It was so well received, everyone loved it. It’s honestly so special and I’m proud of it. At some point, I’d love to release the physical poem with the physical song in a vinyl or CD, because ‘Yellow’ wouldn’t have been possible without ‘Del Verano’.
Do you have any plans for any new releases coming up?
The first release of 2023 will be my debut EP, which I won’t announce any title of it or the songs in it just yet! No dates planned for now, as everything is still in construction and on the way, but I’m glad that it is definitely happening after having to postpone it because of the pandemic or life events. After that, there will be loads of songs coming, and I’m excited to put this out in the world.
What have been some of your favourite places to perform?
The Macbeth in London, when we played last year at the Semi-Finals for the Isle Of Wight Festival Competition, such great sound, and vibes, it was the first time playing in the capital and we had so much fun. The Hope & Ruin and Green Door Store in Brighton are probably
My favourites of this city, the vibes somehow are always immaculate, the audience is super supportive and it sounds so good on stage.
What has been your best experience as a musician so far?
Finding musicians like my bandmates and friends that want to stick to my project and support what I do, who like what I write and want to be part of it. They have so much patience with me, and sometimes it can be difficult to manage so many things and aspects of working with other creative people, but most of the special moments in my music career so far have always been when I was with them, on stage and off stage. I’m very thankful for having them by my side, and my live sound wouldn’t sound like it does without them.
Another element to highlight would be my first-ever sync on TV! In January of this year, my track ‘Yellow’ was featured in the new Spanish series ‘Escándalo, Relato de una Obsesión’ on Spanish national TV. It’s so impressive to see your own music in mainstream media, especially when you are used to local, independent, and DIY everything.
Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists do you have any to recommend?
Currls, Kymara, Matilda Bond and The Hiddn, all Brighton based and incredible artists and bands (who I’m actually slightly obsessed with); Tiiva, GIYA and Lexie Carroll from London, completely different vibes and so worth of listening to, and Dog of Man from Bristol, incredible in recordings but more incredible live.
What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
For now and with spring here, focus on recording and releasing music, and hopefully after that organise loads of gigs with fabulous bands, busk in town, play live, share the music, write, record, and release more music! I’d love to collaborate with artists for future releases, that’s definitely a plan. At the moment, let’s do one thing at a time, steady as we go.
Never heard of this artist before this interview but it’s so interesting to read their story and how they connect with music, thye’ve got a new fan now, love it