#PopularPlay: Lulu Simon

Rising indie-pop singer Lulu Simon is letting the world knows exactly how she feels in her new single ‘Strangers’. The bedroom pop track gives nod to artists like Carly Rae Jepsen with her signature ’80s synth, daydream vocals, and emotional lyrics in tow.

The infectious song personifies itself in the angsty dance track under it’s genre taking each lyric with stride as the artist sings “You smile. So I joke. You laugh, but I won’t. You lost me at hello.”

Written as an ode to a past situationship, Lulu recounts, “I wanted this guy to like me so I drove myself absolutely insane trying to fit into an environment that just ended up being so inhospitable. I had to do major damage control and remove myself from the situation. She continues, “Lesson of the story is love yourself and don’t settle, especially for something that is unhealthy for you or for someone who wants to change you.”

The New York City-born and bicoastal rising legend describes her songwriting as ’emotional recycling’ using writing sessions as a form of therapy. Making her way through the underground scene, the artist also released a self-titled EP last year. Lulu recently sat with Popular TV to talk about her newest release in ‘Strangers’ and when she realized she wanted to create music.

1. You just launched “Strangers”! What was the inspiration behind it?

I got myself into a situationship that turned me into an absolute dumpster fire of a human being, I was so stressed out and insecure, I literally wanted to throw my phone down the garbage disposal because I wasn’t getting texts back. Finally I was like “I am not this person, I’m so cute, fun, and worth knowing! If you wanna mess around, you can totally do that, just not with me, thanks, bye.”

2. You are an LA & NY based singer-songwriter. How do you think each of them influenced your musical style? What do you love about each that you can’t find in the other? 

I think that both places take a very different approach to pop music; New York is very cynical and LA is very clinical. I feel like having both perspectives in my ear has taught me the value of genuinely liking what you’re working on because if you make something that you cannot defend tooth and nail, it’s going to get ripped to shreds. That being said, on the positive side of things, LA is very supportive of pop music, you’ll always be able to find people to work with that really love it and wanna help you make a solid song. New York is very supportive of well-made music so the marriage of the two should produce a clever, bangin’ pop song. Unrelated to music but I do miss the subway in New York, if that means anything to anyone.

3. You were born in a musical family. Do you remember the moment you realized you wanted to pursue music full-time? 

Honestly on my 6th birthday. I remember so vividly blowing out the candles and wishing that I had written “Lucky” by Britney Spears. I feel like I’ve always known, whether consciously or not, that I was going to make music. Crazy wish for a 6 year old to have though. It didn’t come true, obviously, which remains a disappointment.

4. What is your creative process when writing a song? 

Usually when I sit down to write a song it’s because I’m feeling overwhelmed and I desperately need to emote OR I want attention. Mostly I’m sitting with my guitar just describing my current situation or state of being and trying to do so in a way that is interesting to hear but not inaccessible. I can usually write a song pretty fast if I’m doing it to prove a point, like trying to get someone’s attention.

5. You have a self-titled EP, released last year! Do you have a favorite song from the release?

It’s honestly hard to pick a favorite off of my EP, I truly love all of those songs so much. If I absolutely had to choose, it would be “Until I Do.” It’s so dramatic. It’s like the perfect combination of sad and cheeky. I love it, I never get sick of it, I could listen to it 500 times in a row and it would still hit every time. Shout out to my producer Griffin Emerson who made it that way.

6. Tell us something you want your new listeners to know about you, that they may not be able to guess from your music or socials.

I’m a Pisces, so… now it should all make sense to you.

7. What is coming up next for you? 

I’m working on a lot of new music, trying to better my writing skills, trying to write bangers that surpass prior bangers, just trying to navigate all the things in these weird covid times. But I’m excited, and you should be too.