LUI$A for The Meadow
interviewer: Sara Sharif (@sarangelic)
interviewee: LUI$A (@luisawithadollarsign)
"My name is Lui$a, I’m 16 years old.
I am an independent artist from New York, currently living in Prishtina, Kosovo.
My music is a mix of 2000's r&b with today's trap music, which is heavily influenced by the urban life of Prishtina and Manhattan. By combining both of these cultures I present a modern and diverse style, which can be showcased to my songs. I hope to bring a sound that is contemporary, yet impactful and distinctive to the mainstream scene.
I strive to be diverse and unique through my music, as well as my style and am always prepared to bring something new to the public."
t h e i n t e r v i e w
Please start with a little introduction about yourself!
I am LUI$A, I’m 16 years old.I started singing since I was a toddler, I play the piano. I am a producer, singer, and songwriter.I started releasing original songs since 2019. My first cover was “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse in 2014I was born in Long Island, New York, and lived in Queens, New York. After a while, my family and I moved back to Prishtina, Kosovo.My style of music is very diverse. I used to listen to a lot of heavy metal and punk music.Both of my parents are musicians (my mom is a soprano and my dad is a music producer).
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What genre would you say your music belongs to?
I am a very experimental artist, I like to combine all genres and make a different sound. The current project I am working on is very diverse and something new to the public.
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When did you decide you wanted to be a musician? What was your purpose?
Both of my parents are musicians, so music was played around the house pretty much every day. They have influenced me to express myself through music, be unapologetic and educate myself musically. I still learn music theory, piano and try to perfect my craft. Having both parents as mentors has really helped me understand how the process of making music goes and how to enter the music industry. I really couldn’t live without music.
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How has your journey been so far?
It has been great, it is almost like an addiction to me because I try to get better and better every day. I am more confident. Getting great feedback from media platforms has helped me a lot. Being hardworking has opened a lot of doors for me.
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I’m in love with your songs “Gemstones” and “BLUE”. Tell us more about them and what they mean to you!
Gemstones is a self-reflection piece, I portray myself as a fairy and talk about the changes I am going through in life, Gemstones got more recognition and was listened by the public. While, BLUE is about my teenage fantasies and really what teenagers go through at this age, you feel more naive and delicate at that point, the last verse also talks about me having this obsession with my hometown, New York . BLUE is my personal favorite.
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How is your experience different, being an artist younger than the artists who usually dominate the industry?
You’re not really taken seriously at this age. Sometimes I work at the studio for 8 hours and try to make more material for me to put out. The audience doesn’t see everything that is going on with my music, so, I try to get this message across and convey this through my music by working and producing.
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Do elaborate on some of your shows and performances. Which has been your favourite as an experience?
I haven’t performed at big concerts. I had small gigs like charity events and school graduations. I recently performed on VFILES Pass the Aux through Instagram live. After the EP is released hopefully I will get to perform at big events and concerts.
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What is your creative process?
I have a studio at home, so it is pretty convenient for me to work and be focused on my music. I work pretty much every day, produce and write as much as I can! My dad helps me with the mixing and mastering side of production.
Who is your musical inspiration?
My music is inspired by Jun Fukamachi, Rina Sawayama, Sade, A tribe called quest, Jimi Hendrix and Asap Rocky, each of them displaying a different and unique type of style, all of which can be recognized on my tracks, thus presenting a contemporary yet ageless sound to the mainstream scene.
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Your fashion sense is incredibly unique and beautiful. Who influences your taste in fashion?
My mom got me into fashion. As a kid, she used to dress me in pink extravagant Juicy Couture dresses and Ralph Lauren shirts. She has also kept magazines from the 2000s and the late 90s, so I get inspiration from there too. Currently, my biggest fashion influences are David Bowie, Dennis Rodman, and Rina Sawayama.
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What message do you wish to convey through your music?
I want to influence the youth to produce and create, to accept their flaws and unleash their creativity through art.
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Is there anything you would like to say about the current stresses all around world?
Stay safe, the sooner we all stay home and keep ourselves from catching this virus, the sooner we can go back to our lives. Make sure to donate and sign as many petitions as you can for Black Lives Matter and try to support and help black-owned businesses . We can all get through this together by helping and staying safe.
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So, what should we expect next, in the near future?
I am currently working on my EP, it will be released this year. It has a very vibrant and interesting vibe. It is inspired by the 80s ballroom culture and the Club Kids in New York, this represents the different sounds that I have combined on the songs from this EP.
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How do we gain access to your music?
My music is available on all platforms (Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music,Soundcloud,Youtube,etc…)
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Any message for Pastel Serenity’s community and for all the musical creatives out there as well?
For all the young creatives out there, make sure to perfect your craft through these times and CREATE as much as you can. There would be no world without culture and without us, whether you’re a singer, producer, designer,stylist, artist, try to contribute and give the world a little bit of color through these times.