Ophelia, lifted from her Made to Break EP, which is out 12th June, works as the ideal introduction to London-based artist Lial’s soundscape, made of hypnotic dark vibes and freshly catchy pop sounds…
How are you today Lial?
I’m doing ok today – I’m finding lockdown is like a rollercoaster of ups and downs but today is a good day!
What’s on your mind right now…?
I’m gearing up to the release of my EP and getting things in place for that…I’m also in the process of pulling together my live set together so working on that at the moment.
Tell us everything we should know about the new EP…
The songs on the EP are broadly about that dysfunctional point in all relationships and where you go from there, and the inevitability of pain – the double side of the happiness coin. It’s very personal to me and a couple of the tracks are actually hard for me to listen back to. I co-wrote it with Gregor McWilliam who also produced it. It has some Lana influences in there as well as being more pop in feel, but there is a darkness to it.
Which animal would best suit your personality?
This is such a good question…it literally depends on the day, but I have been told a few times that I’m a lot like a cat…which is slightly upsetting to me as I’m a tiny bit scared of cats and consider myself way more of a dog person.
Who are your musical and non-musical icons?
I love Phoebe Waller-Bridge for the fact she is not only a brilliant writer but she embodies the ‘get on and create it’ thing which we all have the option to do now.
Musical icons – Lana del Rey for her dedication to a vision and lyrical genius, and St Vincent.
What was the first album you purchased?
Garbage – Version 2.0
Which artists are you listening to right now?
I’ve really got into FKA Twigs and can’t get enough of her music at the moment, but also Haim for days when you need a bit of an uplift.
How would you describe your fashion style?
Laid back with a bit of edge. I just want to be Erin Wasson.
Are there any good films or tv series that you have seen recently?
We’re all watching SO much at the moment aren’t we? I actually have to limit myself as I get totally hooked to series’ and it stops me writing! TV wise, Killing Eve (I’ve been saving series 3 so I’m mid-way through that), Normal People was brilliant and Sex Education is great for something short and uplifting. Films wise, everyone should watch Marriage Story.
What does the rest of 2020 hold for you?
I really hope to be able to do some gigs towards the end of the year, but who knows if that will be possible, and also where because some of the amazing live venues are really struggling to survive through this. I am writing quite a lot at the moment, not just music, and finding there is more space to do that without the noise and distraction of ‘normal’ life.
By FM
