From the sunny shores of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, emerges a vibrant force in the pop-punk scene—Lea, known to her fans as lolitslea (lol it's lea). With a sound she dubs as "neon pop punk," lolitslea is making waves with her infectious genuineness, distinctive voice, and knack for combining the gritty edge of punk with the vibrant hues of pop.
Lolitslea's journey into the music world began in an unexpected place—a college acapella group. "Just seeing how you can create music with a group of people and then put it on the internet for millions to hear. I felt really really inspired seeing all the people's reactions," she recalls. The group's viral success planted the seeds for her solo career, where she could have complete creative control. "Shifting gears as a solo artist, I realized how much I enjoyed control over my project, my sound, and my image. It's cool to take the lead on that. And now I'm like 'yeah, there's no turning back. This is literally all I want to do.'"
Growing up in the heart of New Jersey's alternative scene, lolitslea was heavily influenced by the local music culture and the iconic Warped Tour Era. "I wish I was able to go to more Warped Tours, that was a big thing out here in Jersey. Everyone was influenced by it, either pop punk or classic rock, it was very alternative heavy over here," she reminisces. These experiences played a crucial role in shaping her music style, which blends the punchy elements of pop-punk with modern synths, something she catchphrases as "neon pop punk."
So what exactly is neon pop punk? Lolitslea describes it as a melting pot of Green Day and Blink-182's original pop-punk sound with the addition of mainstream production elements. "If you search neon pop punk, artists that always pop up are Forever the Sickest Kids, Hey Monday, even like 3OH!3. We got The Summer Set, The Ready Set. Artists who are meshing the genres of modern day, top 40 pop with all these bright, colorful visuals, elements, and sounds," she explains. "It was probably the biggest in 2010, 2011. I'm trying to bring that back, or at least I've been so inspired by that time that I want people to talk about it again." Her music is a kaleidoscope of sounds and colors, a testament to her broad musical influences, "I love pop. I love hip hop, then obviously alternative like classic rock, even some heavier stuff. I'm not very genre specific."
With her debut album on the horizon and a growing fan base eagerly awaiting her next move, loliteslea is poised to make a significant impact on the alternative scene with her revival of neon pop punk. Her unique blend of punk energy and pop vibrancy, coupled with her dedication and passion, ensures that she is a force to be reckoned with. "I feel like it's a bit of a slower process having to do everything myself, but I feel like I'm running a tight ship. If it's your passion, you're going to keep going until you just don't. You got to be patient. Three to five years ago, if I saw where I was at now, I would probably lose my mind," she boasts her independency as an artist humbly.
Today, lolitslea offers us another tease of her upcoming album, Nothing Lasts Forever!, with her latest single, "Call It A Fling," now available on all digital streaming platforms. "Call It A Fling" is a massive step forward in lolitslea's journey as a solo, independent artist, "'Call It A Fling' was the first time hearing my music being interpreted by somebody different. It was a very collaborative experience. That was the first time I worked with a new producer on the pop punk stuff. I was working with the same producer on my previous EP and that stuff was very synth heavy. I've gotten feedback that it's people's favorite song on the record. And it's one of my favorites. I think it's just very very catchy. It makes me want to sing and dance around." Looking ahead, Lea also presents us with the possibility of live shows in the near future, hopefully before the end of 2024, with the sentiment "Call It A Fling" is "really fun to play live."
On the note of collaborations, lolitslea had the opportunity to work with notable producers like Chase Coy, Tom Denny, and Rob Robley on her debut full-length, each bringing their own unique touch to her music. "To get to work with people that have developed the sounds of the genre and made it what it is today, it's the reason us emerging artists and new artists get to do this thing, it's because of them. Working with them on this record has definitely shaped my sound," she praises. Lolitslea went on to present her aspiration of collaborating with her biggest inspiration, Mayday Parade, and her close partnership with these three producers surely puts her at the forefront of nationally-touring artist's minds. We all dream of hearing these two powerhouse artists collide talents on a featured track, and, with luck, maybe it'll happen sometime in the near future.
We have been eagerly awaiting lolitslea's impending album, "Nothing Lasts Forever!" which is set to debut in its entirety this October. Lea describes the sonic journey as "traveling through space in a rocket ship, through blue and green clouds, equaling life and how up and down, back and forth, and uncertain it can be." The songs touch on the motions of life, growing up, and revisiting childhood memories only to realize the simplicity of adolescence has been retired, you're maturing and aging, thus things are naturally becoming harder. "My previous EP, it's called 'Happy Never Ending,' which I guess was the introduction. And now this one's called 'Nothing Lasts Forever.' It's kind of ironic because, oh, this thing's never ending. And then you're like, just kidding, nothing lasts forever," Lea describes humorously.
Her creative process is as dynamic as her music. While she often writes songs solo, bringing them to life with a producer, she's embraced collaborative sessions for the creation of Nothing Lasts Forever! "I've been nervous about that because how do I just become so vulnerable and start blurbing out thoughts and emotions and ideas that I didn't check with myself first if they were good or not," she notes before adding, "It was just about building confidence and telling yourself and knowing you might go into a session and you might get nothing out of it. Don't beat yourself up about it. It's something you've got to go through and experience as an artist. Then you get better, as it is with anything you practice." Whether writing alone or with others, her goal remains the same: to create music that resonates and inspires. "Knowing how I was impacted by my favorite artists, I want people to feel that about the things they hear that come from me. I want to be involved in a community and create the biggest group hug in the scene of a bunch of incredible, awesome, like-minded artists."
As an independent artist, lolitslea takes pride in managing her career, though she is the first to admit to the financial burdens and the struggles of breaking out that comes with pursuing dreams. "Everyone's career is different. Everyone's path is different. Trying to not get in your head about that has definitely been one of the hardest things to overcome. I also think a lot of the pressure, especially as a female musician, is begin too late or starting too late," she confesses. For now, she's content with her independence, learning and growing with each project. "It's hard to see growth when you're working so hard and you only see a little bit of movement, I think that could be defeating at times, to work so hard for something and see a little outcome. However, that doesn't mean you're not succeeding. It just means that it takes a little longer," she inspires.
If you're seeking something fresh in female-fronted pop punk revival, stream "Call It A Fling" now on all digital streaming platforms and mark your calendars for "Nothing Lasts Forever!"'s official release this October. If lolitslea's journey has taught us anything, it's that while nothing lasts forever, the impression she leaves on the music world is bound to be unforgettable.
TRANSCRIPT:
Sabrina Amoriello: Thank you so much for joining me today to chat about the new album.I'm personally very excited. I love female fronted pop punk.Yeah, that whole scene there.And we're getting a new release on Friday, I believe.So I'm excited to hear that. So can you start by introducing yourself, your artist name, and just a fun fact to get things started?
lolitslea: Yeah, absolutely. My name is Lea.I front my own pop punk band that also kind of goes by my name, lolitsleah. I guess a fun fact, I mean, even the name change, I actually had a name change last year. And I just went by my first name with Spaces. But I've had lolitsleah has been my username since like social media existed. So back in like, I think 2009, or maybe even earlier, that was my username. And it's kind of what I've known, been known by all over the internet. And I guess like people kind of poked jokes at it and like kind of became my new identity. So I just made my artist name that.
Sabrina Amoriello: It's a cute name. It's catchy.
Lolitslea: Yeah.
Sabrina Amoriello: So after topping the charts with your college acapella group, what motivated you to pursue a solo career and develop lolitsleah as a project?
Lolitslea: I mean, just seeing how you can create music with like a group of people and then put it on the internet and millions of people can just hear your your stuff. I think that was a lot harder to do back in the day. I mean, that happened like 10 years ago at this rate, which is wild. But yeah, it's now it's it's it's more common to go viral. But there's just so many people out there that can be inspired by music. And I felt really inspired seeing all the people's reactions to like a cover that my college acapella group did. And I got to talk to everybody online and see people do their own interpretations of it. So that kind of set me on a journey of like creating my own project and wanting to be more consistent with it until I grew it to what it is today. And now I'm like, yeah, there's no turning back now. This is literally all I want to do. It's the best thing.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, I mean, it's interesting. I always think acapella is such a hard thing to be a part of because it's usually typically a very big group. And then obviously, there's no instruments. So you have to be able to collaborate with a lot of people at once. So I think it's kind of cool that you shifted from something that that that's like a big collaborative effort to something that's more solo on your own.
Lolitslea: Yeah, I never thought of it that way. But that's so true. You think about how like there was maybe I think 17 or 18 people in that group at a time and having to use your voice as the only instrument. I mean, I still I still have to use my voice as that's my instrument in my own band. But having to have to rely on all those people and it was crazy that we were able to do so much in that group and then shifting gears as like a solo artist and how much, you know, I don't know, just control I have over my project and I can make all these decisions and where my sound wants to go, where my my image wants to go. So it's cool to kind of take the lead on that, especially as like a female fronted, you know, musician.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, I'm excited to hear the debut for that reason.
Lolitslea: I'm excited to thank you and what you've done.
Sabrina Amoriello: So growing up in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, how did the Asbury Park alternative scene and the Warped Toy era influence your musical style? Who are some of your influences from those scenes?
Lolitslea: I mean, even just, yeah, growing up, growing up here in my hometown, I was able to go to some concerts. I mean, I wasn't I wasn't old enough to like get into a lot of shows, but I was still able to go to see like my favorite bands like Mayday Parade. I saw them a ton growing up and like my first Warped Tour was 2014, I guess. I found like a Tumblr or like my mom found like a little cup of it the other day and I didn't remember what year I went, but I wish I was able to go so many previous years. I can't believe I was I think I was right out of high school at that point and I was like finally old enough to go to like a music festival by myself, but I still had my friends with me and whatnot, so I wish I was able to go to more Warped Tours, but that was a big thing out here in Jersey. I mean, everyone was influenced on like it was either like pop punk or classic rock and so it was very alternative heavy over here, and I think that that shaped my sound for sure growing up and making music.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, I mean, Asbury Park Stone Pony is like a legendary legendary place. Bruce Springsteen came out of there, a lot of legendary acts, so coming from that area, you got a lot to live up to, but
Lolitalea: yeah, it's like a dream venue for me. The Summer Stage, that's where I want to be on, Stone Pony Outdoor Stage.
Sabrina Amoriello: Oh, it'll happen. It'll definitely happen.
Lolitslea: Yeah, I hope.
Sabrina Amoriello: So can you tell us more about the story behind your upcoming release coming out this Friday? What can fans expect? Like what was what inspired the lyrics and the overall vibe of this song?
Lolitslea: Honestly, I feel like it was a it's a classic pop punk like inspired sound. I think I consider my sound neon pop punk. There's a lot of synth elements in it, but creating Call It A Fling, which is the song coming out on Friday and the second release out of my whole album release cycle for the album that's going to drop later this year, that was the first time I worked with a producer, a new producer on the pop punk stuff. So I was working with the same producer on my previous EP, and that stuff was very synth heavy, but pop punk still. And that's where the neon pop punk sound kind of shaped itself to be. And I love that for me. I think it fits my personality. I think it fits my sound, my look, all in all. So when I was branching out to work with other producers and get opportunities to do that, I was like, I got to keep the neon pop punk stuff in there. But I'm really excited to see what else like where my sound can kind of take me. So “Call It A Fling” was like the first time hearing my music being interpreted by somebody different. And it was a very collaborative experience. I feel like I produced it just as much as Roy, who in Chicago produced that track. And yeah, I honestly like I've gotten feedback that it's people's favorite song on the record. And it's one of my favorites. I think it's just very, very catchy. And there's woes in it. And I love woes. And I know not a lot of people love. I don't know. I feel like some people are hesitant to put like woes and la-di-da's and stuff. But this song has all of that. And it makes me want to sing it and dance around. It's really fun to play live. So yeah.
Sabrina Amoriello: I mean, those little tidbits is what makes it catchy, gives people a sing along moment.
Lolitslea: That's what I'm saying.
Sabrina Amoriello: I haven't really heard the term neon pop punk. So can you like describe that a little bit to us? What is it exactly to you?
Lolitslea: Yeah. So neon pop punk was like a thing for like, I don't know how long, but it was like a couple of years in like 2008 to 2012, maybe. I think it was probably like the biggest in like 2010, 2011. So when like the 2010s, like pop punk music, we're shifting from like, you know, Green Day and Blink and the original pop punk sound. And we're kind of adding like modern day pop punk elements to it. And there were artists like the ones that if you search neon pop punk that always pop up are Forever the Sickest Kids, Hey Monday, even like 303 like is popped in there. We got the Summer Set, the Ready Set. Like there's those kind of artists who are meshing the genres of like modern day, top 40 pop and all these like bright, colorful, like visuals and elements and sounds into it. And like you still are making emo music. So it doesn't exist anymore. There's like a couple of Reddit threads on it. If you search it up, it's like an article gets written about it every like six months to a year. So I'm trying to bring that back. Or at least I've been so inspired by that time that I want people to talk about it again. And I want like people to know that neon pop punk sounded like that at that time. And it still could be made today, basically.
Sabrina Amoriello: You're a pioneer for it, bringing it back for us.
Lolitslea: I hope so. Thank you.
Sabrina Amoriello: I can see it. I can see it. I mean, like, it's kind of something that's more like radio friendly, but at the same time still appeals to that edgy fan base.
Lolitleas: Exactly.
Sabrina: Best of both worlds there.
Lolitslea: Yeah.
Sabrina Amoriello: A perfect transition to the next question, because your music combines the boldness of punk with the vibrant colors of pop. So how did you develop this signature style?
Lolitslea: I mean, I think based on the stuff that I listen to, I listen to everything. So I'm not, you know, very genre specific. I guess making pop punk music, I tend to listen to more pop punk now because I just want to be immersed in it. But I love pop. I love hip hop and like some different types of like hip hop and rap. And and then obviously alternative like classic rock and, you know, even some like heavier stuff. Just really a big fan of everything. And so I think it's cool to be able to mesh the type of pop music that I like to listen to and that I was making like 10 years ago. I was making like a more I was making very much just pop music. I was inspired by L.A. and the California beach pop and the surf scene and stuff like that. And a little bubble gum like those type of synth notes and stuff. But then I was raised on pop punk. And I don't know in like that time. So it was kind of meshing. And my voice is made for for rock, I think. I think I have a very low timbre and it's definitely not I wouldn't say it's an easy listening voice. Not that, you know, it sounds bad, but I definitely have like a little bit of a grit and interesting tone to my voice that I don't think lent itself very well to pop. And I've gotten feedback like that before, too. So, you know, taking the things I love about pop and then the music I loved growing up and listening to and singing and then kind of meshing it together, which has that pop and alternative element, I guess. I wouldn't say it's original, but I definitely you know, it's fun to be contributing to it.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah. And I definitely hear what you say with the boldness of your voice. Like I listened to the first track before this interview and I could definitely hear I know everyone compares everyone in the pop punk scene to Paramore, but I could definitely hear a little Hayley Williams, Taylor Momsen in there. I love that so much.
Lolitslea: I mean, huge compliment. So thank you.
Sabrina Amoriello: So you kind of touched on this earlier, but you've worked with some emo icons like Chase Coy, Tom Denny and Roy Robley. So how have these collaborations influenced your music and your approach?
Lolitslea: Yeah, I mean, those are those are all the producers on this on this record that I'm putting out, and they've all been in it. Like Tom and Chase were fully emerged in the pop punk scene and the alternative and the emo scene like back in, you know, that early or I guess that late 2000s and then early 2010s and whatnot. So to have to get to work with people that have developed sounds of that genre and like what it is today and the reason us emerging artists and new artists and stuff get to do this thing, it's like it's because of them. You know, there's all like even Hayley Williams, like she's someone who started this huge movement and now we all get to be a part of it because she like opened her mouth and made some awesome stuff. So especially as a woman in the scene. So, you know, getting to work with the couple of producers that I've gotten to work with on this record has definitely shaped my sound. I come with ideas. I come with all the lyrics. I come with melodies. I come with I play instruments, but I don't play them on my records. So I come with hums of how I want certain parts to sound and then they put it in their own, you know, they put it out on a DAW and create it with all their instruments. And that's like what comes from my head with their help. So definitely helped me develop, you know, the sound that I have today. Yeah.
Sabrina Amoriello: I mean, to work with such big names in the industry on your debut album, I mean, it's going to be such a great experience for you. You learn a lot just working alongside them.
Lolitslea: Absolutely. A lot, a lot of lessons learned, a lot of things to learn about. And, you know, there's always room to grow and that's like a stepping stone to that.
Sabrina Amoriello: Are there any like dream collaborations or projects you'd love to pursue in the future?
Lolitslea: Oh, I mean, this one, like definitely a dream collab would be Mayday Parade in any capacity, any capacity. That's like that was like kind of my dream just like as a kid, I guess. So the fact that we're kind of just now in our in our in the same, not close, but the same big inner circle is kind of crazy to me. So I feel like that that's a little dream that I'm trying to have come true. But yeah, I don't know. There's I'm there's some collaborations happening on this record that I'm super thrilled about that I I can't believe that are happening. And I love that. And I'm so glad to be making music with those artists. And I definitely in the future, I could name all the top of my head. It's hard. I feel like there's like 50 people that I'm like, I listen to that every day and I would love to do a song with them. And sometimes it's just a conversation of like, hey, you want to write something together? And I love when people reach out or I I get to collaborate with with artists that I really, really like.
Sabrina Amoriello: I would love to hear a Mayday Parade collaboration. That would be awesome. I mean, Derek has just such a beautiful voice, but like to combine that with a female powerhouse vocalist, thats a dream combination right there.
Lolitslea: I know. I know. I yeah, that would be that would be insane. That would be a dream.
Sabrina Amoriello: I agree.So your debut full length is set to release in October of 2024. What can fans expect on this album in terms of themes and musical direction?
Lolitslea: Yeah, so themes, which is really fun. My album is called Nothing Lasts Forever and my previous EP, which I guess was the introduction. I think I did a nice transition from like pop to I did like pop to all pop to pop punk. And there was definitely a theme that started a happy never ending. So it's called Happy Never Ending. And now this one's called Nothing Lasts Forever. It's kind of like ironic because like, oh, this thing's never ending. And then you're like, J.K., nothing lasts forever. So definitely trying to keep that theme definitely probably touches on, you know, going through life and moving to new places and going throughout situations with people that are up and down. Those are common things growing up and like revisiting childhood memories and then realizing like that will never happen again and that you're old and things are hard. There's a big there's a big theme, I think, in the transition of those two albums in general. But for Nothing Lasts Forever, I don't know where it came from. I think it kind of naturally happened, but it just has this like space rocket ship, blue and green clouds, visual like theme to it. And the colors, obviously blue and green are a big part of my identity. So kind of meshing all that together and like traveling through space and like that equals life and how up and down and back and forth and uncertain it could be, I guess, is the main theme of the album. And I'm I'm excited because moving forward, I'll probably the way I write is I feel like I write in time and I things happen. I write about it and then I put it out. I've been writing a lot more. So maybe the next project I'll get to pick which songs are on it. But I usually just release everything I write. And so it's fun to watch the development of how things kind of unfold, because most of the stuff that comes out from me is going to be very linear and it'll something will happen to me. I'll write about it and then I'll put it out. And I think that will be the continuation of, you know, not only what's to come in October, but what's to come after that.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, I think it's also interesting that you said the EP kind of is a leeway into the full length album, because I was thinking the same thing. Obviously, I didn't want to put words in your mouth, but I was like the titles are very like one happens after the other. So it's interesting that you brought that up.
Lolitslea: I'm glad it came across. That's awesome.
Sabrina Amoriello: OK, so how is the process of creating this album been for you? And are there any particular songs or moments on the album that you're especially excited about?
Lolitslea: Oh, the process has been pretty cool. It's fun to to be like the last EP, I felt like I was figuring out what I could do in this alternative pop punk space. And if I was welcome and if this was a place for me where I could thrive and meet new people and create community turned out to be better than it could have ever been fit right in. I felt like I was at home. I felt like I understood it. I felt like people welcomed me with open arms. And I said that a lot in the past with the last EP. But now I feel like really sure of my sound and, you know, where things are going from there. So getting to be certain of my musical identity and getting to work on songs now, knowing like I know what I want it to sound like, we're not experimenting that much anymore has been really cool. I wrote the first song on the record. I didn't even know this until I looked back. But like favorite singer that came out last month, last month. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. It's all flying so fast. That one was written in like the end of twenty twenty two. And it's like we're like getting through twenty twenty four right now. So it's been a while. Albums are expensive. Songs are expensive. So it's definitely been a process to finish this up. But I took a different approach this time. And I really got in the head of like, how would a label do this? How would they run this entire recording or writing, recording, producing, marketing, et cetera, process? And I was like really specific and strategic about that. And that is something I never thought that I would be prepared to do. So I feel like I knew what I was doing and didn't feel as messy. There was definitely ups and downs, but I felt like I learned a lot from the last project and I was able to apply that into this album. So it's been it's been like felt more legitimate to me. It felt more complete and like a real packaged project, which as someone that's pretty much doing this by myself, that's a great accomplishment, in my opinion, for myself.
Sabrina Amoriello: So you're completely independent as of right now?
Lolitslea: Yes.
Sabrina Amoriello: Congratulations. I know how hard that must be. But I mean, to be this certain, to be this confident about something you're coming out with independently, that's that's the most important part. It has to be something you're proud of.
Lolitslea: Exactly. Yeah. And it was a long time coming. But, you know, and I'll learn things, too, through this process that I can apply into the next process. But it's yeah, I feel I feel pretty good about it.
Sabrina Amoriello: Do you want to remain independent or are you hoping?
Lolitslea: I don't know, I think I've been back and forth with that. I would love an opportunity to be I feel like either way financially, I'm going to have to figure it out for myself, but I would love extra support. Unlike the bigger scale of things like getting it out to, you know, putting it putting me in front of new faces that I might not have been able to do by myself, it's I feel like it's a little bit of a slower process having to do everything myself. But I feel like I'm running things like I'm running a tight ship. I feel like I'm doing a lot of the work that a label would do. I would just love I would love the support in any way at some point. And I don't know if that would mean, you know, a record deal, an investor like it could it could totally depend on where life takes me. So I I felt like I had a different answer last year that I do now. And I might have a different answer next year than I do now. But I'm kind of just like, I'm chilling. I'm happy where I'm at. But I will take opportunities if they're meant for me.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, well, I have a lot of respect for you doing it independently. I know it's hard. I know it's a lot of work, but ifn it's something you love. It ends up doing well. You know?
Lolitslea: Yeah, it's like the only thing you're fighting for and you're pushing for like it's your path. If it's your passion, like you're going to keep going until you just don't.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So can you walk us through your creative process when writing and producing a new song? How do you find inspiration and bring your ideas to life?
Lolitslea: Oh, so I just recently started, like in the past year, collaborating in writing sessions in rooms. I feel like a lot of my best work or in the past or even on this record, a lot of it is was done like all by myself. I wrote the song start to finish, and then I brought it to a producer to like bring it to life. And that process is really just like me going through something, feeling a lot of emotions, and then having a catchy like hook in my head and then writing a song to it. I like say a lot of times it's funny because like most of like, I guess right now, half my songs are written to nothing. So I'll like write a full song and then it'll become a song when like other people start putting their ideas and their music into it. But recently, I've been writing with like a couple people and getting into sessions. And I've been nervous about that because I'm like, wow, how do I like just become so vulnerable and like start blurbing out like, you know, thoughts and emotions and ideas that like I don't I didn't I didn't like check with myself first if they were good or not. I need to like sit back and like figure it out first. But it's like it's a vulnerable place to be. But it's been turning out really good. I feel like I've gotten some awesome songs with incredible songwriters, even things that aren't out yet that won't be out until next year and whatnot. So that's been that process has been really cool to watch how a song gets written start to finish, like in a room full of people. Like I said, that's new to me. So it's very weird. But it's awesome to see the outcome of that. And I think that's a lot of our favorite artists nowadays, like they're sitting in rooms with people. But I still think a lot of the stuff that comes, I don't know, I'm indifferent, like I love both things that I write. I like when I write it all by myself. And I love watching that grow. And then people say like, wow, this is so catchy. I was like, it literally all came from my brain. I don't know how, but but then watching like us build a song with other people from, you know, from nothing into something awesome. And then it also having a good reaction and people loving it. So, yeah, the process can be different each time. But it's been it's been fun.
Sabrina Amoriello: And I think being able to have a balance between working alone and working with other people is really important as well, like especially when you're doing something creative, having outside opinions. I mean, sometimes it could be trash opinions, but being able to take people's advice and take it to heart and not get upset about it and actually apply it. I mean, it helps. It goes a long way. Then people want to keep working with you. You never know where that might lead.
Lolitslea: Exactly, exactly. It's always good to put yourself out there like I that's I would always give that advice. It's like if you're not sure if you want to take that leap and like get into a session. My first like five sessions, even even maybe it was not five. It was like three. Even one of them was with like an artist that I loved, like I was a huge fan of. And we had a cool exchange. Like he gave me one of his records. Like I was in sessions where like I didn't know what I was doing and nothing came out of it. And I walked out being like, oh, man, that sucked. Like maybe I don't like writing with other people. But I think it was just about building the confidence and the experience and also telling yourself and knowing like you might go into a session and you might get nothing out of it. And that's OK. Don't beat yourself up out of it. I think it's just, you know, something you got to go through and like learn and experience as an artist. And then you get better at it as as anything you practice, you know, over time, even with writing music, too.
Sabiuna Amoriello: It's such a personal thing. Like you do have to have that chemistry with another person if they don't understand your vision. It's going to be a completely different, different chemistry, different dynamic. You're going to be writing about something totally different and it might not make sense. So looking back on your musical journey, what have been some of the most significant challenges, challenges and triumphs you've experienced?
Lolitslea: Ooh, challenges, definitely feeling like you're doing so much and then not getting anywhere. It's not true necessarily. Like it's hard to see growth when you're working so hard and you only see a little bit of movement or like, I don't know, I think that's that could be defeating at times, definitely to work so hard for something and see a little outcome. However, that doesn't mean that you're not succeeding. It just means that it takes a longer time to get to where, you know, maybe one person who had a viral song pop off on TikTok. And then that happens real fast, you know, for artists that don't maybe have that opportunity to kind of blow up on the Internet. It is a slow and steady climb. So that's kind of hard sometimes to like it's a hard pill to swallow. It's like I'm putting in so much time, effort and money just to see like baby steps. But at the end of the day, like I look back at those baby steps and I'm like, wow, I'm so much further than I was like two years ago. And you just it's kind of like getting out of your own head and leveling yourself out and talking yourself down and realizing like, you know, you're in it for the long run. You got to be patient. And then it pays off because like three years, three to five years ago, if I saw where I was at now, I would probably lose my mind. And I feel like right now I could be eons further. It's just everyone's career is different. Everyone's path is different. So trying not to get in your head about that is definitely has been one of the hardest things to overcome. And then I always say like financial stuff. I've moved around so much in the past year because I was like, I just want to do music. But rent is getting expensive and I am tired and I'm getting older and my body hurts and I can't work a million jobs. I still am. But now I can do it maybe in like the comfort of my my own home and in my move back into my hometown, you know. So that's been hard to realize. Like, you know, you see other people and they're doing not music and then they're starting families and buying houses. It's like I because of the path that I decided to take will likely either not get there at a reasonable rate if ever. And that's like something to kind of settle down in and be like, all right, I've accepted that is what I want to do with my life. It's my my path. It's meant for me. And figuring that out and figuring out those challenges. Thankfully, a lot of maybe not thankfully, but realistically, a lot of musicians also experience that. So I'm not alone, which is nice.
Sabrina Amoriello: And what about triumphs? Like some moments you look back on really proud of?
Lolitslea: Oh, yeah. I'm like, bad, bad, bad. No, I answer the good things. Right. That's the good stuff. Yeah. Oh, my goodness. I mean, like just seeing the growth, like obviously it's taken a while to get there, but seeing where I've started and how far I've come. I also think a lot of like the pressure, especially as like a female musician, is being too late or starting too late. And I hear it all the time and I feel that way all the time. I think about how I could have. I mean, I was doing cool stuff in college, but if I didn't go to college and I just started music earlier and I figured out my path, then like maybe I would have gotten further along in my career. But I know so much more now and I'm still doing it now. And I think that, you know, I'm very proud of myself and any like woman in that position who kind of feels like they started too late and they're finally popping off now, like I hope they're proud of themselves themselves. So that's been, I don't know, just rewarding that I could do this myself and seeing like the people that I get to talk to and work with on a day-to-day basis, like mind-blowing. The fact that I get to travel and play shows in different states because of the life I've set up for myself is like freaking cool and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Sabrina Amoriello: You got to celebrate even the little things. Music is a hard thing to make it in, but if you're doing what you love, no matter how old you are, it's worth it.
Lolitslea: Yep.
Sabrina Amoriello: It makes life worth living.
Lolitslea: Exactly, exactly, exactly. And I will live, I will die by those words. That is the only thing. It makes life worth living and I wouldn't do anything else. There would be no, like that's the thing that makes me the happiest. So I couldn't imagine my life a different way. So I understand that completely.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah, I mean, even this magazine, I'm the owner of the magazine and it's a small little music magazine, but without it, it makes life fun. It makes life enjoyable. It's something that gets me out of my daily mundane life, so.
Lolitslea: Exactly, exactly.
Sabrina Amoriello: So how do you hope your music will impact and resonate with your listeners, especially with this debut?
Lolitslea: I hope that, I don't know, I hope that I think the, definitely the goal growing up or the goal, like knowing how I was impacted by my favorite artists. I want people to feel that about the things that they hear that come from me. I want to, I want to be involved in a community and create like the biggest, like group hug in the scene of a bunch of incredible, awesome, like artists in the alternative scene. Like, I don't know. I just think I want to impact people the way that I was impacted by artists growing up. And it's cool to see that slowly happen piece by piece, even at like the smaller level that I am. And to hear people say things that I've, you know, thought about my favorite artists when I was like 13, 14, 15. I definitely want to inspire people to just like also stay cool, no matter what they, like what they're into, what they look like, who they are. Growing up, I always felt like it was extremely hard to like want to present myself like the way I am and who I am, personality, looks wise, whatever. But like that, this scene has also inspired me to be able to feel comfortable doing that. And it's like a culture. I don't know. Like there's, there's so many people in the pop punk and alternative scene that are just like, they don't, they don't care what other people think and they do their own thing. And that's inspiring. And I want people to feel that way because years ago, I wish, I wished I was comfortable doing that. And you know that's, that's definitely the goal for sure. But a big one is to just like create a big community around it and make, make friends and get to work with people and then like scream and dance to music that they like to hear and hopefully be one of those people creating that type of music.
Sabrina Amoriello: I think having that genuine experience with the scene too is so important because I always say that pop punk is my favorite as well. And it's solely because the community is just so welcoming.n They don't care what you look like. They don't care if you make a mistake, they're always going to be there to enjoy it, to have fun with you, to sing a song with you. I mean, that's just what music should be about.
Lolitslea: Yep. Like concerts. Oh my goodness. Just like if, if you, you, there's like these, like there's dozens and dozens of bands. Like you go to one of those shows and they're all in this like big, massive community. Like you always run into somebody, you know, no matter, like for me, no matter what state I'm in, if I go to a show and it's a mutual genre or mutual friend or whatever, like I've seen people everywhere and it's like the best feeling in the world. And I know that's just, that's how concert, just going to concerts and live music, live shows like that are so, so awesome.
Sabrina Amoriello: I couldn't agree more. I love music. It truly has saved so many people's lives. So we're not going to wrap it up here, but before I close things off, I just wanted to throw the mic to you. Do you have any final words, any last things you'd like to say to people before we conclude?
Lolitslea: I mean, I don't know. Keep, everyone keep rocking out. I hope they like this stuff. I hope they love this music as much as, as much as I do. I think a big, a big thing is like, you got to be your own biggest fan. And I, as a Leo, who's just like has a lot of faith in myself and, you know, believe in my vision. Like I love the stuff that I make and I can only hope that other people feel that way too at some point. And yeah, that's, thank you for, you know, having this conversation. This has been fun. It's nice to share passion with somebody.
Sabrina Amoriello: Yeah. Thank you so much for talking to me today. I mean, you said some really wonderful things. I mean, how you were talking about women empowerment, like inspiring other women your age, inspiring them to go follow their dreams and do what they love. Like, that's a huge thing for me, especially because I'm an all, we're an all woman run company. I mean, we have some male contributors, but we keep the owners all women for that reason, because I can see it. It gets so hard being a woman in this industry. And so many people will say you're too old. It's all about looks. You're not going to make it. So that's really really important for me to hear. And I really appreciate you bringing that up. And I'm super excited for this album. Like I said, I love female fronted pop punk. I love female fronted bands, artists. So this is definitely very exciting for me. And I'm glad I got the opportunity to speak with you.
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