You posted about your return and dropping “Lou” from your name. Why was making that announcement important?
I wanted to start how I meant to go on: showing up very much as myself and not with a character or some aesthetic world to hide behind. With this album, it’s the first time I’ve ever written 100% from my own perspective. My last project was buried between cryptic lyrics and complicated production. I haven’t really revealed anything about myself in the past, so I’m stepping to the plate. I’m closing the loop to be one continuous person rather than having shields to hide behind.
After my last album, I just felt a little bit lost and I actually kind of lost the ability to write, which had never happened to me, ever. I’ve been writing since I was 11 and it was so jarring and I was like Okay, well where do I turn to? I didn’t feel great about um, the post-situation of my last album and I just, yeah, just felt super lost.
How did you get that ability back?
I realized the pressure was making it not enjoyable, and I find it hard to do things that aren’t fun. I went in the studio with my engineer — no pressure, no label — and just said, I’m going to make stuff for the fun of it. These songs only solidified when I would show up with the truth. If I tried to write conceptually, nothing would stick.
How do you make sure you’re being truthful when you write?
I have a very strong inner dialogue. As my therapist says, I’m “addicted to healing.” I’m always calling bullshit on myself because I want to be the best version. I don’t gaslight myself. I’ll ask the self in my head, “Is that actually how you feel? How would you say it to someone in person?” It doesn’t have to be clever all the time. I try to have a good bullshit meter on my own vibes.
