Indie Songstress LOREN NORTH Opens Up About Her Debut EP And More!

Indie pop songstress Loren North recently released her debut EP “Starlight.”  This mesmerizing collection of vibe heavy pop tunes, all co-written by North, pull from North’s own personal experiences expressing just how easily one can be fully consumed by something or someone. The first single off the EP Feel It Out immediately connected with listeners upon its release reaching Top 10 on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart and US Viral Chart. Additionally, the track has been added to various Spotify official playlists including Fresh Finds & Viral Hits.

Learn more about Loren in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Now that we are well into the fall of 2016, what are some words you would use to describe this year? What have been some of the highlights for you and your music? 

Of course! Thanks for interviewing me. Exhilarating. STRETCHING. I traveled quite a bit at the beginning of the year, but really locked myself down in LA to finish up this EP and the music videos this last half of the year. There are so many factors involved and I really have learned a lot about myself through the process.

Some of the biggest highlights: watching the music come alive, and also getting to shoot music videos. It’s so incredible being able to pull a visual concept together for your songs.

Growing up, did you all always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

OH YES. I grew up in a big gospel church and sang a lot in the church growing up (and still do). One of my first singing experiences was at 6 years old singing a solo in front of 2,000 people. I remember the feeling I had SO clearly when singing that song, and that feeling is something I never wanted to give up.

What did it feel like to finally release your debut EP, “Starlight”? How long had you been working on it? Where did the inspiration for these songs come from? 

I was a little numb. There was SO much work that went into it that it almost didn’t even feel real when the music was finally out. I would say the whole process, along with finding my sound, took about two years. That won’t be the case with the future, but yeah – this first initial time was a journey. A lot of the inspiration was from real experiences I had. I wasn’t writing just to write.

I understand that this collection of music is based on a lot of your personal experiences. What was it like writing about them? Was it therapeutic and helpful in a way to get it all out there? 

Oh, so therapeutic. It made me appreciate the experiences I went through more.

What was it like making the video for your single “Feel It Out”? How creatively involved were you with the making of it?

Embryo, the director for this video, and I are SO in-sync. The process was unreal, and I got to be super involved. From styling, to aesthetic, to even editing. Most directors wouldn’t be cool with you sitting in on the editing sessions after shooting, but Embryo insisted I did and I was so happy about that. It was about a 15-hour sit down time, but worth it because I learned a lot while being apart of that process.

When do you hope to release a full-length album of your music? Are you already working on it?

I don’t want to speak too soon, but it would be so amazing to release a full-length this coming year. It’s definitely all in the thoughts and works.

With all the artists here in LA, how do you separate yourself from them all and really stand out?

I think being very particular about what you put out. Does it speak to who you are and what you want people to receive you as? I just am who I am. I definitely think, or at least hope, people see that the way I have branded myself as an artist is who I am as a person in real life. I’m really not in the game of trying to be someone I’m not, and I think that authenticity is what connects people to you.

What if anything has surprised you about the music industry? What do you think has been your biggest challenge? And what do you think has come really naturally to you? 

I’m learning that things are never guaranteed. You can have something come your way that is so exciting and great, but sometimes those things end up falling through. I’m learning to not get my hopes too high initially, and to be okay with things not always working out. If one thing doesn’t come together, it’s okay because something else will.

Who are some of your favorite artists and what bands continue to inspire you and your music? Who would you still love to work with in the future? 

Ahhh, I freaking love Andrew Belle, Matt Corby, Brooke Fraser, Allen Stone, so many different types of artists and styles that inspire me whether it’s lyrically, sounds they use in productions, etc.

I’ve kind of always said I want to work with John Mayer someday, that would be an interesting collab. He seems so chill and funny. :p

When you aren’t performing, working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun? How do you unwind from it all? 

MAKING MY WORLD FAMOUS COOKIES.

Sorry…. that was aggressive. They aren’t really world famous, BUT they’re pretty great and I’ve got that recipe down to a science. I also love vintage/consignment shopping. *insert praise hands*

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

For this particular EP, just freedom from hardship honestly. When you connect with a song and feel you can relate to what the artist has gone through, there’s something that happens in you. You can hold on to that song to help you through your own situation, even if it’s just knowing you’re not going through it alone.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

I talked a lot above, and hopefully you got a good taste of who I am and my experiences. Keep pursuing your heart’s desires and passions. You owe yourself that much. <3