Interview: Enjoying the Sun with little luna

Interview & photos by Yising Kao

Read/Order our July issue featuring little luna on the cover HERE!

 little luna blends indie rock music inspired by the 70’s with her passion for meditation and nature. With tranquil melodies, her songs are groovy and uplifting. She has performed her first headlining show this year and recently performed at Wonderfront Festival, in addition to opening up for artists such as 5 Seconds of Summer, Jagwar Twin, and Steve Miller Band. little luna released her sophomore EP, the wildflower woman, earlier this year, a mesmerizing collection of songs about being vulnerable and celebrating yourself.

 

Congrats on releasing the wildflower woman EP! You’ve shared that your first EP through the self is about a journey of self-exploration, and that the wildflower woman EP is a continuation of the journey and rediscovering yourself. Did you go into this EP with this specific theme in mind? How did it all come together?

I think you hit the nail on the head. through the self is my first look as an artist, at really looking at myself in the mirror, trying to deconstruct who I’ve been and really allowing myself to be like, “Who am I? What do I want in this life?” the wildflower woman, it didn’t start out as an EP, but this collection of songs turned into it. Now that I’ve looked in the mirror a bit and done some deep self-work, I want to let myself bloom and blossom and that’s what the wildflower woman EP I think really is about how all of us are resilient like wildflowers. And life is just always changing and we are always changing. I think we often put ourselves into boxes of like, “This is who I am and this is what I want and this is what I know.” And the older I get, the more I realize that it’s continually changing. the wildflower woman is my ode to allowing yourself to just step into that and be like, “Yes, I've looked at myself, I am doing the self-work and I’m allowed to change. And I'm allowed to bloom and blossom and grow.

 

I love the way you express that and have these themes. They’re super inspiring for people need to hear that message.

 

Thank you. I mean, I write it for myself, in the hopes that it will also speak to others in the way that I need to hear it. I think most artists feel this way, but my songs are just my diary helping myself out.

 

You just released your new single “find your way back.” I feel like this song could be in a coming of age movie, I love the vibe of it!

Thank you, interesting you say that because that’s what I wrote it for! I wrote it in mind that it would be in a film or film trailer. And I released it only because it’s going to be in an episode of The Kardashians – they picked it up. They wanted it so I wanted to release it and put it out in the world, so anyone watching the show that liked the song could Shazam it, therefore finding me and my music! But I did write it with the intention of it being in a film.

 

I saw your post about that! I wanted to ask, can you tell me about your process writing this song?

My brain kind of goes into two different modes when I'm writing. Its either very focused on my 70s inspiration, Tegan and Sara, 90s adjacent to 70s, a lot of rock, a lot of guitar, a lot of strong female vocals. And my brain is either in that department when I'm writing, or my brain is in the department of big film emotions, hero’s journey. It still lines up with the other part of my brain of writing but the inspiration behind this was Viv, the friend that I made the song with. He had this gorgeous piano score and the words poured out of me very quickly. It felt to me, like it needed to be that big film. I keep saying “big” but that’s how it felt while writing it, and I think that’s how it sounds listening to it.

 

It’s super cinematic, like my brain automatically went like, “This has to be in a movie right now.”

 

And it absolutely can be. Just because it’s in an episode, doesn’t mean it can’t be used in a film or film trailer. And my whole background since I was a kid is acting so like, cinema and music to me are linked. It’s always been a goal of mine to have my music in TV shows and films, because I don’t think there’s anything more powerful than watching an actor emote while the right song is adding that magic to the scene.

 

Definitely, soundtracks can totally change how a scene is.

 

Absolutely, soundtracks, scores, Hans Zimmer, so good. I could talk about it all day.

 

I’m excited, I’ll definitely watch that episode for the song!

 

I’m excited too! I’m going to do a little watching party with some of my friends.

 

You should record your reaction.


Girl, you know I'm going to! I have truly no idea where it’s going to be in the episode so I can’t wait to see what drama’s going on with who, and what moment they’ve been like, “Yes, this is the moment for “find my way back.”

You also just released “bandaid” in May. Are you starting your new era of releasing singles and maybe an EP or album soon?

I’ve been releasing a song every six weeks since last year. I have not missed a window and that has been one of the biggest – the hardest undertakings, not making the music. I have music sitting on music sitting on music on my computer. But what it takes as an independent artist to get each song out at the level that I want it to sound, with visuals, with single art that’s inspiring - I want it to be the full package with the yoga flows that I do. So, I don’t necessarily have a next EP or album in mind, but I did it for the wildflower woman anyways. I'm not necessarily releasing thinking that it will or won’t be an EP next but I'm just going to be continually releasing music. “bandaid” was made in London and I think that that’s part of why it has a darker tone to it. I also have a lot of other songs that compliment that, but I just don’t think I'm going to put them out this year. They feel like next year’s songs.

 

That’s amazing that you're so dedicated to release a song every six weeks.

 

Yes, I'm pulling back for the six weeks for the next couple of weeks just because I love “bandaid” so much I want people to sit with it for longer. But there’s no shortage of music coming from me, and if it’s in single format or if its an EP or album, I already know what the next one’s called and I know what the theme of it is.

 

We’ll be ready to hear it then!

 

You recently performed at Wonderfront fest in San Diego  - what was that experience like? Did you get to see or meet any of your favorite artists?
Yes, so I got to perform at my first festival, which has been a huge bucket list goal of mine. I'm a festival girly through and through, if you’ve been to Coachella and you’ve seen some like, fairy floating through the grass, dirt, it’s me. And to play my own set and to be able to have my girl band up there just rocking, it was right by the water, it was so beautiful. I can’t wait to play more festivals. I'm hoping this is the first of many. And I was just there for the day that I played, so I didn’t get to meet any of my favorite artists, but I did get to see Dominic Fike’s set, which I’ve seen him before and he crushes it. And Carly Rae Jepsen, her set was top tier, Milky Chance, their set was wonderful. It just felt pretty iconic to see Weezer, I've never seen them live before. I didn’t get to meet anybody but I am such a music fan at heart, that just being in the audience is enough for me. I’ll meet other artists organically as I'm meant to in life.

That’s amazing and I'm sure you’ll get to play so many more festivals. This is just the start of it.

Thank you.

 

I watched your performance of "shift & go: cinematic" with The Space where dancers performed choreography with you on stage. It was such a beautiful performance and I love seeing songs expressed visually. How did that performance come together?

I feel the same way about it, everything that you just described. To have dancers moving around me while I'm singing was an opportunity I've never gotten to have before. A lot of my music, to me anyway, is like indie rock music. I don’t really picture dancers on stage, I'm not a popstar, I'm a rock girl. But I make cinematic versions that are very violin heavy, film-score inspired heavy, versions of my songs. And being able to do that performance made me think, in the future I would love to do a concert where it’s just cinematic versions and lots of candles or whatever we can do to not light the place on fire, and dancers for every song. So, it inspired just so much in me which ties into how it came about. The short version is, the incredible Mark Meismer choreographed a piece at The Space to my song, "shift & go: cinematic" and I got to do it live with them in Glendale at the Alex Theatre and like I said, just having the dancers beside me emoting - I kept joking with them and we had one rehearsal and I said, I can’t look at any of y’all or I will just be weeping. “shift & go” is the first song I’ve ever released and the cinematic version, because of all the violins, all the strings part played by Allie Stamler, who’s in my band and is one of my best friends. She writes all the violin parts for all the cinematic pieces and she was on stage with me. And the dancers were on stage and I'm like, “I can’t be looking around y’all, I'm going to be crying.” It was so powerful and I'm glad that Ryan Fleming, who’s an incredible videographer and photographer he filmed it so it’s up on my YouTube channel if you weren’t able to be there in person.

 

I love that and I’ve actually been to a candlelight concert for Taylor Swift. It was just all the orchestra versions, so I think you should definitely do something like that for your cinematic versions and add the dancers. That would be amazing.

Yep, exactly! We’ll just figure out the placement of candles and dancers and me, and that sounds like a dream.

 I’ve seen you perform live before when you opened up for 5 Seconds of Summer in Los Angeles and you have this really cool moment where you ask everyone to meditate – how did you first get into meditation and yoga? I know you’ve worked as a yoga instructor. And what was it like opening up for 5 Seconds of Summer in front of such a big crowd?

With yoga and meditation, I’ve been practicing and teaching on and off for, I don’t know, eight years now. And kind of like how my film background pours seamlessly into my music, I can’t help but put all of my loves together, like yoga and meditation are just a part of who I am. And my music is my life’s journey of who I am. So, there was not necessarily a moment where I was like “I should really tie yoga in and ask people to meditate.” It’s always just been intertwined for me.

As far as the show goes, I just actually really believe in the power of pausing for a moment, closing your eyes, taking a breath and recentering yourself. I really do think that we’re just little spirit beings in human bodies having this very big life experience and it’s so easy to not be present in it and be caught up in everything in your life that is not where you actually are. Like right now, I'm here with you doing this interview in the grass and that’s so exciting to me, that this is the moment we’re sharing. And I want to have that at every single concert. I want to be able to look at everyone in the crowd and scan and be like, “We’re here together right now.” So, especially as an opener, most people don’t know my music when I roll up. But whether you know me or not, we’re here sharing this moment together and I just want people to feel the most like, love and joy, that I can. Like, that’s my mission on stage. And so, taking that moment to just pause, I think grounds everyone, brings us together. Something I did at my EP release show and at Wonderfront Fest, was to have everyone visualize themselves laughing, happy, healthy, and in the sun, which ties into my song, “enjoy the sun.” But I just think that power of visualizing yourself in like, connecting to the present is the first step. The second step is visualizing your future as something that you want it to be even if it feels so unattainable. I just think it’s powerful and I've seen it in my own life. Yeah, I could go on about it forever. I think people can take manifestation or whatever and be like “Do this to receive this.” I don’t think it’s about that. I think it’s about the connection with yourself that you actually believe, like, brighter days are ahead of you, that you believe that.

And as far as opening up for 5SOS goes, the crowd was amazing and that’s why I would love to go on a full tour with them. They were my second and third shows ever of my entire life. I think there’s like 5,000 people there a night and everyone was so welcoming and performing on that stage with my girl band was electric and I hope I get to do it for the rest of my life.

 

That is so beautiful. I really think it’s especially important at shows because everyone’s glued to their phones and it’s chaotic, but take a moment to breathe. You’re surrounded by people with the same passions. I love that.

 

Totally, I feel that way from the hippie-dippie stance. Like, I just want everyone to be connected and loving and here and present. But I had several people dm me after the shows that they were in that moment experiencing high levels of anxiety because the show is chaotic, a lot of people camped out. You're waiting all day, you're hot and tired and then you're smushed together like sardines. It can be a very anxiety inducing situation. So, I think whether someone’s enjoying it from the benefit of being able to not launch into a panic moment, or they’re just floating and picturing themselves in the sun, I think that it can reach everyone in whatever way someone wants to receive it. That’s the other thing and what feels so fun about making music is like, I don’t need anyone to like my music or to agree with what I'm doing. I know what I'm doing and I know my people are out there, I just gotta find them.

 

I love that, you’re just making music for yourself, and people will just naturally connect with it.

 

Thank you.

For your song “wildflower woman,” you’ve shared that it’s about how wildflowers are delicate and beautiful yet resilient and that it’s about everyone who’s celebrating who they are. How do you connect your passion for nature with your songwriting? I love the metaphors and the message to everyone!

I think that we are one with nature. So, the wildflower is just the perfect example. And like you said and like I've said, these flowers grow on the highway with semi-trucks flying by them, and that is what life feels like a lot of the time. But they’re still rooted and they’re still soft and don’t become hard. We go through so many painful Earth lessons that it is way easier to become hard and closed off, and protected. And in some seasons of life, I do think we do have to kind of draw inward, whatever, to survive. But outside of survival mode, we just are wildflowers. If we can somehow navigate all the pain and still remain soft and open and interested in other people, and interested in genuine kindness with other people, I kind of think that’s it. Like, that feels it for me. That’s what we’re doing here on Earth. We’re just learning our little lessons and trying not to be hardened by them, and in turn, being like, expanded by them. And when we die, which we all will, hopefully at least I’ll just speak for myself, I’ll just have so much expansion through all of the pain that I went through. And I’ll be able to look back at my life and be like “Yeah, I did that.”

 

That’s such a beautiful message for your listeners, like people who haven’t listened to you, they can be like I love this metaphor and it’s all about just celebrating who you are and discovering yourself.


Thank you.

 

You have “garden (guided meditation)” on your album. Would you ever create an album of just guided meditations? But you did mention you want to make more cinematic versions.

The meditations that I have on each EP are 25 minutes and then on my YouTube channel I have a ten-minute guided meditation for sleep and box breathing for anxiety and like a few other things. So, I don’t know if I would put out an album of just guided meditations, but I would love to put out an album of meditation music that perhaps has a couple guided meditations on it. For that, I feel like I would need to collaborate with someone who’s really passionate about making - I mean you could meditate to any music, but really just like making mediation music, I’d love to collaborate with someone on that and make it a really thorough body of work for people. As far as the cinematics go, eventually there will be an album where it’s just all the cinematic versions just so that everyone could rinse it front to back. Maybe put it out on vinyl, I think that would be cool. Would love to have any of my music on vinyl. In the short term, the guided meditations I have out now are what I want for people to absorb from me until I have a good co-creating partner that could do a full-length album on the music side.

 

There’s this app, I forgot what it’s called but some artists have done some music for meditation and for sleep.

 

It’s Calm.

 

Yeah!

 

I have tried to get on that app. Calm, if you’re seeing this, listen, it’s not too late to open my email. Have little luna be a part of Calm! I’ve tried and I’ll just keep trying.

 

It’ll happen, manifesting.

 

Headspace, any of them.

Another thing I love is that you’ve directed and conceptualized your music videos and visualizers – what’s your favorite part of directing? I know for “fool” you wanted to have an all-female cast and crew which is amazing. So, what’s your favorite part about collaborating with others and directing and thinking of those concepts?

I usually do direct my own music videos, but for “fool,” PennyWild directed it because she heard the demo, and we were sitting at a coffee shop a year prior to the song coming out. And she said, “if you ever make a music video for this song, I have to direct it.” And I said “Ok” and then I was ready to do the video, and said “Tell me your treatment. What are you thinking?” And it’s always a collaboration but for that one, it was really special to let her take the reins. Whenever I'm directing, my first favorite part about it is that I try to as best as I can, bring in people so that everyone can be doing their superpower. And I think that when you're able to hire people to do their superpower, everything turns out better. So, on an indie budget, I'm always wearing multiple hats, so are pretty much everyone that I hire. But I do try to space it up so that people can show up and do what they're really passionate about and I think that translates into the final product - Rather than trying to make someone wear a bunch of hats they’re not comfortable with or in the know of. My second favorite part of directing is that I try to surround myself with people who help me get the shots. My DP, Gabe Kimpson, is amazing and my videos even with me directing, wouldn’t look like they would without him, and my creative partner Jade Ehlers is my companion in everything creative. My favorite part is being able to hire everyone, bring everyone to set, be like, “Here’s the vision,” and help execute it. I don’t play sports, but I do feel like directing or being the lead singer and hiring a band is like, the position of leadership that I feel comfortable in and really enjoy. My other favorite part about directing is that I get to sneak in all of these little symbols and color coordination, and things that mean a lot to me. And one day, maybe they’ll mean something to the fans that find the little hidden easter eggs. But I think that that stuff is just so fun ‘cause one day I'm going to be old and wrinkly. And I’ll get to watch these videos back and be like, “Oh yes, there’s that book that I read in 6th grade that I loved that I snuck into the shot or whatever it was that inspired me at the time.”

 

That’s amazing and honestly, there should be more all-female crews.

Yeah, the industry is opening up for women on set. Theres also a lot of misogyny still happening on set and in the DJ world. And this isn’t new news and you don’t need me to tell you that, but what’s fun about my sets is that I'm the leader. So, I'm caring about everyone on set, regardless of gender, and I’m just trying to make it a positive environment. And I think that also goes back to being a child actor. I am very fortunate that I got to have pretty positive experiences on set. I have also witnessed just horrendous sets where people are in a bad mood, people are screaming at each other and that’s just not what I want to participate in.

 

Yeah, the director definitely sets the tone of everything.

Agreed, yeah, you’re steering the ship.

 

Do you have any upcoming projects we can look forward to?

The first thing, is that my music’s going to be in The Kardashians. I am so excited to see what happens with that.

 

Did the show reach out to you to write a song?

The ins and outs are a bit tedious to go through. I'm assuming the music supervisor on the show heard my song from a company I work with that pitches my songs to music supervisor to get them placed into TV shows and films. And that song just scratched the itch for what they needed. So, I'm excited that’s coming out and I'm excited that my music gets to be exposed to that whole fanbase The Kardashians have built, which is an incredibly large fanbase. And then just new music, continually and more yoga flows for my music. I feel like people are like, “Stay tuned” and they don’t actually mean it, but I actually mean it. I have so much to give and I just hope I keep getting to give it.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

What’s a song you wish you wrote?

“Sunset” by Carolina Polachek.

Since you love the 70s, do you have any favorite movies from around that era?

I mean, I feel like it’s a sin if I don’t say Almost Famous. I’m literally in the Penny Lane coat as we speak.

What artist would you love to go on tour with?

I wanna go on a full tour with 5 Seconds of Summer. I got to do two shows with them and it was so magical, and their fanbase is some of the best people I’ve ever met, so I wanna do a full tour with them!

If you were the ruler of another planet, what would you make the first law be for everyone?

I actually have thought about this but not being the ruler, that’s too much pressure. I always say If I had a superpower, mine would be making people understand that are having a miscommunication. So, two people, I often see them talking and they’re both saying different things. And I just want to help people be like “Oh, I disagree with you, but I understand what you’re saying, like I see you and I get you.” That would be my like, golden rule, I make everyone try to learn.

What’s your favorite 5SOS song?

That’s such a good question. It’s so stereotypical but I just love “Youngblood” and I really want to do a cover of it at some point with my tambourine.

 

Stay updated with little luna!

https://linktr.ee/littlelunamusic






 






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