INTERVIEW WITH... BRITISH UPSTART SINGER LIA RYE


Lia Rye is the captivating eighteen year Singer-Songwriter coming out of London bringing her brooding and soulful artistry to a multi-genre sound. A sound kicked up by rich vocals and her many layered music tastes. Which she champions in music now, no one genre, no borders, and most importantly as a Black woman breaking free from what’s is typically expected of us. I chat with Lia below about her new single and more…


THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hi, Lia! Thanks for taking the time out. How did you each get your start in music? Was it something that you always felt called to?

LIA RYE: Hey! Thanks for having me :) I always loved singing from a young age, so carrying on with it felt like a natural progression. I wouldn’t say it was a calling, it was just continuing something which I love to do.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How do you think studying at The Brit School has helped you in as you begin to shape your career?

LIA RYE: I think I can firmly say that without going to the school, I wouldn’t have released my first single at the time that I did. I’ve met amazing musicians which have helped me out and inspired me along the way. My peers have helped to shape my career, as their help allowed me to set off properly.

Hi THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can we talk about the recording, creative, and writing process for your forthcoming EP ‘Fever Dream’?

LIA RYE: Fever Dream is a highlight reel of songs written between the ages of 12 and 17. In terms of the writing process, there wasn’t really a methodical process behind it. My songs are narratives explaining how an individual perceives the world around them. I find that the stories come quite easy to me, it’s just about creating the instrumentation around them. I had made my own demos for all of the songs on the EP, so it was mostly about how to make the parts sound better and adding in anything that was missing. I had a really clear vision of what I wanted things to sound, so coming prepared helped a lot. I recorded 4/5 songs on the EP in 2021, so it took years for some of these songs to be realized in their full potential.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: If you were to describe your sound in only three words. What words would you choose?

LIA RYE: Eclectic. Alternative. Reflective.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What was the first artist that you listened to that made you want to be an artist?

LIA RYE: Pffff I don’t think I could pinpoint that. I just wanted to be an artist through my own volition because I liked to sing aha. However I’d say the first artist who inspired me was Lady Gaga.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is one album that you can listen to over and over?

LIA RYE: Melodrama by Lorde. An honourable mention to SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?

LIA RYE: Erm I’m going with who my brain is thinking of right now and that's Miley Cyrus. The short answer as to why is because she’s iconic. ATTENTION: MILEY LIVE was crazy!! She’s just got every single aspect on point.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: If you were to put one of your lyrics in a message in a bottle for the ocean which lyric would you choose?

LIA RYE: I had to open my notes for this one. This isn’t even a song yet but its one of my most recent lyrics:

‘I’m not materialistic but when your notion of self is fictitious, how can reality mean anything to e me?'

-Lia Rye

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s your earliest music memory?

LIA RYE: This is so random, but probably singing and rapping ‘Airplanes’ by B.O.B ft Hayley Williams in my v primary school playground with my friend.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What's the best piece of advice another musician has given you?

LIA RYE: How important the business side of music is and that doing everything yourself isn't sustainable.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Lastly, I’d like to end with what music and the craft of songwriting mean to you?

LIA RYE: Music and the craft of songwriting mean power to me. The way in which you can craft meanings through your music and influence emotions is such a special unexplainable thing. I’m grateful I have the ability to do that, as it acts as a release for myself and others.


LIA RYE | SOCIALS


// TIK TOK // INSTAGRAM //

https://open.spotify.com/track/69QpPuCPmqWcmPkKhGpxar?si=9zFCgzpdQk-YQ-4HQ1L6fg



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