Having only released his debut EP Melancholy in May, Sydney based 20 year old singer -songwriter Chris Lanzon has made a name for himself and is definitely one to watch. Chris saw immense success in his first EP gaining streams of more than 400,000 and a dedicated fan base across social media. He is entirely an independent artist who isn’t afraid to break boundaries, and make music that is authentic and tells compelling stories. The first single “Everest” from his highly anticipated new sophomore project transcends genre and traditional pop structure, the song invites listeners to embark on a unique journey with Chris through the trials of self-doubt and life’s challenges. He wrote, produced, and mixed this track all by himself, as well as creating the artwork and visuals for it.
We recently got the chance to chat with Chris about “Everest”, the process behind making the new album, and more so check out our interview below!
1. Hey! Appreciate you taking the time to chat. For those who may not know who you are give us a little background on yourself.
Thanks for having me! I’m a 20-year-old artist, songwriter and producer from Sydney, Australia and I make music in my bedroom studio. I’ve been passionate about music since I was a kid, and growing up I posted singing videos on YouTube, busked down at the local beach, participated in some music competitions and played in a band for a couple of years. However, I only started to release my own music at the start of this year. It’s been exciting to write and produce my own material and get it out for the world to hear, and the response so far has been more than I could have hoped. I can’t wait to create and release more!
2. We’re in some weird times, how has quarantine been treating you? What are some things that have been keeping you sane?
It has been pretty strange. Although it’s such an uncertain and scary time, I guess it’s comforting to know that the whole world is in the same boat? To be honest, I already spent most of my days in my studio writing and recording music before COVID-19, so quarantine hasn’t affected that side of things too much. But I have been struggling a bit with cabin fever, and it has sucked not being able to play any shows. I’ve started going on afternoon walks and meditating from time to time. That helps me keep a clear head, and not go crazy from being inside all day.
3. You’re gearing up to release new music by the end of the year, what can we expect from it?
Bigger and better! Looking back at my first project “Melancholy”, it was exactly that: melancholic. It was chill and sad, which I think worked for the story I wanted to tell, but with this next lot of music I am excited to expand beyond that. A lot of my songwriting is still super introspective, personal and vulnerable, but my aim is to explore my feelings in a more upbeat and exciting way.
4. How would you describe your music in three words?
Introspective, cinematic, relatable.
5. Your new single “Everest” is a brilliant track full of so much emotion, what was the story behind that song?
Thanks so much! It was actually one of the songs I wrote during quarantine, and touches on a number of feelings I was and have been experiencing lately. Mainly it’s about a desire to leave behind all you know in pursuit of somewhere better, because where you’re at right now feels so overwhelming and you can’t find a way out. I think that’s something a lot of us have felt through this year. I wanted to grab all those feelings, bottle them up, and let them go.
6. The visuals for “Everest” are bold and dreamy with a lot of red and blue hues, how did you come up with the ideas for the visuals?
I knew I wanted the artwork to capture the nature of the song. With “Everest” as the main lyrical metaphor, it felt fitting to have a mountainous landscape as part of the visuals. So, I set out for the nearest mountains to my home, known as the Blue Mountains, where I took the photograph that became the artwork. I edited the colours to have that red and blue hue as, for some reason, I always associated the song with the colour “red”. Also, a red mountain landscape is rather abstract, and I feel that represents that the desire for “somewhere new” I sing about is unrealistic, unreachable. That a “better place” doesn’t actually exist. Dark, I know… Haha.
7. Which song or project of yours are you most proud of?
It’s hard to say! So far I’ve only released one full project, plus “Everest”. As a body of work, I think I’m most proud of my debut “Melancholy” as that was such a cohesive and intensive story that I put a lot of heart into. Especially the short film I created to go with the music. But for a song, “Everest” is my favourite thing I’ve released, for sure.
8. Is there a moment or memory in your life that you always want to hold onto? Or a moment that has taught you a lot?
I’m sure there are many moments – but nothing specific comes to mind straight away. I think where I am at right now is just trying to learn and grow every single day as much as possible. I am open to change and excited to adapt to everything that comes across my path, and constantly seeking opportunities to learn something new and apply it to my life. This proactive approach to living has been teaching me a lot.
9. What music have you been jamming to lately? Favorite artists?
Phoebe Bridgers. She’s insane, the best voice I have ever heard. Also, Jeremy Zucker is a sick songwriter and producer doing some great things at the moment. Super inspiring. Those are top 2 right now. There’s many more, but mainly I’m loving all the new artists of this generation coming up. Holly Humberstone, Thomas Headon, Gracie Abrams, Nick Ward, Blake Rose – to name a few… And I’m lucky to call a couple of those my friends!
10. Lastly, once this whole quarantine is over, what is one thing you can’t wait to go out and do again? (Thanks again for your time!)
Playing! Shows! It’s all I can think about. I can’t wait to play my first ever headline show. Hopefully not too long.
Thanks again for having me!
