L.E.A.H On the Making Of “LVN (Loved, Valued and Needed)”
Is there a person/event that stimulated the creation of "LVN (Loved, Valued and Needed)?"
The inspiration for the song “LVN” came from just a few months ago recently. I was in a very dark place, doubting my existence and beauty in this world and I asked (well technically my heart screamed out) these two questions: Why do I exist? What do I bring that’s special to this world?
So fast forward (a few weeks) and these questions still weren’t answered, I wrote my exact feelings and emotions (no holdback, all raw and real) and that week, the questions were answered through my friends and loved ones. Even though they never knew (well they’ll know now ahaha) they created that space to allow me to be loved, just by being myself. No performance nor facades, I was just me and they came alongside me and reminded me of my worth and that I’m needed in this world as my beautiful self. That’s a snippet of the inspiration behind the song.
Was there any challenge that you encountered while making the track?
Oh Yeah A TON! All to do with getting out of your own head. When life has its unique way of bombarding you with all these emotions, I tend to push them all down and be in denial (the “IT’S FINE, I’M TOTALLY FINE” in the Ross from friends voice) you get all of these emotions and to be honest I didn’t want to release the song because I was so scared of expressing my real emotions when they were always hidden when I isolated myself and was worried that my fear of insecurity of not being accepted was at the forefront. But it hit me because there are other people out there who are either going through the same/similar themes or have gone through the trial on the other side. So I was able to overcome and think about how this test is my testimony when I come out of it (definitely a lot of healing and hard work, but choosing it every day, it’s worth the view) that’s my main struggle I faced during the creative process.
What impact do you hope this "LVN (Loved, Valued and Needed)" will have on your audience?
The impact I want the song to have is as a reminder to all those listening to be reminded how they are LOVED, VALUED and NEEDED in this world as their purest and authentic selves the way God created them to be. With all your quirks, hobbies and dreams, this is world needs that (or my translation, this is world needs your weirdo) meaning all the things that make you stand out, make you different, this world needs that to maintain this beauty with them (including me and YOU reading this) alive within it. Giving themselves full permission to love yourself wholeheartedly and graciously as we are all human and embracing that instead of trying to be perfect all the time (ooo that hit me as I talking this ahaha).
So that’s the reminder I want the song to carry and spread to those listening.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I’ve always been a creative person, whether through music, film, art; I’ve always loved storytelling in different art forms. Collecting inspirations from shows (like wrestling and cartoons) to real life experiences (learning and listening to other people) it’s always interesting and amazing to see life experiences through different cultures and admiring and appreciating the similarities through compassion and unity, we are all combined.
In regards of Music started pretty young, I was always making noise; making beats (consisting of tapping and hitting tables with a pencil or pen in my hand and pretending that it’s a drum) and starting sing properly more in High School, then 5 years ago I studied to become a studio engineer to understand more of how to record sounds and find my own sound in how I listen and how to organically record moments and create them as well through the influence of different genres and cultures worldwide. So that’s how my lens of how I see the world coming out more in an unfiltered and unapologetic way.
How do you translate your inspirations into musical ideas and compositions?
A lot of voice notes. Sometimes I would have a melody or lyrics in my head; take my phone out (kind of like Charlie Puth, little bit of humming and tapping the drums and where I would want them) and open my laptop for fun.
Sometimes I have to take a break when I don’t feel my creativity (if creativity has to be forced out, it’s not natural) or I would be listening to old classics; having a little dance (music blasting through my headphones) and carry on.
Also to you reading this, whatever life journey or career (music or not) if there’s something on your heart, your dream that brings you joy and love in its purest form, keep it at it and don’t let it go of it
No matter how buried down you’ve put it (believe me, this is something I’m working on myself, not letting doubt and insecurity become my identity and postcode) it will always resurface and remind you that your life is worth living and you carry that treasure into the world. That’s something so precious and special that only you can bring. That’s how you are LOVED, VALUED and NEEDED.