Lanlin

[Interview with Lanlin, 2023]

E: I’m so curious about the name “Lanlin,” What does it mean? Why is it your artist name instead of Charlotte?

C: It's my middle name. It’s my grandma's name, from my Dad’s side,  and it means orchid forest in Chinese. And yeah, I just love it. I remember when people would ask me what my name was when I was younger, I always wanted to make sure I included my middle name too because it's like, my favorite part of my name. I remember thinking “I wish my first name was Lanlin.”  I think Charlotte Zhang is a really common name. Actually, I was just being interviewed for a job at a frozen yogurt shop, and she was like, “Your name is Charlotte Zhang? Because there's our other store in Santa Monica. We have an employee named Charlotte Zhang.” So I was like, okay, I need to release stuff under “Lanlin,” I think it’s good that I have some other name, like a stage name.

E: I think that's really cool since it’s not a common name. I mean artists have been releasing music under pseudonyms, like Lady Gaga [Laughs]. The meaning behind it is so unique and intimate. (beat) Ok so I listened to your album. Me and Mia listened to it together, actually, and it was insane. I usually don't listen to that type of music, but something about your album was just addicting. It truly is genius. I was on a plane to Boston, and no joke I kept playing it on repeat. I couldn’t stop, I still can’t [Laughs] I just really love your music. How did that all start? Creating music, writing, recording, etc.

C: I really don't remember what was going through my head. When I was 14, I released a couple of songs on my SoundCloud. I've always been writing songs and stuff. We have this friend named Dino Herrmann, and he's a producer.  I've just known him all my life. He let me record one of my demos; It was just piano and my voice and I immediately put it on SoundCloud. I remember being like, “Oh my god, this is going to go so viral!” It was so much fun. My dad has a lot of friends from China who are his childhood friends. So he sent a demo of mine to them, and they all crowdfunded me to record an album, which first started in 2020. The first song I recorded was Eye of Angel, and it was originally called Chariot. So whenever I want to say the name of the song, I always first have to remember it's not Chariot anymore. And then yeah, we just kept going and it took such a long time, like three years.  It's good to be a perfectionist.  It's tough because you're like, how much of being a perfectionist is necessary and how much should you let slip by as part of the beauty of music? 

E: Yeah definitely. So, I want to talk a little bit about your lyrics because your lyrics are so beautiful. They're poetic. I was listening to them, and I was like wait, if I just read this, it would definitely come out of a poetry book. And I love that.  What inspires your lyrics? When you look at something, are you like “Damn, that’s cool, I want to write about it.”

C: I think it's definitely different for each song. I definitely have developed the way that I like writing.  I remember when I was younger, I thought the only way to write a song was to just let it come out of me completely naturally. I thought editing my song would somehow make it not a song that was written, but too academic or whatever. But speaking of poetry, I did get into poetry a lot over Quarantine. I started thinking of song lyrics as something you really spend a lot of time on, and be super intentional about all the words. I also have huge songwriting inspirations. My three biggest ones right now are Adrian Lanker from Big Thief, Fiona Apple and Leonard Cohen. I really love thinking of words. There are so many words, but there is always that one word that's the right word. I think my Notes app is a mess, but it’s great for me. 

E: Ugh, I love Leonard Cohen. Songs From A Room is just… 

C: Genius

E: Genius. So, I’ve noticed that all your friends are musicians. Like Adam, Nico, Chelsea, etc. I know you've collaborated with a few of them. How is being able to talk to your friends about music? Or collaborate with them on their own stuff or yours?

C: I didn't even realize that all of my friends are musicians.  I think we kind of subconsciously were just, like, drawn to each other. It's really fun because then it's like everyone's kind of doing their own projects, but then we also work together. Going to art school  is really awesome. I think we forget it since things like (insert your least favorite teacher here)  are just so painful [Laughs] We really are just given so many opportunities that aren't even presented to us as like, being someones friend, but then you realize that you're on their album or, like, you made a song with them. Then you see other people be passionate about something, and it kind of inspires you to be passionate about it, too. Making all these friends will last me, and I'll be able to ask them to be on future recordings and stuff, which is really fun.

E: I get that. As much as I’m like “Ugh, school.” I love to walk down the hallway during our arts period. I can hear the Jazz band playing, and right across the door is Opera singing. I have to stop for a bit and take it all in. I love to hear passionate people.

C: I don’t know if it’s just this generation, I feel like people are embarrassed sometimes to care deeply about something. But when you see people care so much about what they love, it's like, wow, that's so awesome.

E: I guess we do have the advantage of going to an art school and stuff, since we have so many talented people. Sometimes it's like, how do they do that? I see them eating lunch, and they can do that? What?! It’s insane. 

C: Omg yeah. 

E: Going back to your album, what was the main idea of it all? Did you kind of have a plan for it? Or was it more like, I just have this feeling, I’m going to write about it. 

C: I didn't know what a concept album was until last year. It's not really a concept album. When I wrote these songs, they were all coming from a time where I really just had no idea of anything. All of these songs are me writing from a point where I finally understood something I didn’t before. It’s like I'm still looking up into something that's very unknown, which is why I chose to call it This Wind I’m Carried By. It’s me saying, “ I'm floating and I’m completely naive!” This is what’s carrying me, essentially. Every song off the album will always come back to that feeling. The naiveness. Even, like,  “Melon Tree,” which is very magical and fantastical. It's like a dream that isn't real. I think the fact that it is a fantasy makes me wonder, why isn't it real? Can I make it real?  Actually when I wrote it, I was so sad.  And It’s one of my happiest songs ever. So, yeah, I don't think I'd be able to write a song as imaginative in such a happy place if I wasn’t so sad at the time. 

E: I think that's so interesting. Especially since when people are at their lowest, that's when they tend to think of the highest thing possible, if that makes any sense. Yeah, a lot of people don't realize that just making stuff up makes you feel better.

C: Yeah, for sure. It did make me feel better. 

E: Sometimes I make things up in my head and I forget they're not real. I make up scenarios that didn't even happen. And I'm retelling my day to my mom, then I’m like, oh, wait, I lied. I completely lied. I don’t even realize it. It’s small things I lie about too. Like a conversation with someone I don’t even know. I feel like that sounds kind of insane. But it’s what I wish would happen.

C: And honestly, what even is the difference between reality and something that is pretty real to you?

E: Yes! Exactly.

C: It’s so surreal. 

E: I have one more question left: What's next? What's the future looking like? I don’t want to pry, is there a new album coming?

C: I was talking to my friend yesterday. I have a list of songs that I want to make into another album. I probably have around 15 songs that are in this category of angsty, relationships and stuff,  having never been in one. So I kind of want to make somewhat of a rock album.

E: That would be so cool. 

C: Not like a rock album, but that sort of something someone can listen to in the car. I'm really happy about my first album, but I am aware that it's not the kind of music you listen to while you're in the car, or in the background, you know? Some music is just very full. I feel like my music needs a lot of attention to listen to it just because there isn't much going on. So I want to make an album that's a little more fun. I could have a lot of fun recording all my “angsty” songs. And then I have songs that I want to make for a third album. [Laughs]

E: That's so great that you have a plan. I will be listening to every single album, letting you know. I love that you're kind of, I guess, going in a different direction. I love angst. It’s so fun.

C: I can go all the directions, and still be the same musician. 

E: There’s no limit!

C: No limit. 

E: A lot of artists kind of get stuck in one genre, but it shouldn't have to be that way because people change. You're not just going to be stuck to one thing for the rest of your life. You're going to move on, you're going to do this, you can do that. So I think exploring different genres, trying out new things, and also just being true to yourself is so important.

C: The core of you will always still shine through. Even if you're doing a completely different style, you can still feel that it's their music. And that's what good music is.