Interview with LP - New Album Churches

Interview with Singer Songwriter LP

I was thrilled to chat with LP (stage name for Laura Pergolizzi), who is not only well known for their own music releases – you definitely have heard their songs, written for the likes of Cher, Rihanna, Backstreet Boys, Leona Lewis, Mylène Farmer, Céline Dion and Christina Aguilera. I was able to photograph LP the last time they were in Denver, and their next stop here will be April 21st at Mission Ballroom (full tour schedule below). Churches is the latest of six albums, released in late 2021, and is 15-songs long. Fifteen! At least a pandemic delay was good for one thing… more music from LP.

Interview with LP - Singer Songwriter - New Album Churches Interview with LP - Singer Songwriter - New Album Churches


Interview with LP

Aimee:

I have to admit, I am nervous talking to you, because I am a big fan of your music, but also seeing you live the last time you were in Denver was mind-blowing. I know you are very respected as a songwriter, but can you tell me a little bit about how it is performing those songs live?

LP:

Yeah, playing live is… People say, “What do you like better?” And I don’t know. It’s a cyclical thing for me. If I had to stay writing songs forever and not performing, I’d be like, “Wow.” Right now, I just got back from this tour in South America and I’m already… I was writing last night, I have a writing session today, but I’m still kind of transitioning into the full-on performance mode. I could do both, but I do love playing live because that’s really when you get to see what you did, you know?

Aimee:

Right, and how people react to it.

LP:

Yeah. And it’s what people are really digging and also even what people know. I mean, I had this one huge hit [“Lost On You,” which reached number one in 18 countries] that really kind of was my launch and my pinprick into the system in a way. But when I play my shows, I never feel like anyone’s waiting for that song. It’s like everyone’s singing the whole time. And it’s fun when we get to that song, but it’s a complete experience on the whole. I like connecting with people that way.

Aimee:

So, you’re coming here to Denver next week. We have a new ballroom, Mission Ballroom, which is a terrific venue. Do you have any experiences of being in Denver before that you could share?

LP:

Yeah. You know, I think I stayed to a house near Denver on a ski slope or some shit before. This person, one of the agents or something, that booked some shows, had a house there and gave it to me to stay. I remember it was a pretty sad time because it was before my girlfriend and I broke up and I was not in the best place.

Aimee:

Well, I hope this time is better for you, then.

LP:

No. Anyway… Denver kind of feels like…you know, it almost feels like nothing bad could ever happen in Denver. You know?

Aimee:

I love that you feel that way.

LP:

You like that? “Nothing bad ever happens in Denver.” A T-shirt for sure.

Aimee:

Exactly! So, you released the album Churches late last year. Can you tell me about the album?

LP:

You know, it’s nice and not that nice that I had no choice but to straddle the pre-pandemic, during-pandemic thing with this album. But it is interesting. Some songs exist because I had more time to make the album, and some songs changed course here and there. The song, “One Last Time” was an example of one that started in an exuberant place. It was on a break between tours in Greece in the summer of 2019 when I started writing it, and then had another writing session, two weeks of writing songs in Mexico and Cabo. And then in 2020, we found out that everything’s going sideways and I finished the song. So by then, I was watching people say goodbye to loved ones via FaceTime, stuff like that, and it kind of obviously deeply affected all of us.

Aimee:

Sounds like you felt it personally too?

LP:

I’ve dealt with loss of parents and friends and all that stuff. It just made me write about cherishing those moments with people because you’re going to wish you had “one last time” many times. Even if it’s just a breakup sometimes, we have to realize the brevity and the fleetingness of life in general. I feel like, for whatever situation, because of the pandemic, that song got more rife with meaning for me. Stuff like that. There’s a lot of shit like that. Yeah.

Aimee:

Yeah. And then I’ve seen quite a few of your videos. They’re very beautiful and cinematic. I mean, do you find that’s a good medium to express yourself as well?

LP:

Yeah. I mean, making videos like “One Last Time” are just so fun. I felt like that it’s definitely for myself and for the fans, and doing that one with my friend, Jamie King was great. Stephen Schofield, the director, he has such a beautiful eye. I love the inherent drama in music and I write about it. And then you have a video, I kind of like being direct sometimes with videos.

Aimee:

Sure. And then obviously you’ve also have been a songwriter for like Cher and Rihanna and Celine Dion. Do you like having that duality in your life?

LP:

Well, I think that it’s a break from myself. I mean, with songs, like the Celine Dion song that was just on her last record – I wrote that for myself. So, it was just in a holding tank for this record, but I wasn’t ultimately using it. Then I get to hear Celine Deon sing it. And I think I always want to keep that. In fact, I’m writing with some artists, some big pop artists today. And it’s just, it’s fun to kind of cut out of my own bullshit for a second.

Aimee:

That makes sense. And I know that many people look up to you for you just being yourself and…

LP:

As if I have a choice.

Aimee:

Right, exactly. I mean…

LP:

Woke up… it’s me again. [laughs]

Aimee:

Right. [laughs] But, you know what I mean. I hate to use the word icon. I feel like it gets tossed around. But do you feel pressure or…

LP:

I mean, the pressure that I’ve felt more so is when my personal life is being a bit questioned, as far as how I am to my significant others or whatever. Because that’s really not anyone’s business. I mean, you barely know what goes on between your parents half the time. You think you know what goes on with some random musician? But other than that, I mean, I’m happy if I helped anyone feel better about what’s possible. I think that’s the biggest thing. I mean, I think as soon as you lay eyes on me, you’re not like, “Oh yeah, that was easy.” Someone like me succeeding at all in the music business. If someone looks at that and it helps them move forward, it’s good.

Aimee:

Right. That’s great. One last question. Again, I know the last couple years have been really hard, but is there anything that you found new and joyful that came out of your pandemic experience, that you enjoy doing?

LP:

I’m trying to… Just to remember, again… not to be too doom and gloom… but I remember that shit is fleeting. I can’t believe that many people have come out this being less accepting. What is up?! If anything, I’m way more accepting. What are you shooting for here? To you have a world full of the exact same person you are? Gross, for one. I adapted, you know what I mean? I’m just kind of holding on to being kinder to people, in general, because I don’t know how much time I got. I’m happy I’m doing music and I’m lucky. I mean, I wish I could have told you I found a hidden talent during pandemic. Although, I did keep up with a consistent skill that I can drink the shit out of some wine, for sure. In that, I’m unbeatable. I really enjoy it. So yeah, that’s it. It’s my worldly wisdom to impart. There’s not enough wine in the world enough for me… And be kind.

Interview with LP - Singer Songwriter - New Album Churches


LP Tour Dates in 2022

^ with Nick Leng

03/31 – Anfiteatro Del Parque de la Exposición – Lima, Peru
04/14 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR, USA ^
04/15 – The Orpheum – Vancouver, BC, Canada ^
04/16 – The Paramount Theatre 2779 – Seattle, WA, USA ^
04/17 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR, USA ^
04/19 – The Union Event Center – Salt Lake City, UT, USA ^
04/21 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO, USA ^
04/22 – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland – Kansas City, MO, USA ^
04/23 – Palace Theatre – Saint Paul, MN, USA ^
04/24 – The Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL, USA ^
04/26 – HISTORY – Toronto, ON, Canada ^
04/28 – State Theatre – Portland, ME, USA ^
04/29 – Place Bell – Laval, QC, Canada ^
04/30 – House of Blues – Boston, MA, USA ^
05/01 – The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA, USA ^
05/03 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY, USA ^
05/04 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY, USA ^
05/06 – The Anthem – Washington, DC, USA ^
05/07 – The Fillmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC, USA ^
05/08 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC, USA ^
05/10 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA, USA ^
05/11 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN, USA ^
05/13 – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q – Austin, TX, USA ^
05/14 – House of Blues – Houston, TX, USA ^
05/15 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX, USA ^
05/17 – The Historic El Rey Theater – Albuquerque, NM, USA ^
05/18 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ, USA ^
05/20 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA, USA ^
05/21 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA, USA ^
05/22 – SOMA – San Diego, CA, USA ^
05/27 – Teatro Diana – Guadalajara, MX
05/28 – Auditorio Pabellon M – Monterrey MX
05/30 – Auditorio Nacional – Mexico City
06/05 – Salle Pleyel – Paris, France
06/06 – Salle Pleyel – Paris, France
06/08 – O2 Apollo Manchester – Manchester, United Kingdom
06/10 – O2 Academy Glasgow – Glasgow, United Kingdom
06/11 – O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham, United Kingdom
06/12 – Leeds O2 Academy – Leeds, United Kingdom
06/13 – Eventim Apollo – London, United Kingdom
06/15 – De Roma – Antwerp, Belgium
06/17 – Hurricane Festival – Scheessel, Germany
06/18 – Southside Festival – Neuhausen, Germany
06/19 – Stadspark Live – Groningen, Netherlands
06/21 – Melkweg – Amsterdam, Netherlands
06/22 – Melkweg – Amsterdam, Netherlands
06/28 – Festival Jardins de Pedralbes – Barcelona, Spain
06/29 – Noches del Botanico – Madrid, Spain
06/30 – Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium
07/01 – Main Square Festival – Arras, France
07/04 – Batschkapp – Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
07/06 – Festival De Wiltz – Witlz, Luxembourg
07/07 – Palladium – Cologne, Germany
07/12 – NTC Arena – Bratislava, Slovakia
07/13 – Arena Wien – Wien, Austria
07/15 – Colours of Ostrava Festival – Ostrava, Czech Republic
07/17 – Stupinigi Ponic Park – Stupinigi, Piemonte, Italy
07/18 – Piazza SS Annunziata – Florence, Italy
07/19 – Marostica Summer Festival – Marostica, Italy
07/21 – Anfiteatro Civitella – Chiete, Italy
07/22 – Auditorium Parco della Musica – Roma, Lazio, Italy
07/23 – Diversity Valéncia Festival – Valencia, Spain
07/25 – Festival de Carcassonne – Carcassonne, France
07/27 – Ra’anana Amphitheater – Ra’anana, Israel
08/31 – Forum Black Box – Frederiksberg, Denmark
09/01 – Fryshuset Arenan – Stockholm, Sweden
09/03 – Union Scene – Drammen, Oslo
09/06 – Forum Karlín – Karlin, Czechia
09/08 – Fabrique – Milan, Italy
09/09 – Samsung Hall – Zurich, Switzerland
09/10 – Salle Metropole – Lausanne, Switzerland
09/12 – Columbiahalle – Berlin, Germany
09/13 – Center Concert A2 – Wroctaw, Poland
09/14 – Torwar Warszawa – Warszawa,Poland
09/16 – Stary Manez – Gdansk, Poland
09/18 – Zalgirio Area – Kaunas, Lithuania
09/20 – Arēna Rīga – Riga, Latvia
09/22 – Saku Arena – Tallinn, Estonia


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