Rising Swedish pop singer / songwriter LOVA has released her debut album, 'Grown-ish', following a string of singles which have generated over 80 million streams and provoked widespread critical acclaim.
The cohesive, coming-of-age body concept album is underpinned by honest lyrics, unpredictable production and undeniable hooks, detailing her journey and written straight from the heart with no filter. At the same time, she exhibits endless empathy as she ponders what everyone is facing right now during a global pandemic.
We had a chat with LOVA on the album release!
Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you!
"I am a Swedish artist and songwriter. I started writing my own songs when I was 7 years old
cause it was the only way I knew how to get my feelings and opinions across. I was a very
shy kid so it wasn’t until my teens when I dared to play my songs to someone outside my
family and wanted to become an artist for real. After focusing on myself, growing up and
finding my own sound I released my debut single You Me And The Silence in early 2018
which was the second most played song on P3 Radio in Sweden that year . Since then I’ve
released two EPs 'Scripted Reality' & 'A Gentleman's Guide' and I just released my debut album 'Grown-ish'.
Tell us a little about it!
"'Grown-ish is a true representation of where I’m at in life. It touches on the balance between
the kid and adult in me and how hard, confusing and scary growing up can be. But also how
liberating it can be when you break free from old patterns and start to love yourself."
How did you decide on the album name?
"To be 100% transparent with you. I saw an ad about a TV-show called Grown-ish a few years
back and that name resonated with me so much. It pinpointed exactly how I felt at that time.
So it just stuck with me and became the working title of the album. I didn't plan on it to
become the actual title but I always had it in the back of my head while making the album.
And when the songs came together it just felt like the perfect conclusion."
What was the writing and recording process like?
"A rollercoaster of emotions but It was a lot of fun. It felt different writing for an album, bigger
in some way. But it was hard to focus on one thing for almost 2 years and not wander away
to another genre or concept that inspired me at that time. I had a very clear idea at the
beginning of where I wanted it to end up but realized quite quickly how that killed a lot of the
creativity because I controlled it too much and didn't let it take form organically. So I’m glad
that I could put my expectations to the side and let it become something far better than what I
could have imagined."
Are there any key themes, stories or inspirations that run throughout?
"I would say the key theme is growing up and all the songs are very self-critical and honest."
Do you have a favourite lyric or whole track? If so, which one and why?
"I love the line “I’m going crazy, cause I never go crazy” in 'Own Worst Enemy', because it
explains my personality so well haha. That whole song just shows every little side to me in
such an honest and playful way."
Have you got any fun behind the scenes stories or gossip from the writing / recording
process?
"Hm let me think. I’m so bad at remembering stuff like that but maybe one interesting thing to
know is that I didn't tend to write 'Dance For The Hell Of It' for my own project. I was in the
middle of panic mode around the album cause I had too many songs to choose from, so I
texted the guys that I wrote the song with before our sessions and told them that I didn’t want
to write for my project. I said “lets just write something amazing and see where it lands”. But
at the end of the session I was like “No one gets this song, it’s mine!!” haha. It actually
completed the album for me and put all my anxiety to rest. Which just shows that as soon as
you take away the pressure and expectations that’s when the good songs are made."
How have you found making an album and trying to be creative over the past year which has been really difficult for artists?
"A little bit of both. Being creative, yeah for sure! I was lacking inspiration almost everyday so
writing new music was really hard. But since I was in the middle of finishing the album it was
actually pretty nice that some of the stuff I had planned got put on pause. Because it gave me
a lot of extra time to focus on the album and making it perfect."
What’s been your stand out moment or memory so far?
"Getting to play in Australia as a support for Noah Kahan just weeks after I released my first
EP in 2018. It was such a surreal feeling to travel to the other side of the world and having
fans standing in the front, singing along to my lyrics. I was like “this can’t be real life”. Such a
great memory!!"
What can we expect from you in 2021?
"Hopefully I’ll be able to travel this year and play my music live around the world. Otherwise I
really look forward to going back to the studio to write some new music for you guys. This is
actually the first time in my career where I don't know what my next release will sound like.
Which is scary and exciting at the same time. I would also like to do a sick collab with
another artist I admire."
'Grown-ish is out now.
Listen HERE @lovamusic
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