Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Lo Lo

Singer-songwriter Lo Lo made quite the splash in April 2018. Her debut single, “Yours”, peaked at #21 on Hot AC radio in Canada and was featured on several Spotify playlists. In less than a year, she’s racked up over a million Spotify streams, was named iHeartRadio’s Future Star, and is showing no signs of slowing down. This year, Lo Lo will release her highly-anticipated debut EP, Sweater Collection, and Pop Culturalist got all the details.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Lo Lo: I don’t really remember how I discovered it, actually. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been obsessed with music. Growing up, my parents would always put on the Shirley Temple movies and musicals like The Wizard of Oz, so I was always singing along.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Lo Lo: My guitar teacher, for sure. Without him pushing me to try to write a song, I’m not sure if I would have ever thought to, to be totally honest! I wasn’t ever the kind of person that liked sharing my feelings and inner thoughts with people. I liked to keep that all to myself and write it out in a diary for my eyes only.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Sweater Collection”. What inspired the track?
Lo Lo: “Sweater Collection” was one of the most fun songs I’ve ever created. I got inspired to write it when I was cleaning out my closet and I found some sweaters that didn’t always belong to me. I realized that after playing the dating game for a while, I had acquired quite a “Sweater Collection” from the guys I had dated. I figured that I couldn’t be the only person who had one, so I decided to write a song about it.

PC: You’re releasing your debut EP in May. What can you tell us about it?
Lo Lo: The entire EP is very personal, but I think that anyone who listens will be able to relate to at least one of the songs. If you listen to the EP in order, there’s definitely a story that unfolds.

PC: If you had to pick one song off Sweater Collection that best encompasses the EP, what would it be and why?
Lo Lo: I think it would have to be “Sweater Collection”. I mean, that’s why I decided to name the EP after it. That song really sums everything up. Every “sweater in my collection” tells a story about a relationship and experience I’ve had in my life.

PC: You’ve already had incredible milestones in your career. Is there one that sticks out to you?
Lo Lo: Thank you! I think hearing my song “Yours” on the radio for the first time is definitely the one that sticks out the most. It was something that I daydreamed about over and over again, so the fact that it actually happened in real life was so surreal. It still is.

PC: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Lo Lo: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to just be myself and to try not care to about what other people think. When you put yourself out there like we do in this industry, there’s always going to be people that have something to say about it. No matter what, I think it’s really important to always stay true to yourself.

PC: As we look ahead in 2019, what does the rest of the year hold for you?
Lo Lo: I’m really excited for the rest of 2019! I’m releasing my debut EP, I’m finally putting a band together and going to start performing these songs, and I’m also going to L.A. in a couple of months for a writing trip. I can’t wait to write more songs and do this all over again.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Lo Lo: The Bachelor

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Lo Lo: Josie and the Pussycats

PC: Favorite book?
Lo Lo: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Lo Lo: Wicked

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Lo Lo: Mason Ramsey

PC: First album you bought?
Lo Lo: John Mayer, Continuum

PC: First concert you attended?
Lo Lo: Hilary Duff

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Lo Lo: The ACC in Toronto!

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Lo Lo: Taylor Swift’s first self-titled album. It really showed me that you could write about anything or anyone you wanted and be super personal in writing songs.

To keep up with Lo Lo, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up “Sweater Collection” on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.