I like giving people a chance that are new; that are very talented and cool. I want to find the RedOnes of tomorrow, you know?
After debuting the fabulously over-the-top “Sexy People” back in August of last year, Lolene is finally on her way to the premiere of her long awaited debut, The Electrick Hotel, due out this summer on Capitol Records.
I spoke with Lolene two weeks ago about the album’s concept, her musical endeavors, and her plans for the future. With today’s release of her incredible Electrick Hotel teaser trailer (which brings to mind the excitement I felt the first time I saw Lady Gaga‘s EPK), I thought there was no better time to reveal this interview then right now. Click below to read!
Hello, Lolene!
Hi, Darling! I just wanted to first start by saying I always look at your site, and thank you so much for all your lovely tweets!
Oh, that’s so sweet—thank you, I really appreciate it! I think you’re great. Let’s see…how are you doing today?
I’m good. It’s a beautiful sunny day in L.A. I just worked out with my trainer so I’m all pumped up and ready for my day.
Oh, you’re lucky. It’s all gross and gray over here.
I’m sending you sunshine right now.
Oh, thank you. So let’s talk about the album first: The Electrick Hotel is coming out in a few months. What can we expect to hear and what do you have on there?
Okay, so it’s a sixteen track album. Fourteen tracks; two bonus. I’ve been writing it for a long time. I started out as a writer, so I got to experiment and work with lots of amazing and talented people around the world. I wanted to make an album that was eclectic and varied, but still really pop. I called it The Electrick Hotel because each room is a different song; each floor is a different vibe.
As people, it’s not always like champagne and parties. Sometimes life’s quite sad. I wanted to make sure I had songs that fit every mood and every emotion and every level like a hotel.
That’s a cool concept!
Yeah! Sometimes you want to put your party songs on and dance around before you go out. Sometimes you’re just breaking up with boyfriend and you want to cry on the floor. I really wanted to write an album that covers all of that.
I’ve seen lots of TwitPics and tweeting back and forth between you and lots of amazing writers and producers. Who have you been working with?
Everyone. The funny thing is before the album I was working with J.R. [Rotem] as a writer so I got to meet and work with some amazing people. It really gave me a chance to learn whom I wanted to work with. I made the decision that it was important for me to work with newcomers because I want to be like a stylist. I don’t want to be compared to anyone. I know that’s going to happen naturally, but I want to set up my own name. I like giving people a chance that are new that are very talented and cool. I want to find the RedOnes of tomorrow, you know? I worked with a lot of up-and-comers that you may not have heard of yet, but you’ll definitely be hearing them a lot on my album.
I was also luckily enough to get a few legends in there as well, like Nellee Hooper, who’s my favorite producer in the world. He did “What U Waiting For?†for Gwen Stefani. Björk. Massive Attack. He’s just a legend. I worked with him, we did a song together called “Ordinary Girl†which I adore. I worked with Sam Sparro, who is the sexiest man, I adore him. Lots of exciting people like Tom Meredith and Shep Solomon, we did a song called “Lionheart†together. Quite cinematic and actually indie-like, but still very pop I think.
That sounds like a great bunch of people. We’ve got the first single—the first official single, anyway. There was “Sexy People†which was sort of a buzz track.
I know…it did so well, so thank God.
It’s just one of those songs. It’s just one of those songs…you get the hook stuck in your head for days. I was just singing it before we got on the phone.
(SINGS) “Sexy people, party with me!†Amazing. I did an acoustic version which I don’t think is out there, but I’ll put it out at some point. It’s just a great song. I wasn’t trying to revolutionize pop music with that song. It’s fun and tongue-in-cheek, a bit dirty. It was my way of coming out and bursting into the dance scene.
It was a bit dirty. I saw that video—who’s idea was it to have the hotel leading up to your private bits?
Mine, of course.
[Laughs]
I didn’t mean it in a sexual way…I was just inviting people inside my world.
Of course, of course.
[LAUGHS]We’ve got the first official single, and that’s “Rich (Fake It Til You Make It).†Now is that getting an official video?
It is. I’m shooting in two weeks.
What are you thinking of doing for that?
It’s going to be cool. I don’t want to let anything out of the bag just yet, but it’s going to be epic. That video that you watched for “Sexy People,†was kind of like, you know, like a low-budget fun, cheeky video. This one’s going to be a mainstream video for MTV and whatnot. It’s going to be colorful and fun.
I can’t wait to see it! We spoke a bit about how you were writing for a while. Are you still writing for other artists?
Yeah. I mean, I’m always writing constantly. I have put a lot of energy in myself right now obviously. I’m actually rehearsing my live show at a moment and touring a little bit, so that’s been taking up a lot of my time and I haven’t had too much time to work on other artists. I’ve worked with John Legend on his stuff—I write with him. I just actually worked with Christina Millian. Once she has her baby, I’m sure we’ll do more stuff together. You know, I get small windows to do stuff with people. I adore writing. I’m never going to stop writing. For me, it’s like acting. You get to play someone else for a song and it’s fun.
You said you’re gearing up for a tour? Are you going to be doing a club tour?
Late last year, I toured the gay clubs. My gay fans are friggin’ amazing. They really embrace me, and I embrace them. I really wanted to do a tour just for them. It’s the best training, if I can use that word, for any new artist to do in Pop Land because these kids are in your face at the front of your stage. You’ve literally got like no budget for your production. They’ll let you know. They’ll let you have it if you’re not on point.
Absolutely. You know that’s how Madonna got started. You always start with the gay clubs.
Absolutely. It was such fun. I learned so much from them. I have to thank my fans so much because they’re growing with me and I’m growing with them. They’re teaching me. They’re in front of me–like at some little stage in Baltimore–you’ve got some kid telling you “You better do it. You better work!â€
So I did a club tour, and now I’m doing selected venues around, like the Winter Music Conference in Miami and I’ve been to Vegas. Events, things like that. And now I’m just getting geared up to do a big tour to support in the US.
So what’s on your schedule in the next few days or weeks?
I’m getting ready to shoot my video for my single “Rich,†and we’re actually giving it away for free right now. We’ve got a select amount of downloads to give away at LoleneMusic.com, and then it will be officially released on iTunes. I would really hope that people support me and buy it because we really want to keep music alive. That’s how music is going to stay of a certain standard and quality. A single is less than a cup of coffee that you drink in a few minutes. You can have that song for life if you want it. You know what I’m saying? We have to support buying music from artists that we love.
Of course. Well, I think that’s about all I have today. I’m very excited to hear The Electrick Hotel!
Absolutely. I just want to thank all your readers because I love your blog. I want your readers to tweet me!
I’ll tell them you said that.
Okay. Have a great day!
You too, bye!
The Electrick Hotel will be released this summer. Click here to hear more Lolene on iTunes.
