A Conversation with: Lévyne

Tāmaki Makaurau based rising pop artist, songwriter and producer Lévyne has just released her stunning new song “Losing Sleep” and it’s everything we’ve been dreaming of! Filled with plenty of lush production, ethereal vocals and intimate lyricism that continues to build on her refreshing & unique soundscape, she tells us all about her new track, what new music she has on the way and more.

We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey so far from when you first started singing and making music!

So I have been singing my whole life - my family is quite musical, and when I was younger I was always in musicals and productions throughout school. I started songwriting when I was about 7, and they were terrible (laughs) and I’ve played piano my whole life. I did some songwriting competitions in high school and eventually I started a science degree in Environmental Sciences and Geography. I ended up finishing it but one year into it I was like “what am I doing?!” (laughs). I really wanted to be a musician and that is what I’m good at. So then I went real hard-out into session writing, songwriting, and that’s when I started getting into producing as well. That’s only been for the past 5 years or so but it’s been a really solid focus and a lot of that time was building skills up. But now I’m circling back to my love of creating stuff that’s always been there and using that as a way to express myself, and helping people do that.

You’re doing an amazing job at it and everyone’s loving your stuff so that’s cool to see I guess! And congrats on your latest stunning single “Losing Sleep”! Can you tell us about the meaning of this track and the inspiration behind it?

I wrote it at a time where I felt quite frustrated by the fact that someone could portray me however they wanted and I couldn’t really do anything about it. And so, it was kind of me being like “I get it - we both have issues and things didn’t work, but can you just move on now?” (laughs). The whole premise behind the track is me being like “this frustrated me and I can’t get past it until you can stop talking” kinda thing (laughs). It was just born straight out of frustration but super fun - we made frustration fun (laughs).

I guess the good thing about music is that you can put your emotion into it and create something beautiful from that experience that other people can relate to. What was the writing & production process like for this song?

Yeah the process was really unique - I started it on my own and I produced it on my own about 2 years ago. I was doing a producer development course and I actually used it as part of a module. I got to take it to Simon Gooding who gave me advice on the structure and things like that. I got it to a stage by myself that I thought it would be finished, and then I sat on it for ages and was like “nah, I want to change the sounds”. And then I got my best friend Harry, who’s name is Harry Charles - he’s a great producer, to sit down with me and rework all the production together. So yeah, the whole concept came from myself and then I got a few people’s input to get it to where was today, but very much a joint effort which is really cool.

What were your main highlights working on the track?

My highlights for the track I think were just being lucky enough to take it to other people and hear their advice on it, especially being able to work on it with Simon and some of the other people in the programme. Even if it was just advice, I think it was really fun. And then when it was finished, it was such a relief because it had existed for so long so it was a big highlight that we actually got it done.

Nice! Do you have more music on the way soon?!

Yeah heaps! I just sit on tracks for so long and I get myself stuck about how to release them all. I’ve got one more single coming out in the next two months called “I Don’t Think It’s Me” and it’s one of my favourite tracks I’ve ever made - it was so much fun and it’s so much fun to play live. And then next year, I’ve got about 5 tracks that we’re finishing up for an EP which I’m very excited about. It’s all very much still in production, but I think there’s a lot to look forward to.

That’s so exciting! Who would you say are your biggest inspirations in music?

I guess kind of a straightforward answer is all of my friends - like obviously we do what we do because of the global music industry, but I think most of the reason we all keep going is because we’re just in love with what we all do. I had an hour long conversation with my friend Phoebe, who’s NAVVY, in London this morning, and she gives me so much life (laughs). 

And I guess other than that, I love people who are multifaceted and talented songwriters, so I really like Julia Michaels and lots of things that she’s involved with. I love people like Dev Hynes, who’s Blood Orange and does composition and stuff as well. People who can do lots of different things really inspire me.

Yeah, that’s awesome! I guess you already mentioned NAVVY as one - who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you love or connect with?

Yeah I mean there’s so many. I love Matthew Young - I particularly love his new song “Headcase”, but I love everything he does. I’ve always really felt a connection to Chelsea Jade because it feels like she’s got quite a similar story to what mine has been, so I love all her songs like “Life Of The Party” and “Ride Or Cry”. I really love a friend of mine Neil McLeod in Wellington - he just writes these ethereal, detailed compositions. The Balu Brigada boys - you can go to a show and dance forever, it’s so fun. I could list people for hours honestly, there’s hundreds and hundreds of people that I love in New Zealand. We’re very lucky.

100% agree, we’re super lucky! There’s such an eclectic range of genres in New Zealand music as well, and genre-bending artists too, so it’s great there’s been some really unique stuff coming out recently! What do you love most about living in New Zealand, and do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?

That’s a nice one, I like it! I guess I’ve always felt quite connected to New Zealand having grown up here - I just really respect everything about it. I mentioned before my science degree as well, so I’ve always LOVED the geothermal spots. My favourite places in the country is Central Plateau - I love the volcanoes, and I love hiking around there. I guess locally in Auckland, my friends and I hang out at Point Chev Beach a lot in the summer. I grew up in East Auckland so Maraetai and all the beaches out there are beautiful. Love it.

We’re so looking forward to the beautiful beaches in summer! What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far, and what advice do you have for new artists out there?

My advice for younger artists would be to just connect yourself into the music industry as soon as you can, but also don’t ever lose yourself and what you want to do, and understand that it will take time. All of us are still changing our sound and figuring out what our niches are and I think that can be a hard thing when you’re just starting out to really knuckle down on. Also for young women, you can do absolutely anything in the industry. Just anything you’re interested in and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t!

I think recently for me, it’s been about reconciling how to be a healthy human being with how to interact with the music industry because those two things are not often compatible. I think it’s really important for people to really know themselves and know how to look after themselves in this industry, before they spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week producing music. It’s just nuts. And that’s been one of my biggest lessons over the last couples of years I think.

Totally - some great advice! You can only create your best when you are at your best. Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?

This sounds so cliché but do what makes you happy. And stay with whoever makes you happy. I just think that it’s important to enjoy your life, and there’s most of the time ways to change it if you’re not. I feel like we are really privileged to be able to do that.

Thanks so much Lévyne! Make sure you keep up with her on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify & Apple Music.