Getting Candid with Lulú [INTERVIEW]
We’re reporting from South By Southwest Music Fest in Austin, Texas. We sat down for an interview with Lulú, along with 2 other performing artists: Chloe Tang, and Bones and Jones. You can listen to interviews with all of these artists on Name 3 Songs podcast and see the full transcribed interview with Lulú below.
Lulú is a Mexican pop and R&B singer who uses music to express her deepest emotions. We talk to Lulú about finding her singing voice at a young age, building a community of supportive artists, and the importance of taking care of your mental health.
Name 3 Songs: We are once again here at South By. Today we are talking to Lulú. Welcome to the show!
Lulú: Hello girls! Thank you so much for having me. I’m so happy to be here.
We’re very excited to be talking to you. South By Southwest is a really famous festival. It brings a lot of international artists to Austin, Texas. What was the reason you wanted to come play at South By Southwest?
My manager told us ‘we’re going to South by Southwest in Austin’ and I was like, ‘oh my God, I love the festival.’ I knew that you can meet a lot of people. There’s a lot of film, music, and art. And I was fascinated about that because it’s my first time here. So I was like damn, I’m going to show my project, my music to these people who are important and who came from other parts of the world. So I was so happy and so excited. Yesterday was my showcase. I’m really happy about that. People were so supportive. They were jumping, screaming with me. So I had a really good time.
That’s amazing. We’ve been talking to other artists about the fact that South by feels like everybody’s here for community building and connecting. No matter how big or important someone is in their home country, it’s a level playing field between the creatives. What has your experience been getting to meet other artists and connect?
No, it’s amazing. I met Jenna in the Women in Music Meetup. I was so happy and I was nervous at the same time because I was like ‘oh my god what am I going to talk about.’ It’s not usual in Mexico to meet with more musicians in that type of meetup. But I think that when you just let everything go, go with the flow and be yourself you can do anything and you can talk about your music and stuff in common. I was so happy to meet these beautiful women and meet more musicians. In the exhibitions in the Austin Convention Center, I was seeing these people with the green badges. And I was like, ‘oh my god, I want to ask them what they do?’ Because I think that everyone is open to know more people and it’s a great place to talk with more people.
Definitely, and the opportunity to meet people from other countries too. So Austin, Texas is known as the live music capital of the world. Did you have an idea of what it would be like before you came here?
No, I had no idea, literally. My manager was like, “No, it’s amazing. I’ve been there and it’s pretty cool. There’s a lot of people.” And I was like, “okay, I want to imagine because I’m so anxious.” And I came here and I was like, “oh my God, it’s amazing.” It’s a lot of music, it’s a lot of culture. I don’t know how to describe it. But since I came to Austin, I’m feeling so happy because people are so relaxed and so open.
[Sara:] Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I live in New York and this is my first time ever coming here. It’s been really fun because Jenna and I get to go to these shows together and have a good time sharing this moment with your friend and witnessing music together.
It’s funny because I was walking with my friends and they were like, “oh my God, there’s music and there is more music.” It’s so great that you can combine these worlds of music, art, film and make a whole world in the streets, and you want to go everywhere, you know, to meet all these projects.
So something that’s really special about Latin America is that there’s a very rich music culture and history there, even to the point where the Latin Grammys exist to celebrate the artists. So I’m curious, what was your relationship to music when you were growing up?
It’s a long story, but pretty beautiful. Since I was a little girl, my parents have had a band. So I always heard them singing. My dad always wrote my mom songs. There was always music in the house. I just love it. I just love the feeling of them singing, you know?
I don’t know when this started, but I always knew that I wanted to be a singer. It was like something I was born with, you know? And I was always singing in my school, with my friends. I was so shy actually. And people were surprised like, “how did you develop this confidence?”
But then I started going to the talent shows in my school, and that’s when I started to develop and at 13 years old I started to upload covers on YouTube. So that’s when I had this close relationship with music.
And I think since forever this has been like something that heals me – the music – because you know when you’re a little girl sometimes you have problems and I was like I cannot express myself with words, what am I going to do? So music always heals me when I sing covers. I was like “oh my god like there is something inside me that it’s healing” and it feels free, I can say everything I want.
That’s amazing. That’s so beautiful.
Thank you. Yeah, it’s been something really special for me, the music. And then I met my manager and my personal manager, Niza Cruz. And I was signed to this record label, and they helped me a lot. We made a good team. So we started to construct this road and that’s why I’m here. They’ve helped me a lot to develop myself because they believe in me and it’s really important to be close to your team and have a team that really believes in you and cares about your mental health too. Yeah, they’re always like, “how are you feeling? Are you good? What do you need?”
You honestly have such an incredible voice. You post a lot of covers on TikTok now, too. What is it about singing specifically that you feel like you can really express yourself as a medium?
Have you seen the movie Soul?
Yeah.
Well, it’s funny because when I saw that movie, I was like, “oh my God, that’s how I feel when I sing.” I really connect not just with the words, but the melodies. When I do the ad-libs, I always feel like I’m crying through the melody. It’s really deep for me, and I don’t know how to express it – I just know that when I sing, I feel in my place, in my momentum, that I can connect with myself and heal in some way.
So what was that feeling like for you once you started making your own music?
I was so nervous because I didn’t know how to write. I started with the help of some friends and then by myself, just experimenting. And when I made my first song with Adrián, who is my manager and producer, I was like, “Oh my God, how did I end up doing this?” I never imagined that I would do this. I always love to sing covers, but when I started to make my own songs, I was so happy.
I started getting deeper, making this song “Modo Avión” – it’s my first love song. It’s so nostalgic, so sentimental, and that’s when I started going deep with the words and my feelings. It feels like something magical.
Yeah, we talk a lot on our podcast about how lyricism is a language itself. Even if you don’t speak the language, you can still feel the emotion. Everybody can have their own story for a song, whether they understand it or not.
I love it and people can connect not just with the words but with the music and with the feeling that you can project with your voice.
And it’s crazy because two days ago, I was singing in the green room and a man just came up to me and he was like, “I don’t know what you said in that song, but it sounds beautiful.” And I wanted to cry.
It’s so meaningful for me that people come to me and tell me, because one of the things that I want to do with my music is to make people feel comfortable, make people feel like I’m there with them, that they’re not alone. They can cry if they want to, that is not a bad thing. Crying is a healing thing to do, because music can make me feel like I’m home. So it’s like a hug from the distance of the artist. I want to do that for the people that listen to my songs.
You’re from Mexico, and there’s so many countries within Latin America and everyone kind of brings their own culture to their music. What do you feel like you bring from your Mexican heritage to your music?
Well, from the start I was like doing R&B music but right now I want to explore more genres. Actually I will drop my debut album this August. It’s called Fantasia. It’s fantasy in English. But I mixed genres like bachata and reggaeton. So I’m exploring more sides of my culture through genre because I want to songs with my essence that is more magical, dark pop. And actually I have an electro corrido like Peso Pluma, but in my way.
With you living in Monterey, what was your experience of finding your music community, your producer, and the people around you that are going to support you?
Yeah, it was a little difficult. I think everything in the music industry is a little difficult to find yourself at one point because you need to see if this team helps you or works for you. You need to connect closely with the people you need to work with. I have tried to make my own music since I was 18 years old. Now I’m 25 so I have been working a long time on my music. But right now I have my team, and they understand what I want. I think they read my mind at some point. It’s difficult but you need to go. If you don’t move, you will not find it.
What is the music community or the music scene like in Monterey? Are there other artists in your area that are supporting each other? What is that like?
We have this record label and we have more artists like Ximena Soto, Perdón Amor, and we are always together.
It’s so important to support the community and help each other. Because no one is here alone. Like you need to grow with your community and help each other. There’s people that are like, “oh my God, that girl is doing something like you. Do you feel like this is a competition?” I’m like, no, everyone has their spotlight, you know. And everyone has their own essence.
So I don’t think you should fight for something. It’s like you just need to have competition with yourself. But not in a bad way. You need to always grow for yourself and feel completed by yourself.
No, definitely. Historically, there’s this idea that there’s only room for one or two women. One amazing thing about streaming is you’re allowed to have so many more favorite artists than you used to be able to have. So there’s much more room to create a beautiful community within music where people can support each other. But that also leaves space for women supporting women which is so needed and necessary.
Yeah, it’s so needed because I think that since ancient times, women have always been like, “oh you need to fight for the number one.” I’m like, “girl, we all have our talents just because you are you, you have your own thing, you are special. You don’t need to fight.”
I love to support my friends, more artists, more women artists. I want to collaborate with more women artists because I think we all have something to say and we all need to have more visibility. I’m that type of girl – a person that wants to make more community and support everyone.
Okay, fashion and makeup are clearly a big part of your art and an extension of your music. So what do you think of when you’re taking your music just beyond music into the visual world?
Oh, that’s my favorite part. Actually, I work with my creative director, Niza. She’s really good, she’s amazing. So we are always talking. We have a really good connection. So when I [think of the visualual aspect,] listen to one song, it’s like I feel it. I feel it. I can imagine. I can smell it.
Actually, I studied fashion design. But I make a mood board with the hair, makeup, jewelry, the type of cover art that I want.
It’s just interesting because music is so much beyond just listening like of course. It’s artistry.
Yeah, I think that it’s just like a combo of things. I always want to do this like homework. Every song has its own pack – the mood board in Pinterest with everything. I want to be so organized. I think that’s the best thing to do for me, and for people to understand my ideas more.
Definitely. I think sometimes people forget that music is an art form and there is so much more to it than just like a song. Your visuals, the way you do your hair, your makeup, everything feels so cohesive. We’re drawn to artists where they’re putting so much work into everything that they do.
Yeah. I think it helps the artists to believe that they are artists. They are connected to their art. So that’s why I always love to make my hair like this with the little hairs pointing to the sky and my crazy makeup. I look at the mirror and it’s like, “okay, you are Lulú. You can do it, like this is your music, you need to connect with your art.“
I’m a visual person. I connect more with the videos, with the pictures, and with the music than anything.
So as a little wrap up question, what do you want the future of Lulú to represent?
Oh my God, I want to be a legend. A Mexican legend. I want my project to go everywhere. I want people from all over the world to know my music. I want them to know that they’re not alone, that they can dance and cry at the same time.
Yes, that’s my favorite thing to do. [Laughing]
Yeah, me too. And that they can be free.
I have these measures of, you don’t need to care about what people say about you. This is your life. This is your story. You need to construct what you want and go wherever you want to. Because at the end of the day, you are by yourself alone. Not alone because you have everyone, your family, your friends there.
But I mean, you need to keep going, keep going, keep going because at the end of the day, who you need to make happy is yourself. You cannot be doing something that you don’t like because you’re the one that is going to be sad. And what else?
Be true to yourself.
Yeah, be true to yourself.
And I don’t know, I want to collaborate with all my pop stars, my favorites, you know, Lady Gaga, Bjork, Rosalia, I love Rosalia too. Just keep making my music, expressing myself and being myself.
That’s beautiful. Well, thank you so much for talking with us today.
Thank you guys. I really appreciate it. I’m so happy.
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