Lorine Chia: A Sweet Noise
When I was watching season four, episode six of HBO’s hit series “Insecure,” there was a scene when Issa Rae is sitting in the car contemplating her next move in life and I heard a familiar voice. Lorine Chia’s song, ‘Mood Home Alone’ is playing and beautifully captures the essence of Issa’s mood and the city scape of Los Angeles.
Lorine was born in the West African country of Cameroon and moved to Baltimore, Maryland at the age of six. When she made the transition to the states, she grew accustomed to American culture and along the way discovered musical artists that would later inspire her work. Her novel accent was often the subject of teasing growing up; but it is now one of the strongest forces shaping a new eclectic sound in modern music.
Lorine has worked as a songwriter and background vocalist for artists such as: Janelle Monae, Wiz Khalifa, and Young Jeezy. She’s been featured in a variety of press outlets and publications like the Fader, Spotify, Soundcloud, Billboard, and Rolling Stone magazine. Her most recent album, ‘Sweet Noise’ is a must listen; you can find it on all major streaming platforms. The instrumentation, various cadences, and songwriting are breathtaking; these three ingredients make for an innovative, cohesive and contemporary sound. I sat down to talk to Lorine about her writing process, life in L.A., and her new music on the horizon.
Photos courtesy of IIRONIC.
The first time you plucked the strings of a guitar, you were hooked on music. Do you remember what song you were trying to learn?
Sure do! I had Mr. Boardwine for English in the 10th grade and he was putting on The Poetry slam. At that time I was very new to guitar and told him I could perform a song (in reality I didn’t even learn anything solid yet but was up for the challenge).
I heard “Give Love A Try” by the Jonas Brothers. I spent all week learning and playing that song everyday just so I wouldn’t look crazy in front of everyone in school. It was great though. Still one of my favorite songs to play.
Who were some of your first music inspirations? How did they shape your sound earlier in your career?
I had so many. I loved discovering new music as a kid. Still do but the main artists in the beginning that inspired my whole career were The Cool Kids, Kanye West, Corinne Bailey Rae, Santigold, Paramore, Kid Cudi, Band Of Horses, Death Cab for Cutie, Ratatat, Nujabes, N.E.R.D, The Go! Team, Digable Planets, Telepopmusik, Amy Winehouse and a few more.
Photos courtesy of IIRONIC.
“Sometimes I just sit in front of my mic and just let go, see what comes out.”
You’re an independent artist. Could you explain to readers what the difference is between being an indie artist and having a label back you?
Being an Indie artist means you are independently backing and releasing your own content. You have to come up with all of the marketing strategies, you have to be in charge of both the business side of the music and the creative side, but the best part is you are the CEO of you and your own music. No one gets to tell you what to do.
Having a label to back you gives you an entire team of people that pretty much will handle your day- to-day, provide advances and opportunities, market your music, get you placements, but at a large price to pay. Depending on your deal you may not even own your music completely, the advance they give you has to be recouped (paid back) but if you happen to go viral it could be a great way to blow up your career.
The money on the other hand will just be something you’re not even allowed to handle yourself. It’s kind of like getting a business loan with the highest APR rate all for fame though. It really depends on how much work and input an artist really wants to have in their career to be able to decide if they would prefer to be signed or not.
Talk about your songwriting process. Is it the same as if you’re writing for someone else as well?
I always start with an instrument or sound loop, something that catches my ear. Then I start piecing the song together. I’ll come up with melodies and then come the words.
Sometimes I just sit in front of my mic and just let go, see what comes out. If I like it I keep it and clean it up then add all the beautiful harmonies you hear in the backgrounds of my songs and then before you know it the beat is over and the songwriter portion is complete.
When I’m ready to take it to the lab I grab a few musicians and we lock in and make the instrumentation even better.
If you could only choose five albums to listen to, what would they be? And why?
This question is actually unfair! Good kid m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar. This body of work was absolute perfection and Kendrick is the greatest rapper of our time, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West based on production, the features, Kanye West is a musical genius that knows how to put sound, lyrics, and voices together in a way I’ve never seen before.
Late Registration by Kanye West gave me all the hope growing up. Listening to the way Kanye said whatever he wanted and listening to seeing how much adoration he had for himself forecasting how he’d be one of the greatest brought me so much hope and high esteem for myself. Made me feel like I could do it too. The Barter 6 by Young Thug. It brought me so much joy listening to his world play, his voice, his wit, and beat selection, man! With that project alone I knew he’d be one of the greats forever.
Meet The Woo by Pop Smoke. This one just brought a new level of “Boss” in my life. Reminded me that I really can do whatever I want. The power, the aggression, the production, how deep and smooth his voice was when he said these things that he meant, and also the fact that Pop was a really good guy that just wanted to put on for his city. Forever a legend R.I.P.
Photos courtesy of IIRONIC.
“Listening to Makossa music growing up got me into rhythm. Growing up listening to African gospel and Makossa I started understanding how easy it was to write songs.”
Who was the first person you called when you found out your song would be featured on ‘Insecure?’
I called my cousin Sanglui. One of my greatest supporters. She recorded my whole reaction on Facetime! I love that woman.
How has your West African background influenced your musical sound?
Listening to Makossa music growing up got me into rhythm. Growing up listening to African gospel and Makossa I started understanding how easy it was to write songs.
A lot of the hooks are repetitive and over rhythmic instrumentation it makes people want to dance and sing the hook over and over again. It cultivated the way I write hooks.
Photos courtesy of IIRONIC.
What is one misconception that you’re able to share about the music business?
That it is the great place where anyone can make it. It is a very cut-throat business and most of the people in it have an insatiable appetite for power. No matter what it takes and it is hard making real friendships.
It’s hard, the business side is even worse, and if you are signed to a label that owns your masters you only make money off of tours so that can be hard. You have to be very smart and move wisely in this music business. It is not all peaches and cream.
Your most recent album ‘Sweet Noise,’ came out a little over a year ago. Where did you record? How did you land on the different but very poignant subject matters?
I recorded it in different places. Some of it from home and different studios. I really just talked about everything that I’ve been through from 2016-2019 and I also wanted to have listeners learn how it all started from my family’s perspective.
I talked about the loneliness I’ve felt in my life, I talked about overcoming so many obstacles, I talked about self love which is something I am so grateful to have found over the years and so much more.
You now reside in L.A., what’s life like on the opposite coast of where you grew up from?
I love it over here. I’ve hated snow since I moved to America so I found the perfect place to be where the sun shines. There are also way more opportunities here which i enjoy.
How has your sound and artistry matured over the years? Have the songs you’ve created helped you grow as a person?
Growing every year you go through many experiences which becomes new topics to discuss and also my voice has grown. I’ve also been producing more which has been fun.
They definitely have helped. Sometimes I listen to my old songs as if I wrote them for the specific moments I’m going through now reminding me to stay focused and to keep healing.
What’s next for Lorine Chia? When can we expect new music?
Man Covid has honestly just made things weird. I have no idea. I’m honestly just floating trying to stay level headed and just leave it up to God. I’m tired of trying to put all the pieces together.
Maybe some new music, maybe some new visuals, maybe some live shows but only the future will tell. I am just on my verge to happiness right now.
Your song, “You’re a star” touches on self-love and self-worth. Drop some of your best advice for someone who is looking to tap into the music industry but may be struggling with tapping into their confidence.
Don’t worry about tapping into the music industry. Figure out who you are as a person, build your skills, set your boundaries, love everything that you are made of and put your music or content out with the right intentions.
I promise the opportunities will find you. I never sought out for all of these things. People always came to me from the music I would put out. All of my greatest opportunities found me because I was skilled, believed in myself, and I was present.
Photos courtesy of IIRONIC.