Page 102 - July ONLINE VERSION

ZGP: Do you believe there is a connection Sometimes you just need something to intervene
between music and the soul? Whether
you are the performer or the listener.
LOLO: While I'm a performer, I am also a listener;
as a matter of fact, I was a listener first. It is what
led me to want to make my own art. There is this
ongoing conversation about the creation of things.
Music as osmosis can be scientifically explained in
theory, but in practice, how do we explain Beetho-
ven or Dolly Parton? There just seems to be some-
thing bigger guiding that composing and writing.
ZGP: Let's talk about the song “Shine”
because I know personally that it is a very
powerful, inspirational song. I was very
moved and received a renewed sense of
encouragement from listening to the song.
LOLO: It was a personal song to me because I've
suffered from anxiety-induced depression. When
this song was created, I was not doing well, living in
NYC, and it was the end of 2014. Going into 2015, I
was still struggling and not ok. I basically woke up
one morning, phoned my then manager, and I was
like, I must go back to Tennessee and my parents. I
wasn't suicidal, but things could go wrong quickly if
I hadn’t done something different. I was drinking so
much, and I have epilepsy, so drinking in excess is
not good for my health.
After coming home, I was doing a writing exercise
with a friend in NY – we would take turns exchang-
ing random words, and you would use that word to
create a song, a jingle or whatever. It was my turn
and I picked shine. And then I just sat down and
wrote it quite honestly for myself. I had to accept
that nobody else can overcome this for you, you are
going to have to do this. I wrote the song quickly
and made a demo and sent it to my manager. At
first it was difficult; I couldn't get through the first
verse. It was a struggle to stand before people and
wear your heart on your sleeve. It was very hard to
be that honest about my struggles.
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to change your mindset. Even if I was just writing
a song for an hour, I would feel better and want to
take a shower. Which was a big deal in those mo-
ments of depression, I did not want to do anything.
The most helpful thing about writing songs was the L
ability to see what you are feeling on paper. Music
has always been the purest form of me showing my
heart. It is still often difficult to sing Shine. Now I
have a little person and a husband. We are this force
raising this little dude; there is a part of me that O
fears the day that my little man will be burdened
with anxiety and depression because it does impact
everyone. Sometimes, for a couple days and some-
times much longer.
ZGP: Where are you heading musically? L
LOLO: I am in the process of making a new album,
being released the first quarter of next year. I've
given myself a lot of time to work because of the
little one and hopefully by then we will be able to O
tour more. I have a bunch of singles coming out,
videos, I'm also writing two musicals, and another
musical slated on stage in Boston in spring of next
year. Raising my little dude and attempting to open
a Cat Café – Rock-A-Billy Cat Café’ and Rescue - in
downtown Jackson, Tennessee. There is a huge cat
problem in our area and while we have plenty of
dog rescues, there is a lack of such a thing for cats.
At the Café you can visit the cats, adopt one, have a
snack, coffee, or an adult beverage. I’m super busy
but it feeds my ADHD is being used in a positive
and healthy way.
LOLO is a phenomenal
woman and compassion-
ate humanitarian, willing
to share her past sufferings
so that collectively we can
all heal without compe-
tition. She has an intense
love for family, friends,
and cats. Lauren, Colton, and Xander
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