Interview: 5 minutes with Lorne

Lorne is a singer, songwriter and pianist from Berkshire, England. Lorne’s debut single titled ‘Bread Alone’ was released earlier this year gaining exposure through publications such as BBC Introducing and Clash Magazine – Lorne’s sound has been described as “haunting and personal”. 

Classically trained on the piano from age seven, Lorne was then introduced to Peter Gabriel during his teens, and inspired by his acclaimed sound noting the artist as a great influence on his music. Also drawn to established songwriters, such as Bon Iver, Damien Rice, Coldplay, Danny Elfman, Elbow and Radiohead, his attraction to melodic-pop, ambient and rock is more evident through Lorne’s introspective ideas.

Be sure to stream Lorne’s latest single ‘Bread Alone‘ below.

We caught up with Lorne for a chat about influence, equipment and everything in between:

Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?

Today I’m at a coworking space in Paddington for entrepreneurs, freelancers and startup companies. I come here to work sometimes as it can be hard to be productive at home.

To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?

My music has been likened to Coldplay, Keane and Damien Rice. There’s a melancholy in my music and I would say the sound on the EP is atmospheric, personal and reflective.

What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?

Peter Gabriel – So
Peter Gabriel – Us
Peter Gabriel – Up
Keane – Hopes and Fears
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head

Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?

I have a soft spot for Elbow, who I saw play at Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year. Guy Garvey has a powerful voice and the songwriting is great. ‘Lippy Kids’ is my favourite song by Elbow and I have covered it a couple of times this year.

Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?

My preference is to play a real piano, but I have a Nord Piano 73 for venues without a piano. The weighted keys are good and I like the grand piano and electric piano sounds. Sometimes I add a subtle organ layer or introduce different delays and reverbs to develop the sound.

What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?

I would say heavy investment in manufactured artists is a challenge for genuine artists. It is costly to record and promote yourself, so it is very tricky for independent artists to compete.

I think the internet is a double-edged sword in the sense that it is not so easy to be heard through the noise. Similarly, I think you have to reach a certain level until streaming revenue starts to cover your costs.

Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?

I would say that relationships are the biggest source of inspiration for my music, but my debut single ‘Bread Alone’ was inspired by a biblical phrase, and a song of mine called ‘Here Come The Sharks’ is about politics and power.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when put music together?

I normally start with the concept and put some words down on paper, whether they are just single words or short phrases. I sit at the piano and look for chords that feel right for the song. Once I have the bones of the song, I will live with it until it feels right. I use Logic Pro to shape the arrangement and I will listen to it for a number of months to make sure it has a lasting quality.

What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?

I played at The Troubadour in Earl’s Court this year and I would say it was my best one to date. It’s an intimate venue and I felt the audience connected with my set. I think a big part of live performance is allowing the music to move through you and when it happens it feels powerful and reaches other people.

And the worst?

Well, I’ve played at quite a few pubs around London where the bar is near the stage and most people are there to drink instead of listen to the music. It’s always hard to perform in this setup.

If you weren’t a musician what would you be?

A good question… I like the idea of being an architect. Perhaps it’s a little similar to being a musician, as you can create something lasting.

Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?

The Royal Albert Hall

Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

I am looking forward to releasing my debut EP ‘Maze’ this year. My debut single and the opening song on the EP ‘Bread Alone’ was released in February. The other songs are called ‘Cocoon’, ‘Oil and Water’ and ‘Navigate’.

I am also excited to release a remix of Bread Alone by BOA – an electronic act from Bristol. I met BOA by chance and I think the remix is brilliant.

I have a few gigs lined up in London, including a support slot at The Finsbury and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho.

A new single titled ‘Oil and Water’ will be released on October 5th, followed by Lorne’s debut EP titled Maze which will be released on November 24th via Bushy Records

For more information follow Lorne on Facebook