LP Is the Kendall-Approved Rocker Breaking into Mainstream Pop
Between show stops on her European tour, rocker LP talks to V about her tour essentials, the difference between her stage persona and day-to-day life, and reflecting political views in her music.
Between show stops on her European tour, rocker LP talks to V about her tour essentials, the difference between her stage persona and day-to-day life, and reflecting political views in her music.
Photography: Robin Harper
Text: MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
If you don’t know LP, you’re majorly missing out. Chances are, though, you heard her track "Muddy Waters" in that intense season four finale of Orange is the New Black.
The two-letter moniker stands for Laura Pergolizzi, the singer-songwriter from Long Island (and then L.A.) who’s the mastermind behind tracks like “Lost on You" (41+ million Spotify Streams) and “Into The Wild.” Her voice, like Cher or Florence Welch, has such a strong bite, it's as if she’s reliving her experiences each time she sings. Her personal brand of rocker chic helps the music veteran look as good as she sounds, too.
While she's breaking into the mainstream with her Gold-certified EP, Death Valley, Pergolizzi isn't new to writing hits; she co-wrote Rihanna's "Cheers (Drink to That)," which went double platinum. Now Kendall Jenner is a fan.
We caught up with one of our generation’s most authentic pop rock stars as she completes yet another tour.
Do you get excited about life on the road or is it more arduous?
I definitely get excited, but it's a bit of both at times. There's lots of traveling, obviously, and it can be a uniquely lonely time even though you’re surrounded by people. It can be hard on your romantic relationship for sure, especially since I've been in Europe non-stop and it's a huge time difference.
Are you able to find time to be inspired and create new music while on tour or are you completely tied up in live performances?
I find time to create. I usually just gather snippets of things like a chord progression, a song title or concept or lyrics, and I save them for the studio sessions when I get home.
Is your onstage persona any different than how you act in your day-to-day life?
Not really, no. I don’t go around holding my arm up with grand gestures as much. It's a bit much when you're just talking.
What are your must-haves while on the road?
My yoga mat and a personal steamer, for sure. And an iPad.
Are you currently working on new music for yourself?
Yeah, I kind of always am. But I have my next record pretty much done.
Are you currently working on any music for (or with) other artists?
Yes, I have been. I have a song on the next Kooks record, and the next Spoon record. Also, a cool artist named Charlotte OC.
With everything happening in our country right now, do you have any plans to use your music politically?
I feel like how I live my life is my own political statement. Musically, I am always striving to bring people together, and I feel like these days that is a political statement rather than a given goal we all share. We are seeing that there are those who wish to build walls and divide us rather than evolve and work toward a more harmonious, while still diverse, world. I like to make broader strokes with politics in my work.
How do you gauge whether a tour felt like a success or not?
I feel like however many people came out as long as I made them feel good, I'm good.
