Project Description
Interview with
LINCOLN LIM
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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Support for LINCOLN LIM
“The most heart-wrenching tune that will be sure to touch the hearts of many”. – Harper’s Bazaar (SIN)
“At only 23 years old, Lim channels heartache in a way that some performers take decades to develop”. – JUICE (SIN)
Added to Spotify Playlists New Music Friday and Singapore’s Top Acts.
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For any new fans, how did it all begin? How did you discover your love of music?
You know, I’ve never really thought about it! Looking back, I think my first memory of music I truly cherished was my late grandfather rocking 2 year old me to sleep with a pretty off-pitch version of Leo Sayer’s ‘I Love You More Than I Can Say’ (it was hilarious), so I think it’s kinda funny how music has become such an integral part of my identity.
I walked into my first gig venue when I was 14 and here I am 11 years later, still loving it every single time I step on stage.
Which musicians have inspired you?
Oh, my friends, that’s quite a list.
I’d have to say musically Billy Joel and Jeff Buckley are my greatest influences, with their songs still resonating so strongly today.
Lyrically, the incredible storytelling of Damien Rice, Bon Iver and Johnny Cash is the gospel I write my music to the words of.
And lastly, performance-wise and technically Sigur Rós, Kurt Elling and of course, Freddie Mercury are constant sources of inspiration.
Can’t believe you guys made me do that.
What makes your sound unique? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I think that I endeavour to write about things that matter, to make that one song that someone, somewhere will listen to and feel a little bit less alone than before. Personally, I care a lot the stories my songs tell, and it’s so important to me to write something that says something, not just a hooky hit or what’s trending at the moment. And that’s something I think my lovely fans like, and something I don’t think I’ll ever lose.
When did you first get into song writing? Was it always a part of your life?
When I was about…13? I used to have piles and piles of notebooks with lyrics scribbled all over it, and paper hidden in textbooks to write during class… so yeah I’d say it’s been a big part of my life for a long time.
But funnily enough, around 4 years ago I stopped writing music completely for about a year. I realised that song writing actually made the depression I was going through at the time worse, because it was like looking in the mirror and hating what I saw, hating the person who came up with these words. Lots have happened since then, and I guess you could say I’ve made peace with myself, hopefully for the long run.
For anyone who has yet to hear your music, how would you describe the sound of Lincoln Lim?
It’s like a memory, like the smell of coffee from your favourite college coffee spot or a whiff of perfume reminiscent of a lover from long ago. It’s the most vivid of pictures that comes all at once and fades away, and that I hope makes you think about something personal for just a moment.
You have just released your new single, ‘Losing.’ What inspired you to write the song?
‘Losing’ is the third in a five-part series of singles centred on the idea a fixed point of loss, if in every conceivable universe you part with a person you love, for whatever reason. ‘Losing’ itself is about a person who does the Eat, Pray, Love thing and travels the world to try to forget someone, but ends up seeing the person more vividly than before in every amazing sight he finds. It was my way of focusing on not the big moments like the break-up or the getting-together that we as people tend to fixate on, but the long and painful process of moving on and getting over (shout out to John Mayer!)
How would you describe the song?
Losing’s production and arrangement was heavily inspired by the story behind it, so my producer Jaz and I really worked hard to emphasize that idea using a ton of foley (or sound effects) like wave samples, footsteps and leaf rustles, just to name a few. While producing the song I stumbled across a beautiful Portuguese word called Saudade (thank you Duolingo), which translates to profound melancholic longing for someone or something that’s missing. That word was incredibly inspiring to me, and I actually changed a lot of my lyrics to work that into a refrain in the bridge (check it out, it’s in there!)
All in all, I think it’s really as aurally cinematic as a song can be, and I hope you guys take a listen to it!
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Will you be touring this year?
YES, I WILL! I’m going to be heading to Sydney and Brisbane at the beginning of September for 2 shows, one on the 1st of September as part of the King’s Street Crawl at The Marly and one on the 4th of September at BIGSOUND 2019 at Ric’s Big Backyard, so do come down for those, it’s going to be absolutely amazing with two other brilliant acts from Singapore, Caracal and .gif!
What else can we expect from you in 2019? Have you got more new music in the works?
Yes, in fact, I’m currently in the studio as I type this, working on the next single in the series! We’re hoping to release that really really soon, before December comes knocking. Other than that, I’m also in talks with a couple of other artists for a few collaborations coming up and MAYBE another tour to Melbourne before the year closes up, so it’s really busy and I’m super psyched for all that’s coming!
If you could perform or record with any musician, who would you choose, and why?
I think this fluctuates a lot in my head, but I’ve been following Maggie Rogers for the past few years and I’d LOVE to work with her in any conceivable way, she’s amazing, her song writing and production is brilliant and honest and a massive inspiration for me, so it’d be an incredible honour honestly to work with her!
What’s been the career highlight so far and what would you like to achieve going forward?
I think BIGSOUND is probably going to be the biggest show I’ve ever played for, so that’s definitely the highlight at the moment, but honestly every song I put out is important to me and a milestone in my life. I’m proud of my songs and I’m so happy I get to write music every day and have you lovely people listen to it.
For what I want to achieve, I’d really love to play at Laneway, Splendour and Summer Sonic, that’ll be incredibly dope and I’d probably be jumping around for weeks before the show date even comes around.
Do you have any longer-term goals or aspirations as a music artist?
I think at this point, in this moment for where I am, I just want to keep creating things that matter to me.
I’ve been in a place earlier this year where I was really lost with the direction in my music, with so many other voices coming in to tell me what I needed to sound like, look like and be like, and it was honestly way too overwhelming for me to the point that I made songs that I just didn’t recognise anymore. But I think I’ve hit a point of lucidity with ‘Losing’, of saying just fudge it and from here on out, creating what I know is me, and I just want to stay in this place.
Yeah, I want to play the festivals, win the awards and travel the world, but it’s got to be on my terms, because of who I really am, not who they tell me to be.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
Artist – (URGH CAN’T CHOOSE) Damien Rice
Movie – Donnie Darko
Place to visit – Legian, Bali
Venue to play – Baxter’s Lot, Melbourne
Food – (Never ask a Singaporean) Nasi Lemak!
Drink – A glass of 12 Year Lagavulin, neat
Person in History – My Grandfather
Tattoo – I have a verse of Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah wrapped around my arm, and I love that tattoo terribly, probably because it hurt like a mother-
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Follow LINCOLN LIM
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD
SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
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