@Dylan Bourne
Californian pop-rocker Cody Lovaas has been making waves in the indie scene lately. Vinylmnky was lucky enough to catch up with the 18-year-old to discuss his rise, influences, and what's next. Check it out.
[ Vinylmnky ]: Congrats on the release of the new single Lie. It has a very rich and expansive sound, which seems to be a natural extension from your roots. Tell us about the writing process for it. How was it different from previous experiences?
[ Cody Lovass ]: ‘Lie’ portrays a character trait I find very important: honesty. I wrote this song with the very talented Jake Scott. ‘Lie’ came relatively quickly to us when we were writing because it comes from my personal experiences. The message throughout this song is choosing honesty over manipulation.
[ Vinylmnky ]: Alone channels a bit of James Bay. Other songs are full of Jack Johnson and John Mayer (with your unique stamp, of course). What artists do you draw inspiration from?
[ Cody Lovaas ]: I used to only listen to a few artists like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Jack Johnson, but now that I have opened my eyes and ears to all different kinds of music, genres, and artists, I can honestly say that I am inspired by all kinds of music. Whether, it is R&B, Pop, Rap, Hip Hop, or just about anything, it all has an effect on me. I guess I used to just be a music lover only in the sense of writing, but now I am a music lover whether it’s listening, writing, performing, etc. Some artist that really inspire me right now are Kaleo, Bishop Briggs, Anderson .Paak, The Weeknd and Allan Rayman.
[ Vinylmnky ]: Your musical approach seems to come from a very pure and present place. Can you explain this? How much does surf culture influence you?
[ Cody Lovaas ]: My music comes from a very honest place. I write about things going on in my life. Surfing has such a huge impact on me as it keeps me grounded and humbled. There is nothing more physically powerful than the ocean so it is very easy to feel humbled when you are being tossed around like you’re weightless.
@KeeLee Lovaas
[ Vinylmnky ]: How was touring with Jason Mraz and Ziggy Marley? Any standout memories? What did you take away?
[ Cody Lovaas ]: Opening for Jason Mraz on his North American Tour was surreal. It was amazing to walk into full venues built and created from his words and songs. The preparation and focus is something that I admire about Jason. For him to show belief in me inspired and gave me so much confidence in what I am doing. J is an amazing artist, incredible guy, and an outstanding friend.
[ Vinylmnky ]: You can bring it playing solo/acoustic but you equally shine with a full band. Which do you prefer?
[ Cody Lovaas ]: Performing live is a great opportunity to connect with people, connect with your songs, and share emotion. Each song is telling it’s own story and the production of each song should be catered to that story. I love all types of performing: with a big band, solo with just me and a guitar, looping, etc. and I’m glad I get to do it all.
@KeeLee Lovaas
[ Vinylmnky ]: What are your thoughts on the resurgence of vinyl as the best listening medium and how immersive, social, and artistic listening to music on vinyl is?
[ Cody Lovaas ]: I grew up listening to Amos Lee, Ray Lamontagne, Jimi Hendrix, etc. and I have always wondered if music will ever get back to that greatness. I think vinyl keeps music, modern or not, at that greatness. Nothing can compare to the needle hitting the record.
[ Vinylmnky ]: What are you most looking forward to in 2017?
[ Cody Lovaas ]: I could not be more excited about 2017. I am so pumped to be releasing a ton of new music, performing more and more live, and of course, writing new songs. I’ve spent the last 11 years working on my craft and I feel like 2017 is the beginning of sharing what I have been working on.
[ Vinylmnky ]: We are eager to see what you do this year and watching your career as an artist grow. God speed!
[ Cody Lovaas ]: Thank you and the entire Vinylmnky team!
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