Born and raised in the Austrian mountains, UK-based singer-songwriter Lea G should be on everyone’s up-and-coming radar. With one EP already under her belt, she is already becoming a force to be reckoned with. Her new single titled “MISFIT” comes out on March 25th with a new EP expected later this year. I got to sit and chat with Lea G about her upcoming endeavors, inspirations, and more. Check it out below!
Q: How did you get into creating music?
Lea G: I started doing music when I was 6 years old. I was a part of my school’s choir and was also getting classically trained on the violin. I started playing the guitar and writing my own songs when I was 13. It was around this time that I discovered Ed Sheeran and fell in love with his music. I figured if he could write songs, I could too.
At 16, after doing an exchange year in the UK and taking a music performance program, I started doing gigs and making connections in the UK music scene. When I went back to Austria to finish my A-levels, I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I began going on songwriting retreats and in 2019, after finishing my A-levels, I moved to the UK and began studying at the Notting Hill Academy of Music. This is where I began to play more gigs and make more connections.
Q: What artists influenced you and your music style the most?
Lea: I’m really into classical music, but I wouldn’t say that’s what inspires me today. I feel like the melodies of today’s music influence my lyric writing the most. Artists that inspire me at this moment are female up-and-coming artists such as Orla Gartland, Greta Issac, and Holly Humberstone. Ed Sheeran has been a big inspiration when it comes to writing.
Q: With your move to London, did you experience any difficulties with finding your spot in the scene?
Lea: Absolutely. I didn’t know anyone and I was miles away from my family. I’d been to London before as a tourist, but living there came as a complete culture shock. London has more inhabitants than Austria and living in a big city got lonely at times, but I coped with that by going to every show and playing every gig because I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I eventually made more friends and connections, but it was not easy. I do recommend it, though!
Q: I see you have a new single coming out on March 25th titled “MISFIT.” What can you tell us about it? What was your inspiration for writing it?
Lea: I’m really excited about the project as a whole that I’m releasing this year. It’s the closest to my heart and it’s a reflection of how I’ve felt in this moment and over the past few months. My next single “MISFIT” is one I’m really excited about. Growing up, I was bullied in school and was always too much in general. I never felt like I fit in and I hated myself for it because I really wanted to be normal and fit in with everyone. When you’re in your early teens, fitting in seems so important, but I never really felt a part of it. Seeing myself grow up from the outside, I realized that I know who I am and I’m fine with not fitting in. I really hope that the story behind the song inspires people to be themselves, be bold, and love their differences.
Q: Your previous EP focused on topics such as coming of age challenges and love. What topics can we expect on your new EP “SURVIVAL MODE”?
Lea: Overall, mental health is the central theme of the EP. Topics like coping with everyday life as a young adult and fitting in are included. It’s very introspective, but very universal because I know everyone is going through things at the moment. It’s very overwhelming as a young person to know how to feel about these things and separate yourself when the media becomes overwhelming. It touches on all of these topics.
Q: With recording songs that deal with mental health and other personal issues, what do you yourself do to make sure you don’t burn out?
Lea: One thing I like to do is have a routine. Things like journaling, doing yoga, and meditating before I look at my phone has been the biggest change in my life that has helped me mentally while I navigate through things. Accepting that some days will be productive and others won’t has been a huge plus as well. Sometimes, you just need a break and that’s ok!
Q: Finally, with the release of your EP in September, can we expect to see you on the road?
Lea: Yes! I don’t know when I will be able to come across the pond, but I am currently planning a UK tour for sometime in May and a European tour in September. Hopefully sometime next year, I will be able to come across the pond!
And we will be waiting! Be sure to check out Lea G and her new single “MISFIT”, out March 25th. Listen to her first EP, YOU(TH) below, and stay in touch on Twitter, Tik-Tok, and Instagram by following her at @Lea_G_Music across all platforms.
