Featured Photo Credit: Jono White
For lozeak, music is instinctual. Ever since she was a baby toddling around Norwich, her music-obsessed parents would blast the bass and drums of Luther Vandross, Madonna, and Amy Winehouse.
Later, that musical upbringing guided her through her grunge, pop-rock teenage years, and eventually to her destined career as an artist. You could say she followed her gut.
Her debut mixtape, Gut Feeling blends the R&B, Soul, Rock, and Pop that soundtracked her youth. Initially heralded by “XO” and “Cutthroat,” the ten track project takes a diaristic pop-rock look at concepts like taking things too far and being detached from reality.
We chatted with the modern alt-pop-rocker about the mixtape, touring, and more!
Congrats on the release of your debut Mixtape, Gut Feeling! How does it feel to have it out in the world?
I feel so proud of myself. I’m so excited that everyone can finally hear what I’ve been creating.
This project has been a long time coming. You started working on it at 16. How has the mixtape evolved since then?
It took me a long time to figure my sound out and I’m grateful I had the time to do this. I’ve had many phases like pop, heavy rock, hyper pop, even R&B! I feel like over time it’s evolved into a perfect mix of everything.
You grew up in a very musical household. Who did you listen to growing up and did that music influence your sound and this mixtape? If so, how?
Growing up my parents played me a lot of Kasabian, Radiohead, Jimi Hendrix, Novara and Led Zeppelin as well as Madonna, Kate Bush and Amy Winehouse. Even as a toddler, I was singing Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” whilst being pushed round the trolly in Tesco- I LOVED everything my parents played me. This iconic rock/pop influence (and Amy’s iconic soulful voice) inspired the mixtape a lot musically. As well as my own musical interests growing up (being Paramore, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Avril Lavigne) everything seemed to fall into place when I realised I could create my own balance of rock/punk riffs and sounds with pop melodies and voices.
You collaborated with The Nocturns on the project. How did you get connected and what was it like to collaborate?
I met the Nocturns through my management. I instantly knew I loved working with them, in our first ever session we wrote “Used To You” (the day after I turned 18!)
Do you have any favorite memories from the process?
Probably when The Nocturns sampled my cat’s meow into “Used To You.”
What inspired the lead single “Drag Me To Hell?”
I saw a sad quote online that was about letting people “drag you to hell” if you could stay with them. I related to this feeling- I often give my all to things and take it too far even when it’s bad for me.
Do you have a favorite track off the mixtape? If so, why?
My favourite song on the mixtape is “Dry Eyes.” Ever since I wrote this song I knew it was my favourite – the feeling of being numb towards love in relationships has always been a big thing for me. I find it easier to be mean/repel the people that mean the most to me! I can imagine the feeling of playing this song in arenas.
If you could set fans up in the perfect environment to listen to the Mixtape, what do you imagine it looking like?
I wouldn’t say I could imagine a perfect environment for my fans to listen to the tape because they are all so different. I want my fans to listen to the mixtape wherever they feel comfortable and most themselves. I want my mixtape to be the backing track of their teen years, just like it was for me .
You just finished up touring with Cassyette. What was that like?
Such an eye opening experience for me! I definitely realised that people are there to have fun, not to judge you on stage, even if that seemed obvious lol. By the end of this tour, I felt super confident on stage. I have definitely fallen in love with performing, if I could do this every day I would. also loved being able to interact with fans in real life and spend time with them.
What can fans look forward to next?
I’m playing festivals this summer including 2000 Trees, Burn It Down and Great Escape. A headline tour is being worked on as we speak which is super exciting. Lots of IRL fan meet ups and events this year, as well as more music!!!!
What is one quote that you have heard or that you go by that you want to ECHO out to the world?
“Be who you are always. Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”