Boston artist Wendy Lucas is no stranger to the music scene; the 27-year-old singer songwriter has been making music for five years, and has steadily built a reputation as one of the city’s most compelling new voices. Blending raw emotion with sharp lyricism and genre bending soundscapes, Lucas has carved out a unique space that bridges indie-pop, rock, and alt-R&B. Her live performances are magnetic, drawing crowds not just for her powerhouse vocals but for the sheer authenticity she brings to every note. With two EPs under her belt and a growing online following, Lucas is no longer just a local favorite—she’s a rising force poised for national recognition. ECHO sat down with her to ask her all about her upcoming work, getting revenge on an ex, and burnout in the name of passion.
ECHO: Wendy, you’ve made a name for yourself in the Boston scene for your genre-bending sound. How would you describe your music in three words?
Wendy: Honestly, if you asked me before this upcoming album, I’d say “a hot mess.” When you’re younger and just starting out, you’re trying everything in an attempt to find your sound. Now, though, I’d compare my sound to artists like Olivia Rodrigo or Sabrina Carpenter. I’ve been saying I make indie rock for the girly-pops. It’s not three words, but it’s what I’d say!
ECHO: I love that! Honestly, when I listened to your more recent work, that’s exactly who I compared you to. Speaking of which, your song “26 (I’m Drowning)” from your new EP, I Don’t Care That I’m Drowning!!, felt like a statement piece for the lost twenty-somethings. What’s the next track you’ll be releasing that makes everyone sit up and say, “How’d she get inside my head?”
Wendy: Honestly, all my new songs are for the girls! “Lost Art” will be the first single released as part of my album rollout. It’s about not protecting the men who’ve hurt me anymore. Like, you embarrassed yourself, that’s not my problem. You’ll have to suffer the consequences of the truth finally coming out! It has some of my favorite lyrics in it, too: “Everybody give it up now, a round of applause, he’s a star.” These men put on a show and act all high and mighty, and its like, who are you?
ECHO: Does writing about it, finally telling your truth, feel like a release?
Wendy: You know, I just literally can’t let it go. It’s kind of actually a fault of mine. I have to ruminate for 7-10 business days, then maybe I can let it go. I’m all about forgiving and forgetting, but I need to feel the emotion first.
ECHO: It’s so important to let go, and I love that you’re using your new album to do that. Is that your next big project?
Wendy: Yes! It comes out later this year in October. It’s my first full-length album after making so many singles and two EPs, so I’m excited to have a full, cohesive body of work on my hands.
ECHO: You’ve put out so much music over the last few years! You and your team must be working overtime to make all of this happen.
Wendy: My team is just my friends and I, and I’m really lucky to get to make music with them! Production, recording, writing – we do all of it ourselves. It’s exhausting but so worth it.
ECHO: That’s a full-time job! How do you avoid burnout?
Wendy: *Laughs* I don’t. I will say, I have my band and I couldn’t do it without them. My guitarist and bassist help me produce. I couldn’t work full-time and pursue music if they didn’t. This is like my second full-time job, and I couldn’t make real progress or have enough hours in the day without their help.
But, burnout doesn’t matter that much to me. In my mind, I think “I’ll burn out if it means I can just do music full time. I’ll burn out to go on tour one day. Who cares, I’ll figure it out if it means I can have my dreams in the long run.” Eventually, it’s going to pay off, and I’ll thank younger me for fighting through the burnout.
ECHO: When you love it, the burnout is worth it.
Wendy: Totally.
ECHO: How do you get through the long, stressful days?
Wendy: I absolutely love coffee. My dad is a total coffee snob, so I always had really, really good coffee at home. Once you have good coffee, you can never go back! Now, I own a Breville espresso machine and I make myself coffee every morning. I froth my own milk and everything. It’s intense. I need it!
ECHO: So you’re a singer, songwriter, producer, and barista? You do it all! Would you ever do a collab with a coffee brand one day?
Wendy: One of my favorite artists, Abby Holiday, just did a collab with a coffee company and had her branding on the bag and everything. That’s the total dream. I’d also love an Owala or Camelbak sponsorship at some point, because I always carry my water bottle with me. I’m a big believer in having three drinks at once: One for caffeination, one for hydration, and one for fun (usually a Coca-Cola). I’d love to have custom bottles on tour.
ECHO: What, ideally, would you like to be remembered for?
Wendy: I’d like to be known for the fact that I’m not just an artist with an (eventual) label behind me. I’m not a puppet. I’m a musician, I’m someone with a vision, I’m a female producer. I want to show other women that we can do it. If a guy was doing half of the stuff I was doing, he would call himself a producer. Women should be able to own that space, too. I’m lucky I’m in rooms with men who are supportive, but lots of women aren’t and they just kind of suck it up. I want to show them that we can do this, and that we deserve just as much recognition, from ourselves and from others.
Featured Photo Credit: Shus.pixel