Interview took place a few weeks ago, when LP was with a visit to Moscow. For interview in Russian, click here. I wanted to thank @gillesloves for her help in translating the interview into English.
Singer LP told us how a personal drama helped her to gain the world fame.
She wrote hit songs for Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Cher
and then became a world famous star herself.
What prevented her from gaining the fame earlier and what does she think about marriage?
That’s what LP told us in the exclusive interview for Lady.Mail.Ru.
Interviewer: LP, your birth name is Laura, but it’s said you don’t like it. Why?
LP: It’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just that when parents give you a name, they don’t know you as a person, and the name may not suit you afterwards. Of course, I love my parents and respect their choice, but I’ve been called LP for a very long time, so my own name has become like the name of a stranger. It’s like saying to me: «Hi, Sarah! ».
I: It isn’t your first time in Moscow and Russia at all. Would you be able to live here?
LP: Moscow is like my hometown, New York, so yeah I think that I could live here. Even people in Moscow are like Americans in New York. I mean they’re stylish, art loving and they’re really hard workers.
I: You even have a tattoo in Russian!
LP: I have a lot of tattoos, and I do love making them in various cities of the world. I’ve been to Russia a lot of times and always met kind and softhearted people. Even in the show « Live Breakfast with Brigade U! » the concert hall was full of joyful people, despite that it was a very early morning! And when I was in Kazan with my concert, I decided to make a tattoo to remember that. And because I was in Russia, I felt like I should make my tattoo in Russian. I’ve chosen the word «Любовь» because it means the same thing in all languages of the world, and what could be better than love?
I: You wrote songs for Rihanna, Cher and other superstars. Why didn’t you sing your own songs earlier? The story of a singer Sia and yours are so similar.
LP: My solo career started by an accident. I’ve already tried to start my own career, but being a singer always means being under some kind of clichés. It’s like a beautiful image of a person in a dress. Sia has a really special voice, but when you look at her, you wouldn’t think there is a man in front of you. Unlike me. That’s why my road to stage was longer.
I: Which superstars became your friends after you’ve worked together?
LP: No one, really. I liked working with them, but friendships didn’t work out with anyone. You know, it’s like cooking together in a kitchen with a guy called Luke. You know his name, but you’re not friends.
I: Do you enjoy being a star? I bet you can’t even go for a walk with your dog.
LP: I can! I play indie-music, so I don’t have a large amount of fans as pop singers do. For a week only two or three people can come up to me on the street, so I have a chance to live peacefully. And when my fans come up to me and say how much they love my songs, it’s a pleasure for me. I don’t consider popularity as a bad thing, but only if it’s not the main goal.
I: You’ve became popular when you wrote a song about breaking up with your lover. Is such emotional tornado necessary for making hit songs?
LP: When you go through this once or twice it’s like you move to the world inside of you. It helps you to write music in some way, but when you are forced to feel such kind of emotions that break your heart, over and over again… Of course, life should be emotional, but not like that.
I: How do you feel about marriage?
LP: I’ve thought about this question, but I haven’t found a definite answer yet. Me and my fiancé realized that the official ceremony is expected more by the state or the public, but it isn’t as important to us. We don’t really care about that. But in the same time I don’t support open relationships in which partners can date other people. For me, love and relationships are possible only with one person, but formalizing a relationship doesn’t play a big role for me.
I: How did your loved ones reacted when they first learned that you were dating a girl?
LP: Actually, I’ve never cared about what my friends and family would think/say. I love them, but it’s better to take care of your own life by yourself, and not waiting for a judgment from others. And then, it is not necessary to focus on gender, people should be able to love regardless of anything.
Anna from Poland. I have been a blogger for a long time, but more in a royal field. Since 'meeting' LP through her music and as a person, a lot has changed. If I'm not working on my blog, I work as a teacher. I love to travel, read & dance. I sing & play uke when no one listens. Music was always a big part of my life.
