Lauv Songs: Meet Rising Indie Sensation Lauv

Ari Staprans Leff, aka Lauv, dropped his debut EP Lost in the Light in 2015 and has been successfully navigating his way through the dicey waters of the music scene ever since. With a smooth pop voice, intimate lyrics and a style as sweet and simple as a Sunday one-scoop ice cream cone, he’s definitely one to keep an eye on. The singles “I Like You Better” and “The Other” are what put him on the map, generating buzz for the 23 year old NYU alumnist and helping him gain an ever-growing, faithful following. His strong songwriting skills are not just evident in his own work, though, but also in songs he wrote with Charli XCX (“Boys”) and Cash Cash (“All My Love” feat. Conor Maynard).

Recently he took the time to speak with me about what music means to him and how he fits in the current pop/EDM music sphere.

Sonya Alexander: How did you get into music?

Lauv: As a little kid I played piano when I was super young, but I kind of hated it. A few years later I picked up the viola and guitar. It was the guitar that really started everything in terms of me writing songs and becoming obsessed with music. I think I wrote my first song around 13 or 14 and from there it became an obsession. Playing in bands, writing…and, long story short, I ended up spending a couple years at the beginning of my college career taking a step back. I was just going to focus on being a songwriter and producer. Wasn’t really thinking about being an artist. But, a couple years into college, I wrote another song. That song was totally different for me and I felt like I couldn’t give it away.

SA: Lauv is a unique name. How did you come up with it?

Lauv: Lauv is the Latvian word for ‘lion.’ My mom’s side of the family is from Latvia. I would go there every summer growing up. Also, my name Ari means ‘Leo’ and I’m a Leo. I have a birthday coming up.

SA: August 8, right? Any special plans?

Lauv: One of my sister’s is going to be in town, we’ll probably do dinner in Malibu. Then, I’m having dinner on Friday with a bunch of friends. Nothing too crazy.

SA: Where did you grow up?

Lauv: I was born in San Francisco, but I moved around a lot growing up, so I feel weird saying I’m from there. I moved to Georgia, then Pennsylvania for a number of years. Then, went to school in New York. So, that’s kind of a hard question.

SA: How do you compare the New York environment as opposed to the L.A. environment, in regards to creating?

Lauv: I LOVE New York. I miss it all the time. I originally thought that I would be overwhelmed by New York, I almost didn’t move there. I decided to, though, to get outside of my comfort zone. I was there for four years, then decided it was time to move to L.A., do the whole sell my soul thing. (laughs) So, I moved out here, but I left a big piece of myself in New York.

SA: Do you find your creative process different in L.A.?

Lauv: Yeah. The whole walking thing in New York…I’d walk out of my apartment…you see so many things. So many different types of people. Every single day there’s something different happening. I feel like I’d get some of my best ideas just walking to the deli or walking to get coffee in the morning. Now, in L.A., it’s all about driving and it’s so spread out. I definitely find the whole energy different. This morning I had an idea in the shower and I was working on it before we got on this call.

SA: Nice. Who would you say are some of your biggest musical influences?

Lauv: I’d say Paul Simon, John Mayer, Chris Martin. Chris Martin is a big one for me. Just the nostalgic, longing, heartbreak stuff. That’s my favorite. I can never get tired of it. The band Daughter also in terms of super longing…I’m super inspired by them. Since I produce all of my own stuff, there are a few producers that I’m super inspired by. Sam Gellaitry is one. He’s 18, he’s from Scotland. He’s crazy. Cashmere Cat is another one. Any of these producers who are ignoring genre and putting interesting sounds together and sonically pushing the envelope, but still having classic songs.

SA: Who’s your dream person to collaborate with?

Lauv: Definitely Chris Martin.

SA: What is it that you like about him?

Lauv: Actually, I saw him sitting across from Beck at a sushi restaurant in L.A. It was so hard not to say anything…!

SA: You didn’t go up an introduce yourself?

Lauv: No, I didn’t feel like the time was right. It was at this really interesting sushi place, called Sushi Park, which is in a strip mall and looks kind of crappy, but they have the best sushi in L.A. and it’s super expensive.

SA: How do you feel about touring as opposed to working in the studio? Do you prefer one over the other?

Lauv: That’s a good question. I spend so much time in the studio that I’m in a total mind frame that I just want to tour. If I could hop on a bus tomorrow and start a world tour, I would do it.

SA: What’s more exciting to you about touring than being in the studio?

Lauv: After spending so much time in the studio, it’s almost like therapy. I’m emotionally at a place where I want to connect with people and meet people all over the world. I don’t think one is necessarily better than the other, I’m just at that place where I’m ready.

SA: What was the last concert you went to?

Lauv: I think it was the last one I played, which was Summerfest, in Milwaukee.

SA: Did you enjoy it?

Lauv: Honestly, since I was playing, I didn’t really get to see too much. Just got to walk around a little bit. Bob Dylan was playing, but he was playing at the same time that I was.

SA: What do you think about the internet’s role in the music business?

Lauv: I think it’s awesome. I think that more than ever the playing field is leveled. There’s more opportunity for anybody anywhere to get their stuff out there. I certainly experienced that putting out my first song a couple of years ago. Just watching through blogs and Spotify was interesting. I really feel like if you have something people connect to, you have an opportunity just by putting it online and then presenting it to reach people everywhere. I think it’s absolutely incredible.

SA: Are you touring anytime soon?

Lauv: Yeah, we’re about to announce some stuff. I can’t say exactly what, though.

SA: Any venues you prefer?

Lauv: I haven’t toured a whole lot, so anywhere new is exciting to me. I can’t say I have any preference. I just want to hit some new cities.

SA: If you make a mistake while performing, how do you handle it?

Lauv: (laughs) That’s a good question. I just stop the whole show and walk off. No, just kidding. I guess I’ve been lucky that there hasn’t been anything too big. I mean, little mistakes are kind of what performing is all about. Navigating it. Owning it. Or sometimes making fun of it. I try not to really thing about it, I just kind of do whatever feels right.

SA: Do you still get butterflies?

Lauv: Oh, yes! I just breath and try to stay grounded.

SA: Do you have any current music you’re working on?

Lauv: I have tons of stuff I’m working on.

SA: Do you want to stay indie or do you want to get with a label?

Lauv: All I can say is that there is a bunch of music coming.

SA: How does your life as a musician affect your relationship with your family?

Lauv: They’re really supportive and have always been amazing and I realize I’m super lucky that they believed in me pretty much this whole time. As things have gotten busier, it’s been hard to consistently communicate with them. My cousin is getting married at the end of this year and he’s been bugging me for weeks to do things to get ready for it, but I’ve just been so busy that I feel guilty. It definitely takes a little toll. Hopefully they understand. I don’t communicate as often as I’d like, but that love’s still there.

You can catch Lauv at the Billboard Hot 100 Festival in Wantagh, NY on August 20.