Switzerland native Lumane is not your typical pop artist. Much of her inspiration stems from her mother playing “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven on the piano when she was just a toddler. 4 year old Lumane put her foot forward to be like her mom learning to play different instruments throughout the years to come. In the mix of that was learning to use her vocal gift in hopes of expressing her creative side.

Lumane had the opportunity to audition her talents at the age of 13 in front of super star judges in Germany on a show called “Das Supertalent”, which is similar to America’s Got Talent. She sang her heart out only to be left with no invitation back. Lumane was determined to grow. Years later with thousands of hours put into vocal lessons and practice, she auditioned for the Voice of Switzerland making her way through 3 rounds. While this was progress it wasn’t enough for Lumane.

Lumane did not give up. With the support of her family, she pushed further to achieve her dreams. A plane ticket to New York with hope in her heart led to an opportunity to finally take the first steps in using her talents to create her first set of songs.

Lumane worked with a Grammy nominated producer on songs like “Taboo” and “Letters”, which are two recent releases from this electro-pop artist. Her next song titled “White Lies” is a story we all have. Lumane was scared of breaking the heart of a man she was dating thousands of miles away using a white lie to ease the blow of the breakup. You can feel the battle of emotions throughout the song with verses that build up to explosive choruses. Sounds like good song, right? You can hear for yourself on all streaming platforms.

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Danielle/MT: Who are some of your musical influences? When did you know music was your calling and when did you figure out why you needed to pursue music as your career?

Lumane: Growing up I always wanted to be like Christina Aguilera. She’s such a powerhouse singer. But ever since “Joanne” came out my biggest musical influence is definitely Lady Gaga. I love her musical style, the passion and power in her voice and what she stands for as a person. Lady Gaga is truly trying to make a difference in the world through her music. To me, that’s really inspiring and something we should all aim to do.

For me there was never really a moment where I was like “I have to pursue music, this is my calling”. Music was all I ever did and there was never another option on the table. I started my musical journey at 4 years old and haven’t done anything besides that. When it came to figuring out what to do after high school I was just trying to find ways to move to the US to really go after my dream of being a singer. I knew that I needed to pursue this dream because it’s all I’ve ever dreamed of. My brother fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional race car driver in Europe. Seeing him work hard for this dream and succeeding made me feel like I can do the same.

 

MT: How long have you been singing and performing for?

Lumane: I honestly don’t remember a time where I wasn’t just always singing. I had to wait until I was 13 to take voice lessons (that was my local music school’s rule…) but as soon as I could, I did. I remember having my first gig in school in 5th grade and I absolutely loved it. I haven’t stopped performing since. Connecting to an audience is one of the best feelings ever.

 

MT: Who do you enjoy listening to as a fan?

Lumane: I am a sucker for top 40 music. Right now, all I listen to is Lady Gaga’s new “Chromatica” album. It’s absolute fire! I’m the kind of person who listens to the same couple of songs over and over again until I can’t stand them anymore and move on to the next songs. But luckily, I won’t ever have to run out of music with so much amazing music out there in the world!

 

MT: When was your very first recording and release?

Lumane: I recorded my first ever EP when I was in high school under the name “La Rebelle”. It was a live music recording with a band that I put together just for that recording. It was a lot of fun! Btw. No need to google that name, nothing will show up. I never “officially” released any of that music. Under Lumane I recorded my first songs in 2018 and released my first single in 2019. I am super happy with the songs we recorded. So far three of them are out, another 5 are to come!

 

MT: You recently released your single “White Lies”.  Can you explain how this more about the meaning of the song and how it ties into your music goals?

Lumane: The song “White Lies” is all about not telling the whole truth to protect the person I’m lying to. A couple months after I moved to the US I broke up with my boyfriend back in Switzerland. Eventually we got back together again but yes, you guessed it, I wanted to break up with him for good this time. I felt really bad because I promised him that I wouldn’t do that again. So I had to tell a white lie to not completely crush him. The song is also about letting go of something that you know won’t make you as happy as you deserve to be. Sometimes it’s just better to move on than trying to fix it.
To achieve my music goals I will most likely have to let go of something in order to find something better suited for me. Just like when I first started making music under “La Rebelle”. I needed to move on from it and evolve into the singer and musician I wanted to be. Evolving is so important, not only as a singer but also as a person. A lot of times people seem to struggle with that. I think it’s something beautiful, inevitable and necessary to reach your true potential.

 

MT: You are now 24 and you wrote your first song when you were 10. Can you describe your current sound? Has your sound changed since you wrote your first song?

Lumane: I would describe my current sound as a mix between electro pop and pop/rock. The production of my songs is more electro pop while my vocals have more a pop/rock feel. I want my music to be uplifting, empowering and truthful. My personality is very bubbly and happy. While not all my songs are happy, you can definitely see my personality shine through in my songs.
My sound has definitely changed a lot! When I first started writing I was just playing chords on my piano and wrote words and a melody to those chords. But when I got older I started playing around with Logic Pro X and explored some sounds. This was amazing to me as a songwriter because it helped me get my ideas out of my head and into the software so I could actually hear what was in my head. Other than that, my sound isn’t very far off of what I started with. I always wanted to make pop music. With time and practice I developed my own sound, which I am now super happy with. I can truly say that my sound is me and that’s an amazing feeling.

MT: Your performances have been fun and intimate. Do you have a favourite performance to date and why?

Lumane: My favourite performance so far was last December. I got to play an intimate Sofar show in Indianapolis. I love playing intimate gigs. It really gives me the opportunity to connect to the audience on a more personal level. Telling the stories behind my songs and really having the full attention of my audience is something so beautiful but yet rare to new artists. It is hard to find gigs with an audience who truly cares about you and your music when you’re just starting out. It was also super nice to talk to the people before and after my set. I love getting feedback from the audience, it helps me grow as an artist.

 

MT: What has been your biggest challenge in your music career so far? How did you overcome that obstacle?

Lumane: My biggest challenge in my music career was right after I decided to finish Berklee online to write and record my album in Nashville. Switching to online school meant that I didn’t have a valid student visa anymore. I could only stay in the US for 90 days at a time. The US boarder patrol wasn’t happy with me and all the time that I spent in the US as a tourist. They interrogated me at the Chicago airport for 3 hours. Eventually they let me go but I got banned from the ESTA visa waiver program. This meant I only had 90 more days in the US and then I had to leave for good until I could find another way to enter the US on a different visa. I had writing sessions scheduled that I now had to reschedule and cramp all into those 90 days. I had to write and record demo versions of all the songs on my album in just 90 days. It was crazy. At the same time I was trying to find a way to get a visa so that I’ll be able to come back to actually finish the recordings. It was absolute pandemonium. I cried for many many days because I felt so helpless. It all eventually worked out because I didn’t give up. I am now a proud green card holder and my whole album is recorded and ready for release!

 

MT: From what you have learned about your challenges in the music business, what advice would you like to give upcoming new artists?

Lumane: Persistence is key. You just can’t give up. There are so many artists out there trying to do the same thing as you are. You have to find a way to stand out of the crowd and you can’t give up. You will get 100 no’s before you get a yes. But once you do get that yes, it will all have been worth it!

 

MT:   Besides singing, do you play any musical instruments? How long have you been playing them?

Lumane: I do play instruments! I played classical piano for 9 years and then changed to playing chords so I could accompany myself. I also play a tiny bit of guitar. But I am definitely much more comfortable on the piano.

 

MT: What’s a typical day for you? Do you work on your music every day? What other activities or hobbies besides music do you like to do that your fans may like to know about?

Lumane: I work on my music every day, yes. On the creative side that might be songwriting or singing or doing some photoshoots by myself. Everyday I try to somehow be creative. But being a singer is not just about being creative. A lot of it is business. My music business teacher at Berklee always said that the music industry is 90% business and only 10% music but the 90% doesn’t exist without the 10%. The business side of being a singer is also something I work on daily. That might be reaching out to blogs, playlists, radio stations, etc. On a typical day I spend about 2-3 hours being creative and the rest of the “working” day I pretty much spend in front of the computer emailing people.
I have always loved cooking. Starting in 5th grade I was the one cooking for my family at home.

Being quarantined these last few months helped me dig deeper into food. I started growing my own vegetables. I have zucchinis, tomatoes, carrots, eggplants, and the list goes on and on. Every time I pick up something new, I always go all the way. I don’t like doing something half hearted. So my backyard is now basically one big garden and I absolutely love it. Not only does the food taste amazing, is fresh and organic, but I’m also doing the planet a favor by growing my own food.

 

MT:   You have an album coming out this year. What would you like fans to know about the meaning behind the music on your upcoming EP? Where can fans find  your music when it is released?

Lumane: I am super pumped to finally release my whole album soon. I’ve been working super hard on it and am very proud of the outcome. My heart, soul and guts are in that album. Every song tells a story out of my life. By being truthful, open and vulnerable I hope that my music can help some people out there who are going through a rough patch in their life. My whole goal is to leave the world a better place than I found it and I’m hoping my music and my stories help with that. Once the album is out you can find it on all streaming platforms. If you don’t want to wait for the digital release you can order a CD on my website lumanemusic.com so you can listen to the whole album now.

 

MT:    Do you have any up-coming performances you would like fans to know about? Is there anything else you would like to announce for your fans or anything you would like them to know? 

Lumane: I was putting together a small tour for this summer, but now with this pandemic going on, I had to cancel all of my gigs. With the uncertainty of when things are going to open back up again I have not scheduled any more gigs. You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram (@lumanemusic) to catch a live stream of me singing some tunes.
Other than that, get ready for the whole album to come out this year! I’m super excited to share it with you all and can’t wait to hear what you guys think!

 

MT: Do you have any specific rituals or do anything specific before you head out on stage or even before you record your vocals in the studio?

Lumane: I wouldn’t say that I have a specific ritual. I always warm up my voice before I record or perform and I like to make sure that I have room temperature water close by. Other than that, I like to connect with people before I go on stage or record. At the end of the day that’s all we’re looking for when we listen to music or watch a performance: a connection to someone else. Doing exactly that before taking the stage or entering the booth helps me get into the right head space.

 

MT: Where can people see you perform next; are you planning on taking your music out to the fans?

Lumane: I’m hoping to be back out there soon, once concert venues start to open back up again. In the meantime you can catch me on my Facebook and Instagram pages for some live streams.

 

MT: Thank you so much for your time Lumane, I really appreciate it and all the very best with ‘White Lies’!

Lumane: Thank you so much for giving me a platform to share my music! I really appreciate it.

 

 

LINKS TO LUMANE BELOW

Powerful Songstress Lumane Not Your Typical Pop Artist