Los Angeles-based singer explores electro with her infectious pop songs.
The music of singer Chelsea Lankes pulsates with its own heartbeat. Her dance-pop songs have a charge of their own as she tackles the ups and downs of romance while backed by the swirl of undeniable electro. Hailing from the City of Angels, she works alongside collaborators Nate Campany and Kyle Shearer to craft a catchy sound that's rooted in the electronic, but also often features hooky guitar chords to compliment throbbing beats.
Her eponymous EP and collection of singles display her ability to swing between swaying ballads like "Paralyzed" and dancefloor fillers, like "Bullet," in which she updates the '80s electro sound and brings it to life. We spoke with Lankes about her musical path, collaborations and how Robyn helped to remedy a breakup.
Homebase: Los Angeles, CA
How did you start making music? What drove you to begin?
What do you love about living and creating in LA?
I grew up watching my mom sing all the time! She's probably my main inspiration. I've always loved music and was constantly putting on "performances" for anyone that would watch, but it was when I learned out to play guitar in high school that I began trying to write songs (terrible as they were). As much as I wanted to learn other peoples songs, I wanted just as much to write my own and have a voice.
What music had an impact on you while growing up?
What music had an impact on you while growing up?
So much! I've gone through so many phases — everything from classical to Elvis to Sheryl Crow, to an emo pop punk phase, to country music (I grew up in Texas) and Ryan Adams, and gospel to Spice Girls and Britney Spears or The Cure and New Order and The Smiths. I've never discriminated genres, clearly! But there's so much wonderful music in the world, I could spend the rest of my life learning and listening.
What most fuels your song-writing?
What most fuels your song-writing?
Honesty. It has to come from an honest place or else I can't get behind it. And sometimes songs just happen because you are inspired that particular day! I think saying yes and just chasing creativity and letting go of any preconceived notions of what a song should be when writing is usually when something special happens.
You've collaborated with RAC and Chance the Rapper in very different ways. How did those collaborations come about and what do you value about working on the projects of others?
You've collaborated with RAC and Chance the Rapper in very different ways. How did those collaborations come about and what do you value about working on the projects of others?
Both were very much by connections of other people — I was asked to try something and I just said yes. I love being able to collaborate because I think it brings out a different side of me as a writer and artist. You can put yourself in another world for a little while and that is always exciting to me.
What do you love about living and creating in LA?
LA has so many talented people to be inspired by and to learn from. It's a challenging city but it makes you sharper as a person and an artist and I love that. It's important for me to feel like I've pushed myself outside of my comfort zone time and time again because regardless of what happens creatively, it's making me a better person.
Do you think you'd be making the music you do if you lived in a different city? What drew you to LA in the first place?
Do you think you'd be making the music you do if you lived in a different city? What drew you to LA in the first place?
I'm making the music I'm making largely because of the incredible people I work with. My core producer/writer team — Nate Campany and Kyle Shearer have worked with me on everything I've released and I've learned so much from both of them. I think we have something really special together creatively that can't be replicated.
How long does a song take to come together?
How long does a song take to come together?
It all depends! Sometimes songs take a few days, a couple weeks, or sometimes it all can work in a day. We generally start with a track and shape a melody then work with lyrics afterwards.
Your songs often deal with romance. What's one of your favorite love songs ever? What about it?
Your songs often deal with romance. What's one of your favorite love songs ever? What about it?
Ohhhh this is a tough question. The Beach Boys — "God Only Knows." It's not too happy, it's actually kind of sad, but it's very human. It's timeless because it's simple and honest and melodically genius.
"Bullet" is a pretty empowering tune that highlights the triumph over heartbreak. When is a time a song has helped you through a tough time? What was the song and situation?
Robyn's "Dancing on my Own" definitely is an empowering song that I listened to after going through a breakup. I spent plenty of time listening to all the melancholy songs, but that song brought me out of my funk. It's ok to feel sad for a while but sometime ya just have to dance it out!
You video for "Bullet" brings to mind Flashdance. If you could soundtrack any film, what would it be and why?
I'd love to work with Sophia Coppola. She's one of my favorite directors and her soundtracks are always compelling and subtle.
What are your goals as a musician in the short and long term?
What are your goals as a musician in the short and long term?
I'd love to write and release a full length album, tour, have radio success. Long term, I want to be writing songs for other artists, for film/tv and for myself.
