Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Lostboycrow recently released with his second single off of the third installment of his three-part LP, Traveler. “I’m A Sailor Not A Salesman” premiered a few weeks ago and he describes it as: The idea that who we are and are becoming is a direction leading us to far greater places than any other pursuit. Any other motive.
Weaving in pop, R&B, and electronic music, Lostboycrow is someone who can be the jack of all trades but doesn’t necessarily flaunts all his talents to the world. Little by little we get to know Lostboycrow with his music and we’re intrigued to always hear snippets of his work to get a better idea of who he is and in return, get a better image of ourselves someway, somehow. Check out our interview below with the artist himself to learn more about his latest single, his three-part LP and his future plans.
The Young Folks: Congrats on the release of “I’m A Sailor Not A Salesman”! What inspired you to write this song and how did it all eventually come together?
Lostboycrow: Thank you so much. A lot of the time songs I write come to me by way of a phrase or two that plant themselves deep in my daydreams. “I’m a sailor not a salesman” is kind of a mantra that came to me years ago – I think it sums up the way I resolved to not only live my life but really the kind of artist I wanted to become. I worked with Dylan and Zach (of flor) [and] that phrase found its way back to the tip of my tongue and I brought it along with some chords and a rhythm. It gets natural to write with that idea in mind working alongside two friends and fellow artists that have inspired so much of my story.
The Young Folks: Being that your single is about the journey and in your case, reflecting your journey as a traveling musician, how much has things changed from when you very first started as a musician to now?
Lostboycrow: It’s easy to forget how hard it is when you feel like there’s no place/no demand for your art. It’s a different kind of grind but you do it because you know that’s who you are and to deny that artistry would be a lie. It’s still a grind. In many ways there is much much more to be concerned with – but I spent so many years without anyone listening. I’m honestly just grateful. I’ve written more songs the past three years than I did my entire life. I’m more creative and much happier.
The Young Folks: Can you speak more about your three-part LP Traveler? Why did you decide to release songs in three separate releases?
Lostboycrow: For better and for worse everything is consumed instantly and with such accessibility. The most logical thing in my mind, being an artist who just wants to weave stories into albums, was to release EPs with singles that would make up a much larger story. A compromise for lack of a better word but also a way to keep releasing music constantly throughout the year and still give listeners those stories and colors connecting it all.
The Young Folks: How do you go about figuring out which songs will be placed within each release? Is there a story behind the release of each piece?
Lostboycrow; The first legend (EP) showed me what it wanted to be fairly quick once I got the idea. It was romance. It was youthful. Playful, daring. Ignorant and blissful. I used trees to represent this group of songs because they are the sort of physical manifestation of wind. Unpredictable. Carrying you away.
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The second group of songs became clear after that as well. Nostalgic. Sad. The process of processing. Of looking back and learning. Crossing mountains and gaining perspective.
The third legend was written a lot at the same time as the 2nd but they proved to be more self aware. More freedom – in the lyrics and experimentation of the Music. Like the river – wild but intentional. Free and on a path. No longer looking back.
The Young Folks: When you’ll release Traveler in its entirety, what do you hope people will feel, takeaway, or think about after listening?
Lostboycrow: I hope people will see my journey as a storyteller and as a musician and the person that encompasses those aspects of me. I think the greatest thing would be for the listener to leave the album feeling like they know me as well as themselves better – yet have more questions about both of us then when they starting listening.
The Young Folks: Since 2018 is a new beginning into a new year, how do you envision the rest of the year?
Lostboycrow: The same as this last year just with the volume up all the way. More releases. More intention. More shows. More freedom – to allow myself the privilege of diving deeper into who I’m becoming as a being, so that I can pour that out into making the most impactful art of my life.
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