Charting 1.9 million+ streams worldwide, breakout singer-songwriter Lánre writes catchy heartfelt songs set to a blend of R&B, pop, and electronic music. Lánre, born Olánrewaju Keyede, began his music career at age 10 in his hometown of Plainfield, New Jersey where he attended a music school and was classically trained in vocal performance. Lánre’s artistry promotes a sense of nostalgia akin to the era of pre-streaming pop stars like Michael Jackson, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and Chris Brown, which he frequently lists as major influences on his music and look. He is definitely an artist to keep an eye on as he blazes his path toward superstardom with every hit.
What or who inspired you to begin a career in music?
I began singing and performing at the age of 5, inspired by watching “Lion King” and Michael Jackson videos with my parents. This early exposure sparked a deep love for music and performing. My parents enrolled me in performing arts schools, where I received classical training in singing and performance. My biggest musical influences include Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Chris Brown.
What differs you and your sound from other artists in the music industry?
I draw inspiration from various genres such as pop, R&B, and electronic music to create a sound that is uniquely mine. Combined with the soulful quality of my voice, it’s been a refreshing experience for people who listen to my music.
Your latest project, ‘up all night’ is out now via all major platforms. Can you please describe the creative process and inspiration behind the sophomore EP?
Each song on the EP started from an entry in my therapy journal. The project’s theme revolves around situations that have kept or still keep me up at night. I wanted to bring listeners into these intimate thoughts and experiences, creating a personal connection through my music.
In your own opinion, what is the most meaningful song you wrote? What makes you say that one?
All of the songs mean so much to me, so this is a little like picking your favorite child lol I will say that I can’t listen to track 4, ‘burnin.’ without getting emotional. The song is about burnout and the pressure I put on myself to always be at my best. In the verse I say ‘I keep my door closed, I keep my phone on silent…’; when I was a kid I used to close my door to self-regulate when things got too intense. Now as an adult, I do the same thing, just by putting my phone on do not disturb, so it was cool to discover that parallel within myself when writing it.
How do you handle the balance between artistic expression and connecting with your audience?
I’ve learned that you connect with your audience the best by staying true to yourself. I know we all have our unique life experiences, but I believe that we have more in common with each other than we think. I don’t really ‘try’ and make music that I think will connect now, I just make music that I love and that resonates with me. I believe the right people will find it and connect to it and it’s a very fulfilling gift to be able to do that.
Can you share a memorable or defining moment in your career so far?
I held an EP release party for ‘up all night.’ with family, friends and fans in Atlanta. Being able to celebrate the release of this project and perform the whole thing for the first time was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I had so many people from different parts of my life get to see me sing and walk through this project that means so much to me. The fact that I’m at this stage in my career to be able to do that, means a lot to me.
What advice would you give to aspiring singer-songwriters who are just starting their musical journey?
Don’t change who you are because you want to fit in or be more marketable. Stay true to yourself and your integrity, because the audience is not dumb and they’ll smell your phoniness a mile away. You are enough, and the music industry needs your unique take and perspective, so double-down on finding your sound and being yourself!
What does the foreseeable future hold for you as an artist?
I’m going on tour! I have SE US tour planned for this fall starting in late-August and I’m excited to perform all this new music for audiences in Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, and Miami. We’ll be adding more cities to that list this fall. Besides that, I have some really exciting song collaborations coming soon that I can’t wait to start talking about.
Lánre is artistically at the top of his game and surely has a huge future ahead. And the most exciting part – he’s still only really just getting started.
‘up all night’ is available now via all major platforms.
Connect with Lánre
Website | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify
Credits: All photography by Tommy Du
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