We were lucky enough to catch up with musician KRISTINA LACHAGA following the stunning release, ‘Love You More’. Enjoy the full review below!

Hi Kristina, tell us about yourself?

Hey! I’m Kristina Lachaga, “The Girl With The Big Pink Heart™.” I’m a Pop Singer/Songwriter based in the US. I’ve been singing professionally since I was nine years old, and I’ve performed in 48 states and Canada (I need to go to Hawaii and Alaska!).

Outside of music, I love learning languages, dancing, and figure skating, and I’m obsessed with bubble tea and palm trees. I’m also a firm believer that One Direction albums are the perfect albums for long car rides.

What is your songwriting process?

I usually get melody and lyric ideas at the same time. I record those ideas on my phone and bring them to my producer to help me create the track. I like to go to a session with a song that’s close to 100% written and with a sense of direction for the song (production-wise) so we have a strong starting point.

Tell us about your excellent latest release, ‘Love You More’?

I’m so happy everyone is loving Love You More! I waited so long to release it — I actually wrote it back in 2016. It’s the first ‘romance’ song that I’ve ever released (the others have been heartbreak, longing, and friendship).

‘Love You More’ is a superb folk-acoustic release; what draws you to the genre?

The song itself brought me into the genre. I think it’s the fingerpicking on the guitar that my producer Rich did. None of my other music is folk, but I do love an acoustic release (original song or cover). One of my favourite releases is the acoustic version of my song R.S.V.P. There’s something about an acoustic-based song that I really love.

You’re based in New York; what’s the live music scene like there in 2023?

I’m so happy to see so many concerts, tours, and events happening this summer! I’m in Upstate New York, and there’s a really strong and supportive Indie scene. I really hope more artists tour through there and that the market grows for more pop concerts.

What message do you think your music conveys to your fans?

I hope my music inspires my fans to pursue their passions and be themselves. I’m an independent artist working to find my space in the music industry, and I think a lot of my fans can relate to that as they’re following their own dreams and finding their own place in the world.

Who are your musical influences?

I don’t think you’ll find them in ‘Love You More’ 🙂 Growing up, I listened to songs by Kelly Clarkson, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, One Direction, Justin Bieber, and Sheryl Crow. Songs by artists like Demi, Kelly, Ariana Grande, and Leona Lewis really helped me find my voice.

Who are your non-musical influences?

I really love figure skating, soccer, golf, and sports in general. Over the years, I’ve become very inspired by the work ethic of athletes. Seeing how hard they work to achieve their dreams pushes and inspires me to work harder.

I also really love Graphic Design and video editing. I was supposed to graduate high school a year early, but I decided to stay. It was actually the best decision because one of the classes I took was Digital Multimedia, where I learned how to use Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, and basic web design. That knowledge has allowed me to be in control of the visuals for all my projects.

What scares you most when releasing music?

I don’t think anything scares me about releasing music, but there’s always a risk factor. As long as you love the song, I think the risk is worth it. You have to release what you want to release versus worrying about what everyone else is doing.

What do you think are the biggest obstacles for bands/artists today?

Everyone is trying to stand out by doing the same thing. And then once you stand out or develop a brand of content (for example, on TikTok), you have to keep it up without compromising your actual artistry… I think it’s a love/hate thing for a lot of artists.

What advice would you give to other bands/artists starting out?

You really have to go out there and make your own opportunities. You can’t wait for people to come to you. Don’t be afraid to cold call, network, and meet new people. Be (genuinely) nice to people (you never know when you might work with them or run into them again!), and most importantly, be yourself.

FVMusicBlog May 2023

https://www.kristinalachaga.com
https://www.facebook.com/KristinaLachaga/
https://twitter.com/kristinalachaga
https://www.instagram.com/KristinaLachaga/