LP, via Ashley Champagne/Warner Brothers Records

Then, there comes along LP, an musician that does exactly this.

The Los Angeles singer-songwriter graced Neon Tommy with her time to discuss her music, inspiration and the ukulele.

What should people know about LP and your music?

LP: It’s real. I’m like an indie artist at work. I've going through major labels, but I’ve tried to keep some of that [indie sound] intact and also have a big sound.

What made you want to become a musician?

LP: It was everything else that I didn’t want to be (laughs). It’s felt like the thing that’s called to me the most, like a “soul” thing. I felt called to do something that I loved to do for a living and this is it. It’s one of my goals to be happy and being a musician does that for me.

What is your favorite song to perform live?

LP: I enjoy them all but I think "Tokyo Sunrise" is fun because it’s difficult. It’s still really fun to perform because people seem to like the high notes that I do. I also feel like something’s conjured up in the meaning of the lyrics and it’s such a deep song for me. There’s almost a spirit that gets stirred up with that one.

How’s the tour with Kodaline been going so far?

LP: It’s great—they’re a great band with great guys, and I really love their music. I didn't know a lot of their songs before, so it's ben nice to get to know their music. Also, their songs are always on repeat, so it’s nice when you can listen to a show every single night and constantly say, “Oh I love this song but wait, I love this one too.”

Tell us a little bit about your ukulele.

LP: It’s a very limited instrument in a way and it really only has one sound. It definitely works in the confines of that sound. It’s a very beautiful sound to me and it’s so uplifting and joyful. The ukulele can also be used as a percussion instrument too. It’s such a quirky instrument I just happened to be playing when I started writing all of these songs and that’s the way it happened.

Where do you find inspiration for your music?

LP: I would say just in emotional states that I get in. Ideas will just pop into my head and I’ll build those up from there.  I don’t really know exactly where they come from though. Usually when I have to write for other people, I have to think up different situations, but when I write for myself, it just kind of comes out of somewhere and then I’m like “Oh, wow I didn’t even know I was thinking that." 

If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?

LP: Emotional.  

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You’re also a prolific songwriter for other artists, including Rihanna and Christina Aguilera. Do you prefer performing music or writing it?

LP: Both, I think there’s not one without the other for me. I think that is probably why I got back into performing again because I was writing so much and so that was feeding part of the "music monster" inside of me but then I was coming up with a bunch of stuff for myself to sing as well.

Are there any artists in particular you’d like to work with in the future?

LP: Definitely Adele. I would love to write a song with her.

Can we expect any new music soon?

LP: It looks like there will be a new record out in May, so that’ll be fun. It’ll be great to have new music and just a record out there. It feels kind of vague when you don’t have an album. I think there’s such a difference when we’ve been on tour and I sing “Into the Wild” and people know it and then it turns into a different crowd. It definitely transforms the atmosphere. 

LP will be opening for Kodaline at the El Rey Theatre tomorrow night.

Reach Associate Entertainment Editor Jillian Morabito here.