Lhasa Petik
Lhasa Petik is one hell of a talent and I’m so glad I got to discover her. She has just released her brand new single titled “Here and Gone” and it’s very promising.
First of all, she killed the production. Second, her vocals are captivating, and the melodies are perfect. Petik does a lot by herself including producing her own tracks and seeing female artists doing all these things is inspiring me every day. Lhasa Petik is inspiring and amazing at what she does.
Make sure to check her out and make sure to support her new single “Here and Gone”, out now :)
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Yo, thanks for the questions! My name is Lhasa Petik and I am a singer-songwriter/ bedroom producer from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
What did you grow up listening to?
I vividly remember listening to tons of classic rock on the radio. My mom always had a rock radio station bumping, which played tons of Queen, AC/DC, Led Zepplin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd etc... On a weirder note, I was also OBSESSED with a ragtime music CD for a while, and I would listen to it on repeat. Classical music was also something I loved, so I’d say I had a well rounded upbringing.
When did you start producing your own music? What was the biggest challenge when you first started?
I was writing songs in highschool as a way to vent, and started releasing them in grade 12 after someone pushed me to do so. My biggest challenge was definitely self doubt. It often clouded over my vision, and I got really depressed because I convinced myself that no one cared about my music. It’s definitely something that I still worry about, but it has gotten heaps better.
At what point did you realize you had to become an artist and release your original music?
It was a long journey before I felt even slightly confident in my abilities, and some days are still clouded by that self doubt, but living in Australia did wonders for me. I moved to Straya for 10 months in 2019, and ended up playing a bunch of gigs which really boosted my self confidence. I remember chilling one day after a gig, and I was like this is it. This is what I’ve gotta do. I had a bunch of people pushing me to do it for my whole life, but it was definitely a decision I had to make in my own time, and I wouldn’t have done anything differently.
How would you define Lhasa Petik, the artist?
A huge part of my self worth is definitely based on my ability to be creative, and I want to be involved in every single part of my process. I’m not sure if it is an ego thing or just a pure love for music, but I feel a crazy drive to do everything myself. Even on a performance front, I will always strive for that Tash Sultana vibe, cause artists like her are the artists that I really resonate with. I’ve also been taking lessons on and off on various instruments for 17 years, so I want to put that knowledge to use, and push myself to tell my story in the most honest and genuine way possible.
What lessons have you learned since the beginning of your career?
I think the most important lesson that I’ve learned this year is that you need a good team around you. More eyes/ears on a project can be so crucial, which kind of goes against what I said ‘defines Lhasa’ in the previous question. I always thought that I had to do everything myself, and thought that if every song wasn’t 100% produced by me I was a failure even though those are not the standards/expectations I have for other artists. I don’t think twice if there's multiple writers or producers on a song unless that artist is me, so I’m trying to be more gentle with myself. However, I do think this has given me the drive to learn and understand every part of the process, so I don’t view it as a completely negative thing. Music can be a lonely place, so I understand the importance of having people in your corner so learning to let go of my pride/ego has been one of the most important steps in this journey.
"Here and Gone" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this single?
I think the crazy instrumental is a good reflection of how all over the place my mind was while I was creating “Here and Gone.” When I write, I never think about the meaning of a track until the whole thing is finished. I think interpreting while writing slows down my creative process a bit, so I dig deep into the meaning post-master. This lil tune is heavy as hell, and is about my inability to deal with emotions. The song starts off by talking about chasing fast highs/being indecisive with emotions, and is a bit of a warning for all the craziness that happens in my mind. Quarantine has definitely been tough, so this track was my way of venting all my emotions. The line “are you really living if you never think of dying” is very literal because there have been times where I have felt super hopeless. However, I think those lows have really shaped who I am, and I’ve been working towards embracing those times because I think that contrast is what has made me who I am today, and it also makes life more interesting.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it?
This track was super fun to make because my process was totally opposite to how I usually work. I ended up producing the whole thing myself, and got my friend Will to help out on the mixing and mastering. He was a legend throughout this whole process and we actually ended up fully mixing the track multiple times because I ended up making 2 different versions of the track. “Here and Gone” doesn’t have many recorded instruments like guitar or uke, because I just wanted to experiment in Ableton. I wanted the heaviness of the track to reflect and compliment the lyrics, so I started with the bassline and built the entire track around it. I wanted to bring in some hyperpop elements as well, so I tossed some autotune on a bunch of the background vocals, which definitely gives it a different vibe than my previous releases. I ended up stripping some elements back or eliminating them completely after the track got a lil chaotic. I think a lot of times with pop music, less is more, so this track involved a lot of prioritizing, and ensuring that everything had a clear purpose.
What did you feel when writing this single?
I honestly try not to overthink things when I am writing, so I don’t pay too much attention to my feelings while writing, but it felt like a huge weight off my chest once everything was done. This is a single where I am definitely wearing my heart on my sleeve, and it feels good. I think the more honest I am, the more satisfied I am with the end product, because it feels raw and genuine.
What made you want to release "Here and Gone" as a single?
‘Here and Gone’ was a single that didn’t feel like it was trying too hard to be anything else. While producing, I wasn’t referencing many songs, so I think it didn’t have any major influences. Although I have tons to learn, I was super proud of the way this track turned out, and I still feel the same way a thousand spins later.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
Being an artist is definitely super fulfilling because I have a creative way to express the way that I’m feeling. In fact I think writing is often the only way I process my emotions, and I do not know where I would be without it. I think the best part of music is the constant growth and change you go through. It’s always super cool to go through old demos and see how far I have come, which makes me excited for where I will be in two months or two years. However, being an artist comes with its challenges too. I find that it can be a bit of a lonely place sometimes, and the self doubt can hit hard. It is easy to get into a spiral if I am not creative, and that is something that I have struggled with for years. I tend to work in creative bursts, so I feel the crashes extra hard.
As a producer, which equipment and softwares do you usually use?
I produce all my songs in ableton on a macbook pro with beyerdynamic DT 990 pro headphones. I have a super old Steinberg ur12 interface that I use with a cloudlifter and an Sm7b. Instrument wise, I have a Telecaster along with a brand new gretsch guitalele. I sometimes bust out my violin or cello, but that hasn’t happened in a hot sec. I also have a microfreak synthesizer that is way too much fun to play with.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Oof, that is a good question. I’m not going to lie, it isn’t something I have thought too much about, because I think I have only scratched the surface of the industry. I’ve been really fortunate in having a great group of people around me who have supported and encouraged me to do my best. It has always been a super safe space for me, but I know that not everyone is as lucky.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
I am super fortunate to have travelled all over the world, and I think that is the best education I have ever gotten. Travel gave me a totally different perspective and forced me out of my comfort zone, which is exactly what I needed. For the longest time I couldn’t see the bigger picture, and I couldn’t really get out of my little bubble, but travelling and living abroad forced me to mature and made me realize that there is so much more out there.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Damn. This is a good question, and I could write a whole essay on this one alone, but I’ll keep it short. I think that education is a crucial step in making the world a better place, because understanding history, and the way other people experience the world is key to a brighter future. As I have seen people sharing their stories, trauma and emotions, I have definitely become a more empathetic person, and I think that it has changed the way I interact with everyone. Overall, I think that as we continue to learn about other people's experiences, the closer we get to making the world a better place.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
I’m not quite sure if there is a single specific message that I want to deliver as of right now, but my goal is to make music that people can resonate with. I have always found a safe haven in music and I would love to be able to offer that to someone else one day.
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