On July 5, globe-trotting singer-songwriter Lucy Gallant released her most provocative track yet. ‘Devious’ is a sultry, soul-pop track that delves deep into the addictive nature of passion-fueled intimacy, exploring the intense and often unhealthy obsessions that come with it.
“Devious” captures the essence of an irresistible yet toxic relationship. Her lyrics paint a vivid picture of addiction to a sexual partner who is undeniably bad for you, yet the passion and intimacy are unparalleled. She compares this addiction to substances like caffeine or nicotine, illustrating how the relationship is both stimulating and damaging.
Teaming up with Gold Coast Local Award-winning producer Josh Beattie, Lucy is pushing beyond her existing boundaries and exploring innovative new styles and sounds that hint at a sensual darkness lurking beneath her angelic exterior.
Beattie’s masterful production has transformed “Devious” into a cinematic masterpiece, blending soul-pop, cinematic pop, trip-hop, and vintage vibes. Lucy’s vocals distinguish themselves as a captivating blend of power, grit, and sensuality. The result is a track that not only tells a compelling story but also makes listeners feel the raw intensity of passion and desire.
Lucy: “In recent years, I’ve navigated through profound losses and experiences that have deeply shaped my music. My new sound reflects how I’ve channeled these experiences into my songwriting. Stepping into my own power, I’ve discovered a reservoir of confidence. By embracing the strength of my womanhood, I’ve conquered past fears. Now, I’m ready to declare to the world: here I am, Crank up the volume and listen closely to my lyrics. I have a lot to say, and I’m not afraid to say it.”
Lucy has made a significant impact on the international music scene, captivating audiences at major festivals such as Glastonbury and Byron Bay Bluesfest. Her 2023 EP “Flowers” marked a pivotal moment in her career, garnering her a substantial following and a dedicated fanbase exceeding 100,000 across various platforms.
Lucy embarks on a European tour to promote her new single “Devious” throughout July, August, and September 2024. The tour will feature a series of intimate shows, house concerts, and festivals, marking her first return to Europe in four years due to the lockdowns. She is thrilled to reconnect with her European fans and share her latest music in such unique and personal settings.
What a great time for us to sit down to talk to her about her music and the upcoming tour.
We began with the new single, a quick note that Lucy reminded us vocally of Amy Winehouse a bit. The song is full of references to negative addictions, love being compared to nicotine. So there is a sense of obsession that we picked up, but what would Lucy like to say about it?
Lucy: It’s not really about love being like nicotine, it’s more about how, when you are in a toxic relationship, everything else about the relationship becomes toxic apart from the intimacy. You can get addicted to that person, and then you get confused because they are not good for you. But, you seem to love them because the intimacy is good, so there is an attraction thing going on. Also, there is the desire that goes with wanting someone but they are less interested in you and there is that addiction too. At the same time, it can go beyond that. The confusion comes when the relationship is toxic and bad, but there is another feeling that still makes you want to be with that person, and the connection remains strong. I love the sense of being in another worldly dimension, where you meet someone from a parallel universe or whatever. I do believe in love at first sight, but it can fade away just as quickly! I believe more in growing connections, which is almost the opposite of what my song is saying. The song is more about love at first sight, passion, addiction and obsession. On the other side, I think it is healthier to allow a relationship to grow.
Of course, with age comes experience and the development of songwriting skills. The longer you live, the more you can put into your music to express yourself. We wondered if Lucy felt her songwriting was continuing to develop after her last full album, the self-produced “Darkness to Light” in 2019 (where she also played all the instruments).
Lucy: I feel it went in a circle with me. I left home young when I was 14 and I experienced a lot of things. I started off writing quite dark, depressive and deep songs, but they were also trippy. I never grew up listening to radio and doing covers while I was travelling and exploring the world. I learned music from experience and picked it up from people I met. Looking back, I was writing the weirdest and trippiest songs. But then I joined a duo, a band called “Free Like Me,” and we did a 2012 album about exploring Mexico. It is Latin beat, upbeat and happy music with a positive message. For me, I have always had an inner sadness and right now I am enjoying exploring that darker intensity. That is where I am right now, not being afraid to be more intense and dark. My next single will be even darker, this single just touches on what is to come.
We felt that the song “Devious” was a cousin to the track “Rude Loving” from the 2019 album.
Lucy: I guess there is a similarity. I do agree that as you get older, you experience more and have deeper material to draw on. I also enjoy imagining how someone else might feel in a situation and tuning into the experiences of other people. Also, songs for me are like stories and I like making mini stories within my lyrics.
We next moved on to how we thought that we saw Lucy playing a tabla drum at Glastonbury in 2015?
Lucy: Not the tabla. I play the djembe, and the Turkish drum. That was when I was in the duo. In that band, I played the drum and sang while playing the drum. It was actually the first instrument I learned when I was 14, I was self-taught. I don’t play it as much today as I principally play the guitar now, but at the same time I play drums with my feet. So I still play percussion and keep the beat. Sometimes I do play it, and I have a little song that I still do live when I bring out the drum; I think I will do that again when I am out on tour this time. But that means I have to take my drum, of course.
We do note that there is such energy and excitement in the tabla-style drumming; anyone listening to the much-missed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his band would hear that.
Lucy: I do love drumming and I can go into a full trance with it. I feel such a connection to it, as it was my first go-to instrument.
The last album was released in 2019, although there was an EP, “Flowers,” released in 2023 with 7 tracks. So it was close to full album length. However, with such a change in how we now consume music, with streaming being the main go-to, perhaps Lucy is more committed to releasing singles than working on an album again?
Lucy: Where I am at with this is that I am going to be doing a bunch of singles, and then, once I get enough of them (and they will work well together),. I will either make an EP with a few extra tracks or an album. I am going with the flow. Although it is good to have an album, people still buy them. Also, getting vinyl is something that I want to look into so that will be on the horizon, but it is hard to make the money back today if you do an album. That is why it’s easy to put out singles in comparison.
We noted the use of Spanish guitar on the track “Tonight” and wondered if that was now the instrument of choice for songwriting.
Lucy: That is the only guitar I like to use. I don’t like to use steel strings; that is my guitar of choice; like a classical guitar always feels better. Steel string feels not so good for me.
The track “Tonight” reminds us here of those warm nights in Madrid, with those Spanish bars open, some music playing and the children still running about in the streets outside late at night. It is a lyrically interesting song too, with the “devil on my shoulder” reference and so forth.
Lucy: I spent a lot of time living in South America and I lived a long time in Miami, Florida, where there is a lot of Spanish influence. I do love the song “Tonight” as well and it remains one of my go-to songs to play live. It always takes me to another realm; it is very special. When I wrote that song, I was actually busking on the streets, and there was one girl watching me. I had my phone on record, as a lot of the time I will write songs as I jam. I never know when the song will come so I keep my phone ready just in case and I played “Tonight” from beginning to end, and it remains pretty much the same now as it was then. The girl watching commented that it ‘was amazing’ and I noted that I had just written it. It was a song channelled from somewhere else.
In the press release, it is noted that Lucy is part Russian and part Burmese. She is also described as a musical gypsy. Does she find that these different heritages influence her music?
Lucy: I don’t know much about Russia or Burma. I am part Irish as well! And some English. But I do feel that it makes me worldly in my genres and I do love different styles, so there are different world music influences in my music. I never just have one type of music.
Lucy Gallant is heading to Europe soon, and the link to tickets is below. What can we expect over here from the upcoming concerts?
Lucy: I will be playing songs from all different stages of my life, but there will be a lot of songs from the “Flowers” EP. The new single will be played, and I will throw in a few songs I have never played before. I may even write one while doing a gig! I don’t usually do covers, but sometimes at a festival I might play a Bob Marley tune, but that’s rare. I want to play my original songs; there are enough people doing covers.
Mentioning Bob Marley, Lucy does have a track called “Jamaica” from the 2019 album.
Lucy: I have some Jamaican reggae influences, as I did spend time in Jamaica, Tobago and the Caribbean. I do love reggae; it brings happy vibes. I get bored with one genre, so I do like to mix it up and keep it interesting.
It is certainly great to mix it up, we have a reasonably wide umbrella for this magazine. And as a last question, what artist would Lucy most like to see live that she was never able to see.
Lucy: The Doors, in their early years! In their prime!
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artist website is here
You can download the single and more music from Lucy Gallant here
Full information on the tour, tickets, etc. is here
By Mark C. Chambers
and
Lorraine Foley