Girl at the Rock Shows

L.Y.D.’s brand new song “Parasol Pine” is completely different from what I typically listen to. It’s jazzy and calm whereas I typically like aggressive and in-your-face. Regardless, I felt drawn to this song and to L.Y.D.’s vocals in particular. There was just something so organic yet so beautifully crafted about every word throughout this song so I jumped on the opportunity to ask Lydia Hendrikje (aka L.Y.D.) some questions about everything from her rubik’s cube skills to this amazing track.

What’s the best concert you have ever been to?
I am usually not a big fan of huge concerts, but seeing Beyonce in Rome was unreal. The setting, the vibe in the stadium and I was there with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time- so it was all in all just such a great experience.

What’s an old-school fad that you wish would come back?
All of them have come back already 🙂 I love the 90’s make up with the brown lip liner and flared 70’s jeans.

What’s your favorite method of listening to music?
It’s defnitely vinyl- just got a new player last Christmas! I absolutely love that and I really take out some time, lying down on my cosy carpet and looking through the artwork while listening… but you’re getting me into the mood of digging out my parents’ old cassettes right now!

What’s your go-to coffee order?
Flat White with oat milk.

If you could compare yourself to a bird, what bird would it be and why?
A red parrot … I am a bit flashy, a little bit loud and obnoxious at times, but a very loyal friend at heart !

Favorite lyrics of all time?
Wow, such a difficult choice to make… but a definite all time favorite of mine are the lyrics to ‘Cucurrucucú Paloma’, written by Tomas Mendes. There’s an incredible live version by Caetano Veloso (I love him!) of this song. He’s been such an inspiration to me.

Que una paloma triste

muy de mañana le va a cantar,

a la casita sola

con sus puertitas de par en par.

Juran que esa paloma

no es otra cosa más que su alma,

que todavía la espera

a que regrese la desdichada.

Cucurrucucú paloma,

cucurrucucú no llores.

Las piedras jamás, paloma,

¿qué van a saber de amores?

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?

Probably ‘Big Michael’ by Stormzy.

Have you ever been able to finish a Rubik’s Cube?
Nope. I am using up all my patience and ambition on other things 🙂 I can’t even gather the will to win at board games!

What’s your favorite video game and why?
Yoshi’s Island on Super Nintendo- played it all the time as a kid!

What’s one thing I should know before listening to “Parasol Pine”?
It’s sounds like golden hour 😉

This song is so calm yet comes with an undeniable sense of energy– what kind of mood were you in when you wrote this?
Sehnsucht- a German word for longing; kinda like ‘saudade’ in Portuguese. The longing to refresh, to reconnect to myself, but also the longing to arrive to somewhere that feels grounding and soothing- like home.

Where were you when you wrote this song?
In India, in Mumbai. To be more specific, in a very small apartment during the April heat.

Did you write the lyrics first or the music?
I wrote the music first- but soon it started to be a side by side process. Changing up the music a bit, changing the chorus lyrics again etc.

You described this song to me as speaking about “trying to keep up with the pace of the city while sometimes forgetting to fill our cup with those simple pleasures of life that feel grounding and bring us joy”– What do you find brings you joy more than anything?
Nature. I always thought I was a city girl, and I do enjoy the perks of it, but the way my soul sighs by the sea, in the mountains or in the forest is so something else.

This song is all over the place stylistically from R&B and soul all the way to jazz and funk– who was your biggest influence when creating this song?
Haha, yeah well I guess I’ve always been listening to a lot of different music styles and then again I have periods where I don’t listen to music at all. There isn’t any specific artist, but I was listening to a lot of Neo Soul and RnB, but also different Brazilian music styles; thats probably how that cute flute lick got in there 🙂

Vocalist, Composer, Producer, DJ– you do it all! Out of everything you do– what’s your favorite?
Growing up, I was always the singer, the performer, and that will always be with me. But I enjoy it so much, becoming this other person too- writing and arranging music, learning a lot of new things- and I REALLY love DJing. It’s just so much fun. By the way, ‘Parasol Pine’ has been co-produced by the very lovely Alessandro le Barbera, who is based in London!

This is just a single but could we expect a full length album or EP in the future?
Yes. Most definitely. And soon, too!!!

As if the beauty in “Parasol Pine” wasn’t enough to have me sold, the beauty in Lydia’s answers to my questions had me completely enamored. I also have to say, seeing Stormzy’s name in one of these answers was a treat as I am a huge fan of his but that’s besides the point. Much like the beauty and craft that I felt in her music, her answers seemed to share that feeling. Beauty is the name of the game for L.Y.D. and I can’t wait to hear what else she has up her sleeves for her future releases.

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