I found LP’s video in a random share on Facebook. The lead singer’s cool sway and Elvis lip curl, coupled with tribal vocals forced me to pay attention. Sometimes you hear a song that settles into your bones and you just know it’s destined for the oldie but goodie section long before it’s had time to marinate in society.
Wait. What’s this? Who is this?
Clear is that LP isn’t new to the music world. That much talent doesn’t just arrive, a talent plucked from back road obscurity, a one-hit wonder. No. This is a musician who has surely put in her 10,000 hours which qualifies her, according to the science of Malcolm Gladwell’s research, an expert.
What do experts do to hone their craft? In LP’s case, write songs for other musicians such as the Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis, Rihanna, Cher and many more.
The video is simplistic, absent visual effects or sexy sidekicks to distract from the music. A band just plays in a dim room outlined by an oversized coffee-colored leather couch and a long row of weathered books—an artist’s lair. LP stands solo at the microphone singing Lost on You, accenting the fresh tune with wayward whistles and tribal-like wails that somehow ground it familiar.
I’m mesmerized. And I’m confused.
What exactly am I looking at? What’s going on here?
Her look is androgynous. It’s hard to place her in a male or female category. I forgive myself for such a faux pas, to categorize her because I’m human and curious and categorizing helps me makes sense of things.
Like the toy Slinky, her loose black curls seem to defy gravity. LP looks feminine at first stare, except that her shirt is wide open, she’s bra free, and there’s nary a boob mound. Across her flat chest peeps a black pirate ship tattoo—a serious commitment. I get the feeling that her persona wasn’t created to sell music; she is the genuine deal, a confident, unique creature singing with ease both comforting and haunting. I bet she has the most interesting stories and penetrating philosophies.
The music is, of course, foremost…
But, I can’t help but be curious about LP. I wonder about her evolution. I wonder because I’ve spent most of my life comparing myself to others and the last of it trying to revel in who I am. The need for acceptance by society is for most of us like adolescent acne; it’s unflattering but somehow necessary to mature, and we usually outgrow it.
I’m not that special. I’m in the female category and am attracted to men in the male category. I have no secrets nor revelations nor hidden talents, but I’d like to stop devoting time to making comparisons to famous or successful people and feeling I could do more, be more. My best effort is that I’ve stopped subscribing to magazines and memes aimed at illustrating who I could be. At 56 years, I’m finally learning to be content with being me. I simply want to live my truth, whatever it is.
I just admire people who are confident in themselves, especially when they inherently don’t fit into a category defined by society. Not that society gets it right. I think humanity is still figuring out what it means to be human. I don’t believe it’s a binary situation.
I’m envious of anyone who can reach their full, creative potential, unapologetically and with fervor.
So, LP intrigues me beyond her music. A quick Google search brings me to a wonderful interview by Claire Valentine of Paper Magazine: Musician LP on Androgyny, Identity and How Joni Mitchell Breaks the Rules.
My favorite part of the interview is when LP answers the question posed by Valentine: Do you have any advice for young fans who are struggling with their sexuality or identity?
I think you know when you feel good. And you have to struggle. I remember I worked with Linda Curry a long time ago, and she said she always went with her gut feeling. And I was like, man what is that? But I think it’s worth trying to find it. It shouldn’t matter what a person is, what they look like, who they are. You know when you feel good around a person. You have to really try not to think about the different separations that are already there. I think they have to trust themselves and live authentically and love who they’ve got to love. My dad said, “I just feel like it’s a difficult life.” And I said, “Dad, sucking a cock for the rest of my life is not what I want to do. There’s nothing wrong with that but like, no.” And he’s like “Jesus Christ!” And I was like, “Do you want to suck a cock for the rest of your life?” And he’s like, “Hey, hey, calm down,” and I’m like, “Well, don’t fucking tell me what to do then.”
You’re going to do with your body what you want to do, I’m going to do with my body what I want to do and whatever. It’s a much more difficult life not living that truth.”
Her words ring true universally, for everyone, not just those struggling with sexuality or identity.
Here’s to all of us living out loud, living authentically, living our truth. However it plays out.
Here’s LP speaking her truth:
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