Interview: Lotsy Chats About Newly Released Single "No Obedience"

What inspired the creation of this single?

"No Obedience" started with the riff. At the time, I was exploring the idea of subtle disobedience (the small, everyday ways we can push back against systems and expectations that keep us contained). When I brought the demo to my producers, we talked more deeply about the concept, and I realized that subtle didn’t really go far enough. What’s the point of resisting halfway? Do the heroes of history only resist halfway? Absolutely not. That’s when No Obedience became the song’s central idea, and eventually, a personal mantra. It isn’t about rejecting safety, responsibility or every rule. It’s about refusing obedience to power structures, social expectations and internal struggles that prevent us from living our best lives and reaching our full potential.

What story or message does the song convey?

"No Obedience" is about how fear can make us complacent. It can keep us obedient to systems, expectations and even our own limiting beliefs, stopping us from making choices that may feel risky but could lead to greater personal, creative or financial freedom. The song encourages people to question what is holding them back and to choose possibility over fear. I believe that when people feel empowered to live more fully and authentically, their individual lives improve and that creates a ripple effect that can make the world a better place.

Can you tell us about the creative process?

This song started with a slightly Spanish-influenced guitar riff and a few lyrics I had written in my phone. I was messing around with my guitar in my bedroom, trying to write the title track for what was then going to be an album called Subtle Disobedience. I recorded a simple demo on my phone and brought it into the studio, where the song changed considerably. I think it is important to stay fluid in the studio and not become too attached to your original ideas. Recording is another level of the songwriting process, it's the polishing, and sometimes that extra polishing can ultimately transform the song, especially when you bring other voices and experiences into the mix. I worked with producers Maïa Davies and David Mohacsi on "No Obedience". My philosophy is that you would not hire collaborators if you did not trust them with your art. The right collaborators can hold onto the heart of your vision while making strong changes that help communicate it more effectively. The “boom chick-a-boom” hook came from wanting to incorporate onomatopoeia into the song. It became a fun, energizing chant that hypes people up and gives everyone something they can immediately join in on, which is fun in the live show, when I am writing and recording, if the song calls for it I like to add in melodies and parts that are fun for the audience to sing.

How does this song differ from your previous releases?

"No Obedience" is an identity-defining song for me. It is more direct than some of my previous work, which often explores ideas through more abstract concepts. This song makes a clear statement and firmly establishes the defiant side of Lotsy. It is also the highest-energy song on the album. People immediately gravitate toward it and adopt the message as part of their own identity. No obedience has even become a saying among my friends and inner circle. Everyone understands what it means, so it has been really cool to watch the phrase grow beyond me. The song reinforces something I already deeply believe: we have to say no to the systems, expectations and fears that keep us small.

What challenges did you face while writing or recording?

With anything you create, there is naturally a sense of pride and attachment, but I try not to bring ego into the studio. I am there to serve the song and its concept, and I trust myself to feel when a creative decision is right. When the concept "No Obedience" was suggested, I did not accept it immediately, but I also didn't reject it. I took the idea home, sat with it and eventually realized my producers were right. The bigger challenge was recognizing why I had originally chosen Subtle Disobedience. In some ways, I was still holding myself back and playing small. As the song evolved, I had to grow into its message. Letting go of the word subtle became a personal step toward fully committing to the idea. I realized that I needed to stop resisting halfway, shed that hesitation and go all in.

Did you experiment with any new instruments, techniques, or styles?

My debut album "Welcome To Lotsyland" (Eaely 2027) blends pop and rock with touches of punk, and "No Obedience" brings those elements together in a different way. I see it as a fusion of "Not Pretty", which is the album’s straight-up punk song, and “The Aesthetic Is the Static” which has a pop sound and Metric-style synth production. The Spanish-influenced guitar melody was new territory for me. I love how it became a looping element in the background of the song. I also wanted to use onomatopoeia through the “boom chick-a-boom” hook and create a chant that people could immediately join.

Is there a personal connection or story tied to the lyrics?

For me, the words no obedience is a declaration to myself that I will not stay quiet, allow things to simply happen to me, let people take advantage of me or make myself smaller to be seen as a 'good girl'. There was a time when I was not pursuing music. I was trying to live within the system and follow the life that had been designed for me, and I became the saddest I had ever been. Choosing music meant refusing that prescribed path and giving myself permission to build a life that felt authentic to me, even though it was scary to make that jump, it was necessary to become who I was supposed to be. The lyrics 'you can’t make me' and 'you can’t break me' reinforce that promise to myself. They are a reminder that I will not let people walk all over me or allow systems and expectations to keep me boxed in and stagnant.

Have you performed it live yet, and what was the audience’s reaction?

I have been performing "No Obedience" live for about six months, and the audience response has been incredible. At my most recent show, the whole crowd sang the chorus back to me. It was the first time that had ever happened with one of my songs, and it was such a cool moment. I usually perform it as the final or second-to-last song because it has so much energy. After every show, people come up to tell me how much they love it and that they cannot get it out of their heads. It has already started to become an anthem and a mantra for people, so they are really excited for the release, and so am I.

Is this single part of a larger project, like an album or EP?

"No Obedience" is part of the rollout for my debut album, "Welcome To Lotsyland", which will be released on March 12, 2027. The album explores self-discovery, introspection and what it means to come home to yourself. "No Obedience" is the eighth track on the album, it's a strong single on the album and the second song released from the project. It represents one of the most important rules of Lotsyland: refuse the status quo and refuse to play it safe. The song is the counterpoint to Plain Jayne and the Rain Parade, a character who denounces unauthorized joy and tries to keep the citizens of Lotsyland quiet, obedient and safe. "No Obedience" firmly establishes Lotsy’s defiant and wild side, which allows her to remain in a state of fun and euphoria. If you are always playing small, you are not giving yourself the chance to live fully or discover what you are capable of.

Anything Else You'd Like Your Fans to Know.

I think fans and listeners will initially gravitate toward "No Obedience" because it is fun, energetic and lighthearted, but I also want them to discover its deeper meaning. I hope the song empowers people to explore what no obedience means in their own lives. Rejecting conformity and the boxes we are placed in can give us the freedom to have more fun, make bold and rewarding choices, and build lives that feel full and genuinely happy. Follow along with my journey on socials @lotsyland on all platforms and let me know how they apply no obedience in their own lives.