Interview: lolitslea on RollerCoaster Tycoon, Burnout, Nostalgia and Staying Independent
The New Jersey artist talks about her second album, finding her sound, the realities of being independent and why the riskiest songs sometimes connect the most.
Tara Lakatos: Now that RollerCoaster Tycoon is actually out and people have had a chance to live with it, has anything about the reaction surprised you?
lolitslea: “Wish I’d Known” and “Sleepover.” I got a lot of positive feedback from people before it came out that those songs would do well, but it still surprised me because they were kind of wild songs for me and a little out of my comfort zone. In the back of my head, I knew the riskier songs could do well, but confirming that has been like, wow, okay — people really like the miscellaneous songs that I didn’t think were going to do as well.
Tara Lakatos: This is your second album. What did you go into this one knowing that you absolutely did not know when you made Nothing Lasts Forever?
lolitslea: I think I got better at cohesion and having everything sound like a full project. Nothing Lasts Forever still feels like a complete project to me, but there were a lot more producers on that one, and it was a little more miscellaneous. I finished it whenever I was able to get it done. With RollerCoaster Tycoon, it already had an older sibling that made the mistakes for it, so I knew what I wanted to do differently. I think that paid off because everything flows really well and the quality feels consistent across the board.I also started touring right after I released Nothing Lasts Forever. Seeing how audiences responded to those songs made me realize I needed to keep playing shows and take whatever opportunities I could. Learning how to put the songs into a live show and seeing how they’re received in person, not just online, has been a treat. I feel a little more level-headed now, and I feel like I’ve really locked in on my sound. Nothing Lasts Forever was the sound I knew I wanted to do, but RollerCoaster Tycoon feels like the polished version of it.
Tara Lakatos: The album feels very cohesive, especially with the game sounds and interludes connecting the songs. Was that always part of the plan?
lolitslea: It’s funny because originally I was thinking about putting the record out as two EPs. Once the whole thing was mixed and I was ready to put it out as an album, I had this last-minute thought that I should get Glitch Gum — my friend Luke in Nashville — to make those interludes as part of the project. It was a last-minute decision, but I think it was a great one. It really brings everything together.
Tara Lakatos: There’s a huge nostalgia element to this album, but it doesn’t feel like you’re simply trying to recreate 2009. How do you use nostalgia without getting stuck in it?
lolitslea: I honestly wasn’t trying to be nostalgic. I was just living my own life experiences and writing them into songs. It’s convenient that it feels nostalgic and touches on years that a lot of my listeners think fondly of, but it definitely wasn’t intentional. I wasn’t sitting there saying, “I want to write a song that makes everyone feel this way about 2009.” I was thinking, “I want to remember how I felt in 2009.”I think people responded to that because they felt nostalgic too. We were really stuck on Y2K and the early 2000s for a while, and now the 2010s are starting to feel nostalgic. I have a lot of positive memories and self-development from that time that I reflect on, so it’s cool that people see it that way.
Tara Lakatos: “Burnout” came from a very real place — exhaustion, a heavy heart and the pressure of balancing music with work. Have you gotten better at recognizing burnout before you hit the wall?
lolitslea: I think I’ve gotten better at recognizing it. When things are stressful and tough, I try to do everything in my power to remove myself from that situation or make it better. I don’t like to sit in it. When I was struggling in Nashville and really burning out, which resulted in that song and a lot of other songs on the album, I knew I needed to make a change in my life. That ended up being moving back to Jersey.I still get burnt out sometimes — everybody does — but I’m trying to recognize it sooner and make changes before it affects my entire life. I’ve seen how stress affects the people around you too, and I didn’t like how that made me feel or how it affected my team. Now there’s a cool song about it, and when I perform it, people ask me what it’s called because they relate to it. I’m like, “I’m so sorry you relate to this.”
Tara Lakatos: You worked with Cassadee Pope and Dan Swank, and you’ve talked about how that session boosted your confidence as a songwriter. Was there something Cassadee did that changed how you approach writing?
lolitslea: I was very nervous going into a space with two very talented and well-respected musicians and songwriters. Songwriting sessions in general are a little outside my comfort zone because I write a lot of my songs by myself, usually late at night, and then bring them to a producer to finish them up. So getting into a session with people I had looked up to for a long time was scary.Immediately, Cassadee — and Dan too — made it feel like such a safe, comfortable environment to be myself and make suggestions. There were no wrong answers or ideas. Everything was well received. They were patient, chill, cool, normal and kind. It changed how I viewed songwriting sessions because before that, I had only been in a couple and some didn’t go that well. With them, I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.
Tara Lakatos: There’s been a lot of discussion about labels wanting to get back to developing artists instead of chasing viral moments. What’s your take on that shift?
lolitslea: It feels predictable to me. I was in an a cappella group in college that went really viral, to the point that we were on major news outlets, and I saw how that affected the group’s success and streaming. Then I watched people try to copy it and not get the same result. Since then, I’ve seen people keep trying to replicate viral success and wondering why it isn’t working.At the end of the day, people want to connect with a real human being, and they’re going to like what they like. I know we’re selling a product — my music is a product and my brand is a product, and I actually find that fun — but why are we getting so corporate with the marketing? Be yourself. Hire artists around you to help build out your songs, content and videos. If people like what they hear, they’ll buy tickets. It’s weird hearing labels say they want to develop artists again because that’s what they were supposed to be doing.
Tara Lakatos: You’re very candid about the economics of being an independent artist. What does that actually look like for you right now?
lolitslea: We’ve been doing a lot of local shows and getting some really awesome support slots. Thankfully, we’ve been able to sell what we’re required to sell, but I’m not really seeing that ticket money. My band gets paid first. With merch, I have a band card that I’m paying off because I had to get the merch made, so the money from merch goes right back into the business. I’ll always invest in my business, but people don’t always realize where the money actually goes.I do think more concertgoers are starting to understand that. Everyone is broke, but there are still people who say, “I want to support my favorite up-and-coming band because I want them to keep doing this.” Those people are awesome. It’s just a weird climate in the music industry right now.
Tara Lakatos: Do you still see a label as part of the future, or are you happier staying independent?
lolitslea: I keep saying it has to be the right opportunity. I wanted a label for so long, and then I started taking calls with small labels and realized I didn’t really need what they were offering. I feel like I’m already doing everything they would be doing, and I can put all of my time into one artist — myself — instead of a roster of 20 artists.Obviously, funding would be fantastic, so that’s the big thing. But I’ve been on the fence for a while, and right now I’m happy as an independent artist.
Tara Lakatos: If every song on RollerCoaster Tycoon were an actual amusement ride, which one has the longest line and which one gets shut down the most for safety inspections?
lolitslea: Oh my God, this is so fun. I almost want to say “Other Side of My Window” for the longest line because in my head I’m thinking about the duration of the ride — you have to wait longer because the ride itself is longer. But the one that would cause the biggest ruckus or make a scene would probably be “RollerCoaster Tycoon” or “He’s a God Complex.” Those are really goofy and out there. They’re like the messy, rebellious child of the family.
Tara Lakatos: You can bring back one band from Warped Tour 2009 exactly as they were at the time to play a show with you. Who are you picking?
lolitslea: Probably Breathe Carolina in their Hello Fascination era. They’re not making music like that anymore, and honestly, no one is making music like that. Being able to play with them when it was both of them, with Kyle and that electro-screamo sound, would be a dream lineup. Either that or The Summer Set. I remember seeing them at Warped Tour in 2014, and their set really stood out to me. Their new stuff is great too — I’d love to play a show with them.
Tara Lakatos: What do you want fans to know about what’s coming next?
lolitslea: We have a couple things coming. There’s one music video and one visualizer. I haven’t announced it yet, but one of them is for “Sleepover,” and it was really fun to film. I’m excited to get that out this fall. We also have a lot of shows coming up and almost the rest of the year booked out, with more announcements on the way. I’m hoping people come buy tickets and come out for a good time.
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