Lana Chalfoun is a 15-year-old award-winning singer-songwriter who first gained popularity with her 2019 debut album, Aware. We had the chance to chat with Lana and learn more about her journey of being a young artist.
Your new single Be Ok is about the struggle young artists face with anxiety. Could you explain what it has been like for you facing that anxiety and working through it?
Lana Chalfoun: “I guess growing up I wanting to be in the industry, it’s been really scary going into it without any type of direction. So, you always have that anxiety you’re not going to make it or there’s such a small chance anything will ever get anywhere. Sometimes that thought overtakes your work. It puts a really negative aspect on everything.
This song acted as therapy for me. In the song I have to tell myself I’ll be okay because sometimes you get overwhelmed with all these negative thoughts.”
How did you feel when releasing Be Ok, being that it is a heavy and very important topic?
“It is definitely very vulnerable to be releasing something so deep and meaningful to you. I think one of the reasons it’s doing so well is because other people deal with the same thing and don’t talk about it. That’s one of the beautiful things about music, it’s maybe giving other people an outlet that they did not have.”
The music video for Be Ok is coming out this Friday. Could you give us an idea of what it’s going to be like?
“We actually went out to New York to film it. The theme is really cool!
During the verses, the lighting gets really dark, kind of explaining the negative side to the song. During the chorus it gets really bright, when I’m saying ‘it will be ok.’
That was kind of one the of cool aspects that we put into the song. The bridge is my favorite part. I’m really excited for people to see that too.”
You wrote and recorded your first EP In The Making at 11 years old. Could you describe what that album was about and what you were able to do with the message of that album?
“I actually wrote my first song for it when I was 10-years-old! It was about a Disney TV show, Good Luck Charlie! I wrote it about the guy cheating on the girl. One of the songs is called Just Be You and I had been pretty badly bullied. I think that song was kind of an anthem to be yourself. That was one of the more meaningful songs, as well as Dream Big.
It’s kind of relatable to Be Ok because it’s talking about all these big dreams and aspirations I have from such a young age. Now Be Ok is me older realizing that dreams also take really hard work.”
Do you have any events in the future that you are looking forward to in the future once it is safe to do so?
“Obviously, with the pandemic, it has been really hard not to do any live shows. Once all three of the singles are out, I am really hoping to get to do live performances and actually sing them with a crowd because that’s one of the best parts of releasing your own music! So I am definitely looking forward to doing that once it’s safe!”
Can we expect any other singles or projects coming soon?
“I am actually releasing two other singles that will come out in the next couple months! The first one is called Get Mad and it’s a fun girl anthem type of thing. It’s about a boy and the like the two weeks after a breakup when you’re like ‘I’m so much better on my own.’
The other song is called Cut Off, it’s more about the sad part after a break up, feeling some betrayal and realizing you will never see that person again and they will never see you again.”
What has been your favorite memory or experience in your career so far?
“My favorite experience was probably going out to New York to film the music video. That was pretty cool, I had a lot of fun with that!
One of my favorite memories was going to the Grammys last year! Just going there and going to see all of my musical idols perform was insane!”
If you could perform any place, any size, where would it be?
“I would probably perform at the Staple Center in LA!”
Who is your dream artist to work with?
“My dream artist to work with would probably be Billie Eilish. I love her writing style and her whole image! I think our voices would match well together and we could write a really cool song.”
Is there anyone you looked up to when trying to find your own style in music?
“My biggest musical idol growing up was Adele. Ever since I was really young her music just spoke to my soul. I don’t know what it was. It was all about relationships and I was like four-years-old.”
Keep up with Lana Chalfoun through her socials below and make sure to check out her new music video for her single Be Ok on YouTube!
Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify
