THIS WEEK: LITTLE LAPIN

Little Lapin is an artist originally from Plymouth & now based in New Zealand. We bumped into her lovely ‘Waiting Room’ on a recent Fresh Faves & I was instantly taken by this stadium-filling indie song with its gorgeous vocals,buzzing strings and larger-than-life melodic disposition. The echoes of The Pretenders were just too much for a boy to handle when it landed in our dropbox.  Little Lapin is on a mission. In the last year alone she has independently released three songs with music videos, recorded a six-track debut EP with New Zealand producer Ben King – and her vocals have featured on a theme tune for a prime time TV programme in NZ. That’s pretty good going for a girl who three years ago was too shy to sing in public.

Originally from Plymouth, UK, she stumbled upon surf town Raglan, North Island NZ, whilst travelling back in 2009 and began crafting songs that were good enough for the stage and formed an indie-pop band called Hand Me Downs.

She decided to go solo in 2012 and has never looked back. Now based in Auckland, NZ, she writes music of the indie-pop variety and carefully crafts her lyrics which have super catchy melodies that will stay with you forever. Little Lapin’s band is Lucy Cioffi (aka Little Lapin),Ben King (Electric Guitar) Callum Galloway (synth), Andy Keegan (drums) and Jared Kahi (bass).

Little Lapin‘s fine self titled debut e.p is out now & is well worth checking out.We eagerly await further goodness from New Zealand via Plymouth soon-This is a real world wide thing.

This is is Prick & Ding 63 & This is Little Lapin.

Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Youtube | Soundcloud

1. What are you up to at the moment?
Being a self-managed indie artist, I’m trying to find the time to wear multiple hats. I have just released my debut EP so I have been rehearsing with my band for upcoming shows. I’m also in the process of editing video footage for my new music video for Foreign Places which will be the next song I release from my EP. The creative juices are flowing and I’m writing lots of songs and I look forward to recording them for my follow-up album.

2. Favourite childhood memory?
I remember when I was around nine or ten years old, I was invited to a neighbour’s birthday party and it was back in the day when you played pass- the -parcel and musical chairs. I won an East 17 single on CD and I remember looking at it and thinking what the hell do I do with this incredible shiny device. I had only listened to music on vinyl and tapes at this stage. I got home and it was one of those bitter-sweet moments when I realised I couldn’t play the CD as my parents didn’t own a CD player. I remember being really upset until my neighbour’s mum came and told me that I could come to their house and listen to it on their CD player whenever I wanted.

3. Hero?
I’m still waiting.

4. Villain?
Al Swearengen – Deadwood

5. What/who makes you laugh?
I know what doesn’t make me laugh and that is when people tell me jokes. The act of trying to be funny turns me off. I do like observational comedy and awkwardness. I love Alan Partridge. I like to think there is a bit of Alan in everybody.

6. Describe what you do?
I write songs from the bottom of my heart. Why? Because writing music gives me a release from my reality. I struggle daily with being caught up in routine (day jobs) and I just find myself day dreaming a lot, waiting for something spontaneous to happen. It is this feeling that inspired me to write Waiting Room. When I have finished writing a song, I record it and perform it live and bare my soul to strangers. Why? Because the thought of at least one person connecting with my lyrics and music is enough to fuel my passion for more writing and performing.

7. Who’s hair would you like to have for just one day?
Ziggy Stardust

8. Best musical experience to date?
Is it too uncool to admit that it is having my song Waiting Room feature on Tom Robinson’s BBC Introducing Mixtape

9. What artist inspires you?
Edith Piaf. She sang with utter conviction and moved nations with her voice alone. A little bird, she was tiny but her presence was great. I think too many contemporary artists rely on backing dancers and lighting effects for their shows. This does not move me. A sincere and genuine voice that delivers heartfelt lyrics wins me over.

10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
I like to think of FOTN as an online musical community that recognises the importance of supporting unsigned artists who make meaningful and conscientious music.