Equal parts Velvet Underground, Nicholas Albrook and Fiery Furnaces, ‘Hey Lou’ is the perfect drop of alt pop perfection.
Lewis OfMan is set to steal your heart and your entire being again with his latest single, ‘Hey Lou,’ featuring the sublime vocals of Parisian singer Camille Jansen.
As the anticipation builds for his upcoming album, Cristal Medium Blue, and a North American tour in the pipeline, ‘Hey Lou’ offers a sneak peek into the sonic journey that awaits fans.
The track is a sweet collaboration between Lewis and Camille, weaving an infectious duet around an irresistible arpeggiated synth riff, and if you know anything about us here at Happy, you know we are obsessed with synthy gems like this one.
The song takes a chill dive into the introspective world of life on the road. Lewis, the maestro of many instruments, brings in a laid-back mix of easy-shuffling percussion, jangly solo guitars, nostalgic keys, and harmonies that soak in the sun’s warmth. It’s like a musical road trip for your mind, body and spirit.
Lewis shares the creative genesis of ‘Hey Lou’: “I wrote this song in Greece, pretty much at the same time I was working on ‘Highway’. The arpeggio synth and rhythm machine come from messing around with this Yamaha PS30 I had. Then I found this voice melody. I was thinking about Leonard Cohen’s ‘Death of a Ladies’ Man’ album, as well as ‘So Long Marianne’ – hence the choir sample.”
Delving into the personal themes behind the lyrics, Lewis explains, “The lyrics are really personal. It’s a song to coach yourself when you’re down, and tell yourself it’s all good.”
Camille reflects on her collaboration with Lewis, stating, “We met when I was making my EP ‘Louise’ back in 2019 in Eagle Rock, and fast forward to 4 years later, we found ourselves once again in the same city. This time he asked me if I’d like to sing on his new song ‘Hey Lou.’ I feel that we’ve always had a good balance collaborating together, and this song was one of those natural moments where our ideas and inspirations all coincided and flowed with ease in that one day in the studio.”
She adds, “The music video we shot had also quite a personal and DIY touch to it as we drove two hours outside of LA, meeting our friend Pierre to shoot us in the super bloom fields. No plan to the shots that were made, just creating little moments that could tell a version of the story behind his lyrics. I’m very excited for the world to hear this one!”
Shot by Pierre Auroux in the California Poppy Fields, is like a stroll through a daydream. In the midst of wide-open country scenes, Lewis strums his guitar, joined by the enchanting Camille Jansen.
It’s a visual story that echoes Lewis’s recent road-life documentary from his North American spring tour. Auroux nails the dreamy vibe, skillfully blending the artist with his surroundings.
This video is not just a watch; it’s a whole captivating chapter, revealing those personal, spur-of-the-moment bits that shape Lewis OfMan’s musical journey.
As ‘Hey Lou’ takes center stage, Lewis OfMan and Camille Jansen offer listeners a glimpse into the vibrant and personal world they’ve created together, setting the stage for the much-anticipated Cristal Medium Blue.
The journey promises to be a musical adventure, echoing the joy and introspection that define the spirit of their collaboration.
