If you haven’t already immersed yourself in Nights, the new single from Lydia Urbina, stop what you’re doing and go listen to it now. The track is a brilliant showcase of the Brisbane artist’s incredible penchant for crafting electro-pop gems, and we’ve had it spinning on repeat ever since we first laid ears on it.
So fresh off the single’s release, we caught up with the artist herself for a playlist of artists and tunes that have influenced her incredible sound. Take it away, Lydia…
With a new single fresh under her belt, we caught up with Brisbane-based artist Lydia Urbina for a run-down of five artists that changed her musical worldview.
SZA
SZA was one of the first artists I was truly inspired by to change my sound and the way I wrote my melodic phrases. Listening to her Ctrl album (on repeat) unconsciously inspired to apply the use of syncopation flow change-ups within my top line. Her silky-smooth production including brass bass synths and snappy clicks combined with her sensational phrasing is epitomised in her track The Weekend.
EDEN
EDEN really inspired me to feel comfortable using unique samples to define my own sound as an artist. His album I think you think too much of me project was instrumental in establishing my passion for electronic timbres and elements. The use of the gritty, bell-like chime within the bridge of Not The One was heavily inspired by EDEN. I’m grateful to this artist as he really allowed me to feel secure in experimenting with sound and samples.
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is one of those artists that define you not only a listener but as a person. His ability to not conform to the typical music standards in durations and timbres but still produce tracks that sound like instant classics is the reason he will always be one of my top favourite artists. His Blonde album became the soundtrack to my final high school years. The use of Wurlitzers and octave voice-altering plugins alongside electric guitars decked in reverb peddles are just a few of his iconic timbres that continue to inspire every track I produce. This is evident in my use of little altar boy to introduce the initial hook of my track Cigarette. This was a product of defining a stylistic approach in which I wanted to take risks to define my sound inspired by this artist.
blackbear
The Afterglow was the first project I had heard from blackbear back in 2014. I fell instantly in love with this artist and found he was one of the first artists I watched grow from the underground to having his recent number one hot girl bummer. His digital druglord album was a track that showed a maturity in his sound. The production within his track double featured pulsating synths and the use of octave changing vocal plugins. I especially commend him for his consistently delivering driving grooves that that always factor hard-hitting snares and well-placed trap hats. The lyrics “Why would you wait on a train that’s never coming, girl?… Why would you wait? Why would you wait on a man that’s never growing up?” shows what really draws me to blackbear, his cheeky yet witty lyrics.
Jon Bellion
Jon Bellion was really the artist that changed it all for me doing it with a sound as unique as it is captivating. His unapologetic use of sounds and grooves that reject all standardised sounds of a pop song but manage to retain all of the energy and fun. Human Condition the album is a musical experience like no other. The heavy-hitting grooves and encompassing soundscapes paired with his unpredictable melodies create for a phenomenal sonic experience. The track Jim Morrison featured a driving synth lead and masterful strings that build the track to its sonic climax. It was this track that made me understand the importance and influence production has on a track inspiring my passion for it.
Nights is available now. Listen here.
