LP: "Songs are a very strange thing"

Last Saturday, the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, with great excitement, was American Laura Pergoolizi , who is known in the United States as the author of the hits of Rihanna, Kristina Agyilers and Backstreet Boys, and in Europe as a bright singer of strong charisma. In the dynamic performances of the charming Laura Permholizi, who chose the Lp pseudonym, as in the mirror, you can see the reflection of the great rock fihur-Boba Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jenis Joplin. Before the Moscow concert, Denis Boyarinov talked with LP about how she writes songs.

- Was there a moment in your life when you realized that songs are not just your passion, but also your profession?

- We can say that I always lived with the hope of this. Probably, the realization that this happened came when other artists began to take my songs. 10 years ago, my song was taken by Backstreet Boys . I remember this feeling, as if a little miracle had happened: “Wow, I could not imagine what this is possible!” From that moment on, I began to earn normal money by writing songs, and they became my profession. My dream came true - I could only engage in music and nothing more.

LP - "Lost on You"

- Writing songs is science or art?

- I think that writing songs is hard work plus inspiration. Songs are a very strange thing. You can finish as many courses for writing songs, but this will not help you compose and a verse. This skill can only be achieved. Those Masters of Song-Grading, whom I know, wrote one and a half to two thousand songs in their careers, of which they consider only 15-20 excellent. An insignificant percentage! The more you write, the better it turns out - this rule works. It is necessary to write a hundred shitty songs before something decent comes out. In a word, you can’t call this accurate science.

“You wrote the album with Linda Perry - it is considered a great master of the song genre.”

- We did not record the album. We wrote together a couple of not very magnificent songs (laughs) . Of these, only one was recorded - Darkside . She appeared on my second album "Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol" . Yes, she is an amazing Songraiter. And she works better alone - on its own (laughs) . She didn't need me. We did not match.

I like songs that cause great feelings. Who want to sing loudly.

- Who did you learn to write songs? Are there such people whom you can call your teachers?

- I have a friend - his name is Billy Steinberger. He wrote " True Colors ” for Cindy Lopee, “ Like a Virgin " for Madonna, " Eternal Flame ” for Bangles and a bunch of hits from the 1980s. He is cool. We wrote songs together, and he definitely influenced me - especially in terms of how to write poetry for songs.

But actually I studied on the classics-on the songs Beatles , Rolling Stones , Led Zeppelin , Roya Orbison, Jeff Bakley and Kurt Cobain. These musicians always inspired me. Their songs cannot be placed in some category. You can’t call the Beatles songs pop music, although they obviously belong to it. I like songs that cause great feelings - which I want to sing loudly.

-Is there any difference between how you write for yourself, and how you write for famous performers-for example, for Rihanna?

- Not really. When I write for an artist whom I know personally, I try to "get into his head." Well, I try to take into account the possibility of his voice - to choose a more suitable range for him. But it is more important for me to get into a topic more accurately, which will affect as many people as possible and unite them.

- What is your largest hit today?

- From the songs I have performed - “ Lost on You " . And of those written for others - “ Cheers ” , which Rihanna sang.

Rihanna - "Cheers"

- You now earn more money as a Soncreter or as an artist?

- Most likely, as an artist. Because I earn not only from songs, but also from concerts, merchandise and all the other. The artist has more sources of income.

- You have encountered such a situation that the management of the label told you: we know that you can write hits, why do you not write them for yourself?

- That is why I broke up with my previous label. This has become a problem. They tried to force me to write "type of hits." I don't know how. Maybe someone turns out to be programmed for a hit. But I'm not a robot. I cannot write songs that do not speak in my heart. From which I do not feel anything. It’s like how to be friends with a person, because you need to be friends with him, and tell him the things that he wants to hear. This is impossible for me. I only say what I feel.

Writing songs is hard work plus inspiration.

-Your songs have a pronounced rock and roll beginning. It is believed that rock is now uninteresting in young, they are more interested in rap, R & B or dance electronics.

- Well, yes, it's true. There is such. But I have nothing against the remixes for my songs. You know, they annoy many musicians because they sound as it is now fashionable and accepted. I think this is normal. Times are passing - tastes are changing. What would happen if we all now listened to the same music as in 1975? It would be monstrous (laughs) . If someone wants music from 1975, you can always listen to records of those years. It is great that music continues to change and develop.

LP - "Levitator"

- The last question: Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen?

-Oh, both are magnificent. But I will choose Bob Dylan. I discovered Leonard Cohen a couple of years ago, and Bob Dylan is my old love. I melodically like Bob Dylan’s songs more - despite the fact that he has a voice that does not meet the standards of beauty. Yes, and another important detail - I am his twin on the hairstyle (laughs) .