Lomi Mae Releases "vertigo" and Connects with Us to Discuss Her Unforgettable Sound and Upcoming EP
- STAFF
- Aug 13
- 8 min read
By: Staff
Lomi Mae’s "vertigo" is a mesmerizing sonic masterpiece, blending emotion and innovation with every note.
Lomi Mae's latest single "vertigo" is a haunting, atmospheric journey that pulls listeners into the whirlpool of nostalgia, dissociation, and emotional turmoil. The track’s elusive blend of shoegaze and bedroom pop creates a soundscape that’s both familiar and otherworldly, drawing you into its magnetic pull. As the glitchy outro builds into a storm of floating textures, the song captures that dizzying moment when life seems to spiral out of control, a feeling many can relate to but few artists dare to explore so openly.
We spoke with Lomi Mae about the inspiration behind this captivating track, which marks a pivotal moment in her self-taught journey. She opens up about the personal and emotional journey of writing "vertigo," the experimental production choices that make the song truly unique, and how her past, struggles, and triumphs are reflected in her evolving sound.
From online communities to collaborations with rising stars like Lyncks, Lomi shares her creative process and how she’s embracing the chaos of experimenting with new sounds. As she continues to push boundaries and redefine her style, her upcoming EP, Lotus, promises to reveal even more layers of her artistic evolution.
Read on to uncover the story behind "vertigo," hear what’s next for this rising artist, and get a glimpse into the heart of Lomi Mae's growing world.
Begin Interview:
Hello lomi mae, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. Can you explain the concept behind "vertigo" and how you captured the feeling of spiraling and dissociation in the song?
A. vertigo is all about the feeling you get when you’re anxious during a supposedly enjoyable situation, and then feeling stuck between emotions. I think the repetition of the song helps with that spiralling feeling because in our heads we tend to go in circles when we’re anxious. You know when you read a word too much that it loses meaning? It’s exactly that.
Q. What inspired the glitchy outro and how did you achieve that "falling down" feeling in the music?
A. When I was creating the demo for “vertigo,” I remember thinking to myself, “I need this outro to catch me off guard,” and this was because the feelings I explored in “vertigo” arose the same way for me. I also wanted the outro to give space to the next track in the EP, which will have a heavier energy to it. I achieved that “falling down” feeling in the music through using techniques like automation, EQ, and delay to give listeners the feeling of direction.
Q. Did this song at any point start or change themes and become a different song than you started with?
A. To be honest, this song started out being about what it feels to be intoxicated. It can still be about that!
Q. What does the phrase “Spinning ‘til I fall down” mean to you, and how did it shape the rest of the song?
A. There’s many ways this can be interpreted actually! This line to me is somewhat nostalgic. When I was writing this, I thought about how I would spin in circles as a child to purposely make myself dizzy. It’s for those moments that were fun until they weren’t. Since I first wrote this song about intoxication, it can also mean drinking for fun until it becomes too much to handle. Self-sabotage, anyone? “Voices getting distant / Phasing through the ground” refers to the dissociation caused by “falling down.”
Q. You mentioned being self-taught with no prior musical background. What was the initial spark that made you want to pursue music?
A. I’m sure others can relate, but I’m the type of person who loves learning new skills from scratch. I have a love/hate relationship with being a beginner. I love the process, but I don’t like the “beginner results.” It motivates me to do better though! The initial spark that really got me here though.. I would say it was when I made it a silly goal to go to 1-3 live shows a month last year. I’d go alone if I had to. Seeing musicians in their element and flow state was really inspiring. I loved that they can radiate so much emotion and vulnerability through performance and music. I fell in love and I needed to explore music for myself.
Q. What challenges did you face when learning to sing and produce music, and how did you overcome them? How did online communities, like YouTube tutorials and Reddit feedback, shape your growth as an artist?
A. There were and still are so many challenges! There is so much readily available information on the internet that it is hard to know where to look or start. For me I learned it was more helpful to watch producers work on a song from start to finish. Learning to sing was a challenge in itself.. Searching “how to sing” on YouTube for the first time was a humbling experience. I had to record myself singing and sit through the painful videos. Eventually I anonymously posted these videos on Reddit. I received a mix of constructive and non-constructive feedback (they were really more like hate comments, but I understand haha). It helped me realize the value of feedback and how essential it is to my growth.
Q. What role has TikTok played in your musical journey, and how did it accelerate your growth?
A. I found it difficult to gauge my progress with music as a whole at first because I didn’t share my music, so I created TikTok for “exposure therapy.” I was terrified! Even now, I think it’s crazy that I’m sharing my creations to thousands of people. A real anxiety driven thought I have sometimes is “what if people can tell I don’t know what I’m doing?” I push through these thoughts and remind myself to enjoy the learning process. Since posting online I’ve learned so much from other musicians. I am also incredibly grateful for the small online community supporting my art. It’s still scary, but I love sharing what I’m working on next. Criticism can be a good thing!
Q. Can you tell us more about your collaboration with Lyncks? How did you meet, and what was the process like working together on "Decay"?
A. Adding on to the previous question, I actually met Lyncks (shoegaze/nu-gaze musician) through TikTok! We connected through our shared love for hyperpop artists “ericdoa” and “glaive”. And since then we’ve nerded out about music, shared demos, music production tips. I’m happy to say that Lyncks is now a really good friend of mine. Collaborating on “Decay” was spontaneous. He had asked me to write a verse for the song since I mentioned I was curious to try other genres. I listened to the demo a few times and then freestyled over the instrumental and sent the first draft over. I then recorded the actual vocals 30 minutes before I had to leave for a music festival and since then we rave about this song almost daily. We’re super proud of “Decay”! It's a banger for sure. It was a first collaboration project for both of us. Working with Lyncks is super fun. I’d do it again. Listen to his music!!
Q. Is there a song by a band you grew up listening to, something that still resonates with you, that you'd love to cover in the studio today?
A. It’s not a band, but I’ve been in love with Lady Gaga since I was maybe 12 years old. I’d love to someday cover a stripped back version of “Hair.”
Q. What themes are central to your upcoming EP, "Lotus"? How does "vertigo" fit into the overall narrative of the EP?
A. Lotus flowers bloom in mud. It’s still in its early stages but so far the tracks are shaping up to be mostly about the mud! The vibes are definitely darker compared to my first song “snow.” vertigo fits really well because I do explore other themes such as detachment, dissociation, boundaries, grief, mental health.. Of course, I do also want to touch on the beauty that blooms despite the difficult moments.
Q. You’ve said your discography represents your growth as a person. Could you elaborate on how your music reflects personal changes or milestones in your life?
A. As of today I have a small collection of three songs. When I was starting out I heard people talk a lot about “finding your sound” so it helps with being recognizable. This is a tried and true method that works for many musicians, but for me I see my niche as being just who I am (or becoming). I would say my three songs are all different from each other because I see each one as a personal milestone/change. I made “snow” because I wanted to create something more simple for my first song, “vertigo” because I wanted it to be challenging production-wise, and “Decay” because I wanted to leave my comfort zone. I started sharing my music to document my growth and experiences, so I want to keep it that way.
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing your music or reading this interview?
A. I hope people can relate to my music and feel as though someone understood them completely. Even just for a few minutes.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. My best friend Allen who recently passed away comes to mind first. He always encouraged me to share my music, try different sounds, and document my progress. He was the first to tell me he saw my potential. He was an artist too - he made music videos, social media content, and loved music. We loved sharing our creative projects and ideas. I started sharing on TikTok because he gave me a pep talk on not being afraid to showcase what I’m passionate about, and this was shortly before he passed away. He was also the first and only person I ever “performed” my music to. He lit up every room and I looked up to his superstar personality. I wish I could tell him everything, but for now I will keep making and sharing music. I know he’s rooting for me still. Rest in peace, king.
Q. How do you feel about social media in relation to your music? Do you see it as a positive or negative influence on the creative process?
A. Social media has been both positive and challenging. For one, I do find it extremely encouraging and validating when the feedback is positive. I get a lot of supportive messages and comments and I will always be grateful. The negative part is my subconscious telling me to “make similar music to what people have shown they liked.” I am someone who loves to experiment and try new things, so I’d love to apply this to my music. If I want to make a cute upbeat song and then a dark rock song with crunchy guitars next, then I will, but it’s hard not to think about the judgment.
The marketing part of social media is most difficult for me. I don’t post often even on my personal social media, so this has been a shock to me, especially combining that with some of the inevitable negativity.
Q. You've shared so much with us already, and we can't wait to hear more! What's next on the horizon for you? Any exciting projects or new sounds you're working on that fans should be keeping an eye out for?
A. Lotus is going to explore various ideas both musically and thematically. I did just start learning all things music last year, so I think this will definitely reflect in my early works. I think after Lotus, I will be mostly releasing singles so I can explore different sounds and vocal styles. I want to explore the hyperpop genre or at least take inspiration! It's kind of funny to say, from a so-called "musician," but I'm also learning how to do a "mixed belt" through YouTube right now. I will be applying it in a song I'm working on called "Tattoo," so watch out for that attempt... :)
lomi mae, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared lomi mae’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
