Photo by Lara Louise
Words by Teddi Barker
Chris Lanzon first graced Australian stages/screens at an early age. Now twenty and focussing on his career as a solo artist, Chris is turning out hit after hit. His debut EP and short film, Melancholy, was released in May this year and amassed over 400,000 streams. Since then, fans have been kept on their toes with ‘Everest’, the first single from his upcoming EP which is set for release in 2021.
‘Everest’ is everything we could have hoped for from this self-managed and independent artist who takes to producing, writing and mixing his own tracks. With his authentic and relatable approach to storytelling, this Australian artist hasn’t strayed too far from his days of busking at his local beach. It’s the introspective lyrics and singularly uplifting tone of the music that really catches the ear of the listener and turns heads.
About his new release, Chris shares,
‘I think this is the most honest and vulnerable song I’ve made so far, yet it sounds really upbeat and invigorating. I love the contrast of those feelings. It’s really about feeling stuck and misunderstood, but I wanted to explore that in a comforting and warm tone.’
This rising Australian artist is definitely one to watch and we were fortunate enough to catch up with him. Check out what Chris has to say about his journey as a solo artist.
When did you first start playing music?
Growing up I was always interested in and influenced by music … I remember getting a ukulele for my third birthday and a kid’s tape recorder when I was five that I used to record song ideas on before I even knew what song writing was! I took piano lessons through primary school which gave me a base understanding of music and I started to take it more seriously when I was around eleven-years-old.
Do you feel like there was one specific moment with your music where you realised you were on the right path, or are you still trying to figure it out?
When I started releasing my music this year things started to feel right for me. I’m still growing and changing every day and have a lot more to learn, but I feel like I’m on the right path when I am making music. Especially hearing from people who have connected to my music all around the world – that is so fulfilling.
Who has been your biggest supporter on your journey?
My parents, for sure. They’ve been so open and supportive of me creating music every day, even though it can be such an unpredictable and risky career path. They definitely keep me grounded and in-check – but their support is unmatched.
What has been your biggest career highlight?
Releasing my debut EP and short film project, ‘Melancholy’, completely independently and self-produced / mixed, and having such a warm reception for it from my audience. I’m so grateful for the support.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?
Yes, I can! ‘Everest’ is the first single from my second EP. I’ve written the other songs for it and am currently working on finalising the recordings. I’m planning to release a second single before the end of the year, and get the EP out early 2021. Hopefully I can play some shows next year, too!
Check Chris Lanzon out on Spotify.
