Chris Lanzon has been exploring his dark side. The Australia singer/songwriter has crafted an in depth exploration into his identity and embracing uncertainty on the seven track EP, Dark Side. Each track delves into a new sphere of Lanzon's world, and comes together to solidify his talents and sound. We spoke to the artist about the project, what the future holds and his passion for sustainability:

Your EP is beautiful. Let’s start at the beginning - tell us about the intro track. Why was it the perfect beginning to this project?

Thanks so much! I wanted the intro track was to ease people into the new world, and act as a bit of a mission statement. I think it adds an interesting dimension to the theme of the project: Ambition and perseverance, but with an acceptance of the uncertainty and doubt that comes with it - the duality of all emotions and experiences. It hints at some of the lyrics and melody of FUCK IT UP!, but it’s super raw - just an iPhone voice memo which sounds kind of blurry and vulnerable. I think it’s the perfect starting point to branch out from, to explore all the different emotions that form the ‘Dark Side’ journey.

The EP is titled Dark Side. What was the main inspiration behind it, what was on your mind while you were writing? Can you tell us a little about your dark side… :)

Dark Side is really the final chapter in a coming-of-age story. I’ve been documenting my emotions through growing up over the last few years with these 3 projects I’ve put out. From my teens to my early 20s - these years feel formative, as you’re trying to figure out your place in the world. At the time of writing this project I was thinking a lot about my creative process and coming to terms with bits of my past that I had been trying to run from - that was my dark side. I’ve always had a love for music and wanted to take every opportunity to make it part of my life, and that led me on some turbulent paths as a young teen, having no idea what I was doing. I had a lot of ‘industry professionals’ around me guiding me in the direction that they thought I should be going, but I wasn’t old enough to even know who I was, let alone who I wanted to be as an artist. For a long time I tried to ignore those years of my life, but I learned that in order to grow and become whole, we need to accept all parts of ourselves, including the parts we don’t love. So that was the main inspiration behind this project. I write songs to process my thoughts and feelings, so I learned a lot while diving into these feelings. There’s still a long way to go, and so much to learn, but that’s the point really. This project is the acceptance that there is no final destination, all we can do is give our best in every moment. I find that comforting.

We love Fuck It Up. There’s so much passion and power behind it. Where did you write it? What do you hope people feel listening to it?

Thanks! This was a fun one to make. I wrote it at home over zoom with my friend Franco who lives in LA. I’d been writing so many slow, sad songs, but that’s not representative of everything I feel. So we wanted to make a song that was bigger and more ambitious, and Fuck It Up really embodies that. It’s a celebration of letting go of the things that hold you back, and going after what you care about, no matter what happens. I hope people feel empowered when they listen to it.

Starlight is so pretty. We love the production. Who did you work with on the EP? Or perhaps, who’s production was influencing you?

I worked with Simon Lam to finish off the EP. A lot of the songs I had already produced to a place I was happy with, and he helped to polish off my ideas, but Starlight is a track where he added a lot of his vibe to my original vision. I had recorded this song as a stripped back guitar ballad. I felt like it could be a really nice afterthought or “part 2” to follow June. So we started playing with it in the studio, and pitched it up to match June just to see what it would sound like, and realised it felt super cool with everything being kind of distorted and wobbly. I was like “can we do this? is this allowed?” and he was super encouraging for me to get weird with it. He added the drums and bass that took the sound to another world. I’m really proud of how this track turned out.

We’d like to go track by track but for the purpose of 10 Questions… do you have a song you’re most proud of on this EP?

It’s hard to pick one track, because we put so much into each one! But I think right now, I’d say You’ll Find It. I think it’s my most honest songwriting, and I feel like it encompasses everything I’ve learned through my journey over the last few years. It’s that surrender and acceptance that we’ll never have all the answers, but we can always show up and give our best to everything we do. It’s a reminder to myself to be open. To learn from my mistakes and to keep going. I hope people can connect to it as much as I do.

‍For those who don’t yet know, give us the Chris Lanzon lowdown. When did you start making music? What inspired you to express yourself in this way?

Music has always felt like the most pure and tangible way for me to express myself and process my emotions, so songwriting has always been a big part of my life - It’s hard to pinpoint when I started, it was just something I felt drawn to. My Dad plays guitar and sings from time to time, and Mum has always been a big fan of music, always playing her favourite songs around the house - so I guess growing up around that opened my eyes to music as a form of expression, and inspired me to try it out. I had a toy tape recorder as a kid, and the first song I wrote is still on that cassette. I must have been about 4 or 5 years old, and I sang about how quickly the weather can change - because one morning it was sunny, and then it started raining haha. I remember it clearly. So, I guess that’s when I started?

How do you think growing up in Australia has shaped you as an artist?

Australia is such a beautiful and diverse country, so I think the nature around me has been super influential on my perspective and process as an artist. I’m lucky to have grown up close to the coast, so I’ve spent a lot of time by the ocean, and exploring lush bushland and forests. They say ‘nature is the best teacher’ and I think that’s true. I’ve learned a lot about who I am and what I want to express as an artist by spending time in nature.

Speaking of collaborations, who would be the ultimate features for you?

I’d have to say Phoebe Bridgers, and Bon Iver. They’d be top 2. And maybe Jeff Buckley if he was still with us. There’s just such a magic to their work, and it would be an honour to witness it and be a part of their process. Maybe one day!

What inspired the visual world of Chris Lanzon?

My main goal with the visual side of things is to capture the feeling of the music and translate that into a video or artwork. I’ve always loved that part of the process, I feel like music and visuals are symbiotic, so I try to make the visual world an extension of the music. In terms of influences, honestly I just go deep on Pinterest and try to find things that match the ideas in my brain! I’ve saved a lot of things on there from style inspo, to movie scenes, photos, graphic designs, and quotes - so there’s a wide range of influences for sure.

What is something you’re passionate about, aside from music? Something you’d like to use your platform for?

I really care about sustainability. Both in a world / planet sense, and also a human sense. I’m always looking for ways I can adapt my lifestyle to be more sustainable for the earth, like buying second hand clothes and items instead of brand new, reducing my consumption of animal products, finding the best solutions for manufacturing merch, travelling etc. And then just as a human, I’m trying to practise more mindfulness and self-reflection to be aware of how I’m feeling, and others around me too - so I can be the best version of myself, and continue to grow in a positive way.

What’s next?

Right now I’m working towards making an album, which I feel really excited about. Who knows if it will become a full album or not, but I’m writing a lot and feeling really good about the songs, so I just want to keep putting stuff out into the world! Oh, and live shows. I want to play more shows, ASAP.

Listen to Chris Lanzon HERE.

@chrislanzon