Lyla Foy [Q and A]

BY ALEX ZINOVIEFF
MONDAY, 24TH FEBRUARY 2014

Lyla Foy is right at the top of a crop of new London based indie-electro-pop artists. Her music is constructed meticulously to create songs that sound intriguing, while always keeping a strong hold on good melody and pop accessibility. Don’t take my word for it. Here is a song. Tuck in.

For the sake of those who aren’t in the know - who are you, and what’s the deal?

Hi! I'm Lyla. I write and record music. I've got an album coming out in March, which I'm super excited about.

Tell us about your debut full-length 'Mirrors the Sky'. Has it been a fun process making it, and are you surprised by how it has turned out?

I love recording, and this album has been really fun to make. I produced it myself so I was, like, the boss. I played lots of the instruments myself too, but also brought in my band, who are amazing. They make sounds that make you go "ah" and "ooh". I was there every step of the way so there weren't any surprises.

The first single from the record Feather Tongue is out, and it’s brilliant. It is a really interesting sound. Was this something you had a clear idea you wanted to achieve, or did the sound grow organically?

When a song starts, it's always an experiment. I guess there are a number of ways it could go. So it's not clear to begin with but it's always totally organic.

If I were to turn on your iPod now, what would be playing?

Sparklehorse, Dum Dum Girls, Interpol, Courtney Barnett, Nouvelle Vague...

What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?

Travelling by Monorail - absolutely horrifying.

Who do you think is the coolest person in the world? (it’s not allowed to be your parents).

Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Patti Smith tied.

Do you have a favourite place in the world?

Cornwall!

How do you know when you have struck exactly the right ‘minimalist’ balance in a song?

I won't stop working on a song until it's built. I know when it's done cause I start to get bored of hearing it playing over and over. Then it's done.

Oracle time. Where will you be in 10 years time?

I'll be working on album five. Along the way, I will have done lots of collaborations, and stints performing in different bands.