Real Goblin

The following is an interview with Vermont-based singer-songwriter Lutalo. Their upcoming debut album, The Academy, releases on September 20th of this year. It boasts a bolder, more eclectic sound than their past work. In this interview, I asked Lutalo about their process, what led them to branch out, and more…

Real Goblin: “I first found you through your EP Once Now, Then Again. It struck me as something wholly unique. Your brand of folk felt fresh and authentic, the former of which is ironic because of the nature of folk music itself. From a thematic perspective, what was your approach like in those early days? Do you feel your writing style changing as you get older?”

Lutalo: “In the early days, I was really reaching out to connect to music with simplicity and restraint. In the past I used to struggle with overthinking and complicating my compositions. Once Now, Then Again was the first turn around in my approach. Focusing more on intuition rather than “impressive feats”. Listening to what my mind was encouraging the direction of my work, rather than focusing on complexity. I feel as though this has only become stronger in my practice as I’m getting older. Now I just trust that whatever I start will unveil itself to me, one way or another.”

Once Now, Then Again was one of my earliest reviews with Real Goblin. The EP felt hypnotic. And just as Lutalo says, by doing away with overcomplications, they were able to find a unique place in the indie-folk genre. With their debut album, they feel comfortable pushing the limits of their sound.

Real Goblin: “Ocean Swallows Him Whole” maintains a darker, folk sound, but is heavier on the instrumental side than some of your earlier music. When did you first find yourself pushing in this direction? And how have your influences changed from when you started to now, as you prepare for the release of your debut album?”

Lutalo: “With this record, I had set the intention of reflecting on my life up to this point. From listening to 90’s rock (the time I was born), the 70’s or 80’s music my father would show me…even getting into indie rock of the 2010’s. Those all make up my style and I worked hard to incorporate all of it into this record. One of my biggest influences is my partner Kenna. I can create a lot of different styles of music but I really appreciate her taste. I often strive to channel something that she’s into as well. That just happened to be something that we both resonated with at the time. It’s not always dark in tonality though, with more context from the album I feel you’ll begin to see the full picture more.”  

And they’re right. The recent single, “The Bed”, is more reflective of the sound of their breakout EP. It’s lighter, airier. And the effect of Jake Aron’s (Snail Mail, Protomartyr, L’Rain) production is felt. This track is the musical equivalent of an iced coffee with cream and sugar on a fall day. The guitar is smooth and clean, the percussion tight, and Lutalo’s baritone as soothing as ever.

Real Goblin: “I’m eager to hear what a Lutalo album sounds like with a bigger, grander sound. Is this an area you’d say you’re comfortable in? Or did it feel like a big step to take?”

Lutalo: “I love a good story arc. The plan was always to start with EPs that felt small and gradually built up – leading to a grand, debut album. Though I’ve definitely grown as an artist in the past years, I feel that I was always capable of making something grand. That is proven with some of these songs and ideas being older than the first two EPs. There are songs that I wrote even further in the past I hope to incorporate in future albums. We’ll just have to see.”  

Real Goblin: “I’m always interested in people’s creative processes. Would you say you have an actual “process”? And if so, how has that changed from your first two EPs to your debut album?”

Lutalo: “It’s based around intuition. I experiment and trust whatever ‘process’ there might be. Sometimes I’m rewarded with something I want to share or something that aligns with my vision for the project. In most everything I create, I can find something I’ll appreciate about it. Mostly it starts with being inspired by a sound – like a synth, or drum, or string instrument. I just continue to follow the feeling of inspiration until I’ve received everything I can out of it. Sometimes that’s sooner in the process than I’d like, but I let it be and trust that whatever comes next will feel good too. I believe having an abundant mindset (and partially a lack of say on what comes out) is key. Again, just following intuition, no questions or judgments until it’s done. You never know what you’ll find.”

Real Goblin: “What is your dream collab?”

Lutalo: “I bet Alex G would be fun to mess around with. His work gives a “fuck around to find out” vibe I subscribe to. And doesn’t seem too concerned about proving anything.”

Alex G is a clear inspiration on Lutalo, and more than just in sound. The two artists share a carefree energy. Lutalo, like Alex G, truly does come across as an artist who creates just for the love of the process. That, more than anything else, can set one’s work apart from their contemporaries.

Real Goblin: “Finally, what are you most looking forward to about the release of The Academy?”

Lutalo: I’m looking forward to ideally finding and connecting with people that are interested in a fun journey with me sonically. Again, I love a good story arc. So I hope someone looks forward to following along. 

The Academy drops on September 20th, 2024.

Lutalo’s tour dates can be found here.

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