Q+A: LUUNG
LUUNG is a project by independent writer and producer, Bailey Jeffs. Recently, The Sunshine Coast native released his third EP Did it get any better?, written and recorded in the comfort of his own home, with the 22-year-old shining brilliantly across the record. He adopts a combination of DIY production techniques and lush melodic components to shape his new sound, yet leaving room for his signature delicate vocals. The soundscape displayed on the latest release feels extremely fresh and airy, somewhat reminiscent of electro-R&B duo, Majid Jordan. LUUNG’s succulent production paired with his celestial-like vocals flourish on tracks like “Whisper (Vapour)” and “By My Side.”
We had the opportunity to delve deeper into LUUNG’s latest release Did it get any better? with the artist himself.
Do you mind introducing yourself?
My name is Bailey Jeffs, I am 23 and make music under the name LUUNG (pronounced lung). I am based on the Sunshine Coast about an hour north of Brisbane (Australia). I’m fully independent at this point and do all my own recording, content, branding, etc. I want to make music that is lush and textured with hits in all the right places.
When did you first get into music?
Typical story, played music the whole way through school, played in a couple of bands, but I had never written a song before. Fast forward to the start of 2017 I was listening to The Japanese House and was consumed by this desire to create music for people that made them feel the way this music made me feel. At that moment I decided it was gonna be all or nothing so I set the goal to write/record/release my first Ep within a year. Keep in mind at that point my back catalog of songs was ‘0’, and my vocal confidence was non-existent.
Tell us about your latest single “Pressure”?
“Pressure” was a song I wrote in collaboration with Isabel Wood. Isabel brought the first verse to the session and we developed the rest of the song from there. Lyrically the song focuses on how hard it can be when people you care about aren’t honest and open - when you always have to decipher how the other person is feeling. We drew inspiration from Gracie Abrams and the Oh Wonder duet style. We both live in the same town whose main musical “export” is 50’s+ reggae and stoner rock, so I think we were both pretty keen to get together and make a “pop” song.
Your earlier releases sound very influenced by 80s synths while your latest releases “Picture This” & “Pressure” feel very airy and slightly R&B inspired. What prompted the experimentation of your sound?
I always want to feel like I'm evolving but at the same time searching for a sound that is more refined and inherently “mine”. In my previous releases, 80’s inspired synth-pop was definitely a big influence (Fickle Friends, LANY). I loved the big explosions into a chorus and arrangements that filled the sonic spectrum. It made so much sense to me. But in 2020 I really felt connected to artists such as Golden Vessel and Akurei, who happen to all be based out of Brisbane. I wanted to try my hand at that bedroom producer vibe, to play with 808’s and focus more on interesting sound design. I think I definitely learned to use my voice a bit better too.
Congrats on the release of your EP Did It Get Any Better? How are you feeling about its release?
Thanks! Yeah I’m stoked for it to finally come out. I’ve been sitting on it for a bit longer than I would have liked. But the EP really shows how far i’ve come as a producer these last 12 months, and I’m excited for people to hear that in these songs. I feel like I made something that is pretty enjoyable and I hope people agree. On the other hand, I see every major release as just a ‘way point’ in my journey to become better. So I’m often pretty keen to move on to the next project, to continue developing my skills, and have another crack at making something that “works.” - An unfortunate trope of the music industry these days.
How was the creative process different in making Did It Get Any Better? compared to your previous EP For When I Find The Words?
The creative process for this EP was so different from the last. The biggest thing being I started producing in Ableton, aside from having to learn a new program I can’t deny how much of an eye-opener it was, it gave me a completely renewed perspective on producing. Ableton gives you a bit more flexibility with warping and stretching sounds, which was something I did a lot on this Ep. One other thing being that this was the first time I mixed my own work. Even though it was something I was kind of forced to do in order to save a bit of money, I think it worked out for the best and allowed me to keep the entire process DIY.
What song off of Did It Get Any Better resonates with you the most?
“Picture This” is my favourite track on the record, I actually still enjoy listening to it, which is a rare thing for me. I love the beat and the way the vocal melody changes in the second verse.
The line ‘It’s only us together, in this bad weather’ is indicative of how most of 2020 felt, and it was nice to be able to reflect on that through this song. I write the bulk of my songs in a couple of hours so they’re often an expression of something that comes and goes before I get to even dwell on it. Making it kind of hard to remember what I was writing about. But I also gotta give a special mention to By My Side, it is not the most polished song on the record but it is representative of my gratitude to my wife in our first year of marriage.
Who are you listening to right now?
I think I'm still riding the wave of appreciation for all the Brisbane producers, in fact, I just finished my next set of songs which I think fits that sound even closer. But have really been digging the new Taylor Swift albums, Ethan Gruska & Phoebe Bridgers. In a lot of ways their productions share a lot of the same “bedroom producer” resourcefulness, they just treat traditional instruments the same way I manipulate digital sounds.