When I started my first year of college in Philly, it was pretty overwhelming to be surrounded by A LOT of extremely talented artists and people in music. In high school, my mediocre piano skills and horrendous vocal ability were enough to be known as a music kid (maybe because I was the only one trying) - but in college, there was an immediate sense of feeling way out of my league and not good enough to exist in the same community as my peers.
As time went on, I came to learn that there’s a whole lot of real estate in today’s digital landscape. Sharing your own art can be incredibly liberating on a personal level, and you never know who it might connect with in this vast world. There’s (currently) no limit on the number of songs that can exist on Spotify, so what’s stopping you from staking your claim on your little piece of streaming real estate?
One of the founding principles of Skylyne was that there is a lot of space in the music world, and a lot of artists who deserve to have their voices heard. Our goal has and always will be to encourage independent artists to take up that space and feel empowered to build a community around their music.
Today’s spotlight artist - Lani The Boy - is also advocating for artists to “take up space in this beautifully brief pandemonium of life” while putting it into action themselves. Born in New York and currently living in Philly, Lani has always felt like a tiny fish in a really big pond that never had enough room. Music was an outlet to process those thoughts and feelings, but until recently it felt too intimate and vulnerable to share. But not anymore. In March, debut single “Say What U Think” hit streaming platforms - a culmination of these feelings and ode to encouraging others to live their own truth and find their own peace. We had a chance to chat with Lani ahead of their Skylyne Summer Series performance on April 30th and dive deep into the music experience as an artist and a human.
SKYLYNE: Hi Lani! We’re so excited to have you at this year’s Skylyne Summer Series. I’d love to start by getting to know you a bit more. Can you tell us about your background growing up in New York and moving to Philly?
Lani The Boy: I’m sooooo pumped and honored to be working with y’all!! Thank you for having me! I was born and raised in the heart of [New York] City on the Upper West Side and was a massive theater nerd. I think my passion for performing really started from movies like High School Musical and Lemonade Mouth so I begged my mama to put me in anything performing arts-related. I performed in a choir called Young Peoples Chorus in NYC for years then transferred my focus over to Theater and Acting as a Drama major at Laguardia High School. I realized quickly that the aspect of theater that I was passionate about was the music. Creating something that makes people feel something makes me happy.
But growing up around so many talented kids, I never felt confident enough to actually step out as my own artist so I came out here to Philly to study Music Business at Drexel and finished up at the University of the Arts. I felt that if I couldn’t be the one creating, I could support creatives in their career by understanding the industry side of things and still be involved in the art that makes people feel.
I’m currently working as the Concert Manager at City Winery Philly so I’m actively fulfilling that mission as I curate shows for Artists every night, but I have a completely different outlook on things now as I’m finally stepping into my artistry. But I’m extremely grateful for my experience on the business end of things because I feel the most confident and prepared than I’ve ever been to do this thing the way I’ve always imagined it.
SKYLYNE: You’ve self-described as a tiny fish in a big pond. Can you elaborate on how that feeling has inspired your songwriting?
Lani The Boy: As I mentioned, I grew up surrounded by sooo many talented kids and brilliant creatives. Going to Laguardia felt like a blessing and a curse because it was a dual-action experience most kids will never get (academics and arts equally) but the school had thousands of students. Thousands of ideas, thousands of voices, thousands of perspectives. And for a social anxiety-ridden, deeply insecure, neurodivergent kid just tryna fit in, it was an easy place to feel completely small and drowned out.
In regards to my songwriting, with everyone else having so much to say and fighting for each other’s attention, I felt like “well no one’s listening anyways, right? So say what you wanna say.” I feel like a lot of my songwriting is extra vulnerable and maybe a little bit too intimate because it always started out like “no one’s ever gonna hear this anyways, so go off kid”.
SKYLYNE: Is there a certain type of fish in that pond you identify the most with?
Lani The Boy: Hmm you know, I’m not sure what kind of fish I'd be honestly... I don't even know that many types of fish but I think sea horses are pretty gnarly like... where did y’all come from and why are y’all so damn cutie-looking?
SKYLYNE: Let’s talk about your latest single “Say What U Think”. Can you describe your process and inspiration for writing this song?
Lani The Boy: Absolutely! Say What U Think is an ode to self-love. It flowed out last Spring at a time when a couple of dear friends of mine were experiencing a lot of external pressure from folks in their lives about how they should be acting in certain situations and things we should or shouldn’t be doing at this point in our lives. All of it was a real dimmer on the light and infectious shine those friends possess. I’m talking about the kind of humans that folks can’t help but want to know because they organically just have so much genuine love for existence and life in them.
It was a real moment for me because I looked at them as superhumans in a way, and when this all went down I realized, wow they hurt too… just like me. It also made me consider how I perceive myself, how deeply I used to digest the opinions of others, and how detrimental that was to my self-confidence and just happiness overall in life. So Say What U Think is a reminder for my homies and me to always do what makes you happy and to protect your peace.
SKYLYNE: Are there any challenges you’ve come across as you start your career in music?
Lani The Boy: One thing I’ve always had trouble with is trusting other people with my vision. I’m real stubborn sometimes about how I like things done and what I want a final product to look like and sometimes I get really stuck on my own perspective. So for a long time, I’ve tried to be a jack of all trades and learn how to do everything myself from teaching myself 3 instruments, producing my own music to designing my own graphics, shooting and editing my own video content, booking my own gigs, creating my own EPK’s, etc. But there are so many creatives and professionals out here with so many unique ideas and guidance to offer; things my one little brain could never even think are possible, if I just learn to let people in and build an even bigger and stronger vision together.
In these past couple of months, I’ve had the honor and opportunity to work with some brilliant creatives who have really dialed in the idea that “two heads are better than one”. Still grateful to have put in the work to learn some of these crafts myself and be able to efficiently communicate my ideas when working with other creatives now. It’s just been “a whole new world” as Aladin said!
SKYLYNE: That’s so true, sometimes it’s really hard to see the value of building out a team until you finally have that group that fully gets your vision. Switching gears a bit, what songs are on your repeat playlist? Any music you’re currently obsessed with?
Lani The Boy: Oh man, I’ve been in like an angsty phase for a bit now so the “Emo Forever” playlist on Spotify has been on heavy rotation (it’s a lifestyle, not really a phase you know!) But besides that, Fred Again is probably my go-to feel-good artist. Doesn’t matter if it’s been a glorious or an absolute shit day, dude totally knows how to work those frequencies into magic. Also been going hard to Tori Kelly and FLETCHER’s new albums! Both are absolute dream pop bangers! Highly recommend for all the pop girlies out there.
SKYLYNE: We love girly pop at Skylyne. What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your music?
Lani The Boy: To be true to yourself and do whatever makes you happy in this life. I just turned 25 and already, I’ve experienced so many people who literally do this life thing trying to appease and please the expectations of others. It hinders them from existing in the present and never having a moment of peace because there’s always something else that is more important than themselves. It’s the idea that being selfless is more ethical than being selfish. But I think there should be a balance there and that there’s no way you’re showing up as the best version of yourself if you aren’t doing the work to protect your peace. With the way I write, most of these songs are journal entries and internal discussions with myself about all these different life lessons and things I'm experiencing as a growing boy. So, I hope my listeners are taking away that we’re all human and going through a lot of life all of the time, but also that we have free will and this life thing should be fun. We’re not here for that long so while we are, let’s have a ball.
SKYLYNE: Your lyrics seem to come from a very intimate and vulnerable space. Are there any specific feelings you find are easier to write about? Happiness, pain, hope, longing?
Lani The Boy: Thank you! That’s a huge compliment and exactly what I’ve been going for obviously so EEEP :) As I mentioned, writing is like journal entries for me and almost every song I’ve written has been inspired by some kind of life experience so there’s not a particular emotion that’s easiest to write about. I find it easier to write when some time has passed from a situation and I’ve had the ability to sit with and process my thoughts and feelings about things. If I’m feeling manic about something and try to sit down at a piano and catch some raw feelings, it’s a real hit or miss! That’s sometimes my best work or my most embarrassing, but it’s all a part of the process!
SKYLYNE: You’ve mentioned you hope to inspire others to “take up space” in this crazy world. Can you describe what it means to you to take up space creatively?
Lani The Boy: “Take up space” as in, just do it. There is no perfect moment, there is no right time, there is no better version than what you have and who you are right now. Who you are and what you do is enough and valid. And all you need to be “successful” is to be proud of and confident in those two things - yourself and your work. That’s all everyone else is focused on - themselves and their shit. So why shouldn’t you do the same? Take up that space. Someone needs to hear what you have to say. Someone wants to experience what you have to offer. You could be changing someone’s life and you wouldn’t even know it. Or maybe not, maybe “taking up space” just made you feel nice. That’s enough of a reason right there! You feel me? Here today, gone tomorrow. So just do your thing friend!
SKYLYNE: I love that. If you could freaky friday with any existing artist today, who would it be?
Lani The Boy: Oh, these are dope questions! Lauren Sanderson all the way! From the transparency she has with her community to the rawness and versatility of her lyrics and artistry, to the stage presence and vocal abilities, to the influence and statements she sends about being true to yourself and doing whatever you want in this world, to being the absolute lesbian icon she is… she’s probably one of the biggest (if not my biggest) inspirations for my art. But beyond that, I just think our brains and hearts are wired similarly and that we’d vibe so hard if we ever met. So this is me putting it out in the world now that that’s my future bestie, we just haven’t formally met yet :)
SKYLYNE: Lauren if you’re reading this, let’s make this happen! Okay Lani, it’s been awesome getting to know you a bit and we can’t wait to hear your set on Tuesday. Here’s your spotlight - tell us what you have going on and what’s coming up.
Lani The Boy: Lots of fun stuff! It’s not all figured out yet, but join me for the ride! Got a few singles I’m planning to release this year, and maybe a little project of some sort this summer!! Going hard on content and building my social media presence too so definitely check me out - I’m on all platforms as Lani The Boy! But besides that, I’m just a baby boy out here in Philly looking to connect with people whether it’s for music or just to be boys so feel free to hit me up! Grateful for you taking the time to get to know me a bit. Thank you again Skylyne for the opportunity to take up my space <3 I hope to see y’all at the show April 30th!
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