Kat Harlton
Winnipeg pop artist Lhasa Petik recently released her new single “Here and Gone“. One of the country’s hidden gems with over one million streams to her name, Lhasa is also a multi-instrumentalist and producer. Her distinct, husky vocals are almost always accompanied by her beloved ukulele or guitar. She also plays the violin, stand up, electric bass, and piano. Balancing the line somewhere between lo-fi bedroom electronics and organic instrumentation, Lhasa creates a fresh sound that lies on the fringes of pop.
We had the opportunity to chat with Lhasa about her latest single, her creative process and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest single “Here And Gone”?
Lhasa: Here and Gone’ was written a couple months back, when I was having a rough go at the height of the pandemic. I’ve been finding it hard to sit still after travelling for a couple of years, and this track was a way to vent. The whole situation has had an impact on my mental health, and has forced me into my head instead of running from my problems like I usually would. ’ve had to take a step back and appreciate life and relationships for what they are without travelling or parties. Instead of avoiding the lows or turning to vices to cope I’ve been forced to appreciate them for what they are. “Are you really living if you never think of dying” is one of the most vulnerable lyrics I’ve written, because I’ve gone through some dark times that I often try to forget, and rarely like to acknowledge. However, I’ve started to realize that you can’t appreciate the highs without the lows, the same way that we value life because it doesn’t last forever.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the track?
Lhasa: Music has helped a ton throughout the years, and I want to make music that can help other people as well. This track is personal to me, but I think it’s a pretty broad topic as well. It covers feeling isolated, dealing with depression, and being worried about being left behind by the world. They’re topics that I haven’t touched on quite as deeply in other tracks, but I really value artists that are honest and true in their work, so I am trying to be open as well. I hope that in opening up, listeners can relate to the track and who knows, maybe one day my music will help someone.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Lhasa: I have a predictable process, but regardless of that, it can be frustrating. I always cycle between productive highs and crazy crashes, and I stew in my emotions until I feel inspired. When I’m vibing and feeling creative, I often get a lot of projects done at once. However, post creative high I always have a couple days or sometimes weeks where I want nothing to do with sound or art. I definitely struggle with those burnout periods, and place a lot of my self worth on my ability to be creative, so I end up in a bit of a rut if I don’t feel like I am being productive. It may not be the healthiest routine, but I’ve come to accept that it is all a part of the process, and I try not to be too hard on myself in those times.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Lhasa: When I was thinking about this question, I was trying to think of a memorable gig or something, but I think that my highlights thus far have been more internal. I was gigging a ton in Australia which was pretty rad, and definitely up there; but not number one. I think that the recent steps that I’ve made with producing my own stuff is definitely a highlight and is something I have been working towards. With that being said, I have learnt that it is also ok to get help when you need it, and it is so important to surround yourself with a good group of people that can inspire and challenge you to do better in all aspects of life.
Kat: What’s next?
Lhasa: I have been working on tons of new projects that I am excited to share very soon. But other than that, I’ve just been trucking along and waiting for this pandemic to be over so that I can start travelling and playing shows! I’m slowly chipping away at putting together my live set, so I am looking forward to hopping on stage again.
Catch up with Lhasa Petik on Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/lhasapetik