Podcast Summary: Classic Music Saved Me with Singer Songwriter LØLØ

Podcast: takin' a walk – MUSIC HISTORY ON FOOT
Host: Lynn Hoffman (on the "Music Saved Me" segment)
Guest: LØLØ
Release Date: October 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Lynn Hoffman sits down with LØLØ, a rising pop singer-songwriter known for her raw, heartfelt lyrics and vibrant energy. The conversation explores LØLØ’s unique journey—from her early days as a self-described theater kid in Toronto to achieving millions of streams, social media virality, and sold-out shows. The discussion centers on how music has served as a source of healing and connection for LØLØ and her fans, delving into themes of authenticity, vulnerability, and the power of music to save.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Early Musical Inspirations and Dual Influences

Timestamps: [03:23]–[04:52]

• LØLØ recounts her earliest musical memories: falling in love with Green Day’s American Idiot and Avril Lavigne, while also being enamored with Shirley Temple due to time spent with her grandfather.

• She describes the unique blend of influences: punk music and musical theatre, which has shaped her artistic style—a mix of rocking out and dramatic, emotional storytelling.

  “I used to watch Shirley Temple videos with my grandfather and I just like wanted to be her... at the same time, I was obsessed with Green Day and Avril Lavigne. I guess kind of, you know, makes sense of the person I am today.”
  — LØLØ [03:32]

2. The Unexpected Places Music Has Taken Her

Timestamps: [05:14]–[06:01]

• LØLØ shares her excitement about visiting Newfoundland, inspired by her love for the musical Come From Away.

• She reflects on the travel opportunities music has provided: performing across Europe, the US, and Canada.

  “For some reason, Newfoundland just sticks out as cool, unexpected. Yeah.”
  — LØLØ [05:58]

3. Touring, Anxiety, and Sold-Out Shows

Timestamps: [06:01]–[07:06]

• Discusses the anxiety and imposter syndrome she felt when headlining her own tour—wondering if fans would show up for her rather than as an opener.

• Expresses the joy and validation of seeing her own fans fill the room and sing her lyrics.

  “I had so much anxiety, honestly … you don’t know if you have passive listeners or … fans of you … but it all sold out and it went amazing.”
  — LØLØ [06:15]

4. Music That Lifts Spirits

Timestamps: [07:09]–[07:54]

• Green Day’s American Idiot remains her comfort album, providing nostalgia and relief from stress.

• Unexpected pick: Mika’s “Grace Kelly” always brings her mood up.

  “Normally, if I’m ever upset or stressed, I kind of just like, press play on American Idiot and listen to it front to back.”
  — LØLØ [07:17]

5. The Stories Behind Her Songs: “Possibilities”

Timestamps: [07:54]–[09:23]

• Discusses the themes in her single “Possibilities” — the anxiety of opening up emotionally after past heartbreak.

• Explains that happiness in a relationship can paradoxically bring fear of potential hurt, and how those internal battles shape her songwriting.

  “There’s just this voice in the back of my head being like, well, it could go wrong any second now… something about that is really terrifying.”
  — LØLØ [08:22]

6. Raw Authenticity in Songwriting

Timestamps: [09:35]–[10:57]

• Emphasizes her approach of being fully honest, never sugarcoating her feelings in songs.

• She reflects that audience members connect most when she’s specific and unfiltered.

  “I try to just be as authentic as possible and just kind of go for it… when I like just, you know, write exactly what I’m feeling … that’s when people relate the most.”
  — LØLØ [09:50]

7. Discovering the Real Impact of Her Music

Timestamps: [10:57]–[12:23]

• LØLØ was surprised by the powerful effect her music has on fans, realizing this post-shows when people shared their emotional responses.

• Shares how being specific in songs like "Hot Girls in Hell" resonates universally:

  “For some reason, it really hit people. So now I’m just like, okay. I guess we all kind of lived a shared experience or something about being specific.”
  — LØLØ [12:12]

8. Pivotal Moments: First Headline Tour

Timestamps: [13:07]–[15:11]

• Cites her first headline tour in October 2024 as a transformative experience; it helped her overcome imposter syndrome and solidified her identity as a “real artist.”

• Describes a ritual of visualizing her younger self before going on stage to calm nerves and embrace the moment.

  “I started the first night because it made me feel better. But I would just picture, like, young me, like, dancing in the basement … and just her freaking out and being like, oh my god, like, are we doing this?”
  — LØLØ [14:15]

9. The Healing Power of Music

Timestamps: [15:11]–[16:08]

• LØLØ attests to the power of music to heal, both as a fan and as an artist hearing from her own fans.

• Shares the surreal experience of switching from being the saved to the savior through music.

  “It hits even harder to think that I could possibly be that person for other people, because I know how it feels to be on the other side.”
  — LØLØ [15:28]

10. What Keeps Her Creating

Timestamps: [16:44]–[17:47]

• The expectation of fans motivates her, but the main drive comes from the knowledge that creating is her own therapeutic outlet.

• She recognizes the fine line between external pressure and honoring her personal need for self-expression.

  “Creating is the only thing that kind of makes me feel better. So just creating in general ends up doing the trick. Always for me.”
  — LØLØ [17:22]

11. Core Message to Fans and Listeners

Timestamps: [17:47]–[18:57]

• LØLØ’s chief hope is that listeners feel less alone and understand that emotional sensitivity is part of being human.

• Her album Falling for Robots and Wishing I Was One thematically explores the conflict between wanting to feel less and the power of embracing one’s emotions.

  “It’s okay to feel things. It’s okay to not be perfect and to just have all these emotions or be sensitive, because that is what makes us human and it’s normal, and that’s just life.”
  — LØLØ [18:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just think the process and the journey is so delicious. That's where all the good stuff is. You just can't live and die by the end result.”
  — LØLØ [01:05]
• “Something about being specific … just hits people, I guess, like they could see it for themselves, which is really cool.”
  — LØLØ [12:12]
• “I hope that they listen to the songs and realize that they're not a robot. They are a human. And we're not perfect, and we feel things, and that's okay.”
  — LØLØ [18:51]

Final Thoughts

LØLØ’s conversation with Lynn Hoffman is a compelling exploration of vulnerability, authenticity, and the personal and communal power of music. Through stories about her evolution as an artist and her deeply personal songwriting, LØLØ offers reassurance, relatability, and hope—reminding listeners that embracing our feelings is what connects and heals us.

For more: Listen to the full episode of takin' a walk’s “Music Saved Me” with LØLØ for a heartfelt exploration of artistry, healing, and self-discovery.