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The Eighth Note: Lanę

The Eighth Note is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians. A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music. Up next is Wellington based artist, photographer and musician Lana Eileen, who records under the moniker Lanę.

Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
My name is Lana Eileen, and I perform under the name Lanę. I’m a visual artist and musician based in Wellington. My music has been described as “soft muted dream folk”. I’m a songwriter and I sing and play various instruments, although usually it’s piano or guitar. I’ve been inspired by artists like Sparklehorse and Mazzy Star.

What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
I’ve just released an EP that I recorded at the end of 2021 in London, United Kingdom with producer Brett Shaw (Florence and the Machine, Robyn). I’m currently working on a full-length album to be recorded and released in 2023.

Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
You can find my music via my Website.

What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
It’s hard to pick three, as I listened to so much music from childhood to adolescence. I was obsessed with listening to music as a young teen. A few that stand our are Blue by Joni Mitchell, Hounds of Love by Kate Bush, and Jackson C. Frank’s self-titled record. As a child, I listened to a lot of country music, as my father is also a musician, and he would sing old Hank Williams songs, but I became more interested in alternative, obscure songwriters when I entered my teens.

Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
I’m potentially working with Toby Lloyd of Tiny Triumph Recordings later next year, who is a really great Wellington producer, and I think a lot of the Wellington artists who have recorded at that studio are doing great work. There seem to be a lot of talented musicians coming out of Wellington at the moment, it’s a good place for music.

What’s your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
Meow is my favourite Wellington venue. I played one of my favourite shows of all time there a few years back. We had a large crowd, the piano was lovely to play, everyone was very warm and receptive, and I had so many messages afterwards from people who had been there and really connected with the music. It was a very positive experience.


In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
It’s a relaxed process; I don’t have a method, it’s simply another way of translating or communicating my experience of the world into the form of a melody or song. If I have an instrument to hand, I’ll write on that. If I don’t, I’ll sing the idea into a voice recorder or into my phone, so that I can flesh it out later. Usually I’ll write on the guitar, as I’ve played guitar for so many years now that it’s almost like an extension of my body at this point; it’s the most natural thing in the world to pick up the guitar and write. The songs usually come together very effortlessly to begin with, and then they can be built up or changed later on in the studio. Even playing live, a song can evolve and change over time.

Where/when is your next gig?
My first gig of 2023 is at Meow in Wellington on 25th January, with support from Connor Mills and Victoria Ferry. Tickets are available through Moshtix.


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