Q&A Lorelei Marcell’s "i will always love your ghost" is an Exploration of Emotion and Evolution
Photo By Shari Hoffman
DIVING DEEP INTO PERSONAL EMOTIONS, LORELEI MARCELL'S TRACK "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUR GHOST" ENCAPSULATES A SENSE OF INTROSPECTION THAT INVITES LISTENERS TO CONNECT WITH THEIR OWN FEELINGS. While the song is a window into Marcell's own experiences, its universal themes allow listeners to find their own narratives within the music. Reflecting on her past losses, including leaving her first love and the challenges of relocating alone, the song paints a vivid picture of grief.
Marcell's decision to release a stripped version of the track aligns with its origin. The raw simplicity of her voice and a piano evoke the core emotions behind the song's creation. Lyrics such as "There’s no rest for your memory, chained in painless reveries" resonate with the intricate interplay between grief and comfort.
With her signature blend of alternative pop and R&B influences, Marcell's musical evolution continues. Drawing inspiration from artists like Léon and Olivia Rodrigo, she seamlessly weaves their strengths into her sound. As Marcell's musical journey unfolds, "i will always love your ghost" finds its place within a larger narrative of loss and growth, promising more emotionally resonant creations to come. Read below to learn more about the making of the track and what new music has in store for listeners.
LUNA: "i will always love your ghost" appears to carry a deeply emotional and introspective theme. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this song?
MARCELL: Thank you so much. That was the intention behind this song. While it is deeply personal and introspective, I wanted listeners to put themselves in the driver's seat and connect with it in a way that is true to them. Grief is so personal, yet extremely universal at the same time. I wrote this song about all the loss in my life. The grief I faced about moving across the country by myself, and the hardship I faced leaving behind my first love. This song was me reflecting on those experiences years later.
LUNA: What lead to you creating the stripped version of this one?
MARCELL: The day John Samuel, Chris, and I wrote the song, we started on a piano and finished the entire layout with just my voice and piano. It felt like a no-brainer to return to the original structure of the song and create a stripped version.
LUNA: What set of lyrics are you most proud of from this track?
MARCELL: Probably the opening of the second verse. “There’s no rest for your memory, chained in painless reveries”. It paints the innocence in grief I think. The times in which thinking of someone is some sort of sweet escape and continues to act as a point of comfort even if they aren’t with you. There was also this lyric that didn’t make it in the final song, that instead we used in the chorus of the stripped version, “Feel your hands more, under my clothes.” This line just feels so romantic, I love it.
LUNA: Your music has been described as alternative pop with R&B undertones. How have you seen your sound evolve overtime?
MARCELL: I love that. Pop music, alternative, jazz, R&B, are all genres I love listening too. I always have! The older I get and the more I’m able to translate my love for those genres into my own work. It's been really interesting watching It all take shape.
LUNA: Your musical journey involves a mix of influences from Léon to Olivia Rodrigo. How have these artists and their styles impacted your songwriting and overall musical approach?
MARCELL: Those artists and so many more have given me permission in a sense to try things out that I didn’t know I needed. They broaden my taste. For example, Léon has such a strong deeper female voice, and listening to her music has shown me that I can use those strengths in my voice to sing in that register as well.
LUNA: How does your latest single fit into the broader narrative upcoming music in the works?
MARCELL: Great question! I've been working on a project in this lane for some time now. It has this theme of grief and loss, but also coming out of that and learning to sit in the confusion of life as a whole. It's wildly existential haha. The mood board would contain images of vacant castles, old pianos and sheet music, wooden floors, greys and purples. I’m so excited to watch this next chapter continue to evolve.
LUNA: As you continue to evolve as an artist what are some common messages or themes you find yourself drawn to?
MARCELL: Definitely loss, and working through difficulties. I also want to make music that is empowering and vulnerable and real to me and hopefully for my fans.
LUNA: Your music encourages showing strong emotions. How do you strike a balance between vulnerability and empowerment when crafting your songs?
MARCELL: Absolutely. I believe the two are intertwined. I think showing vulnerability and being real and honest is empowering, especially when well received. Everyone just wants to feel heard and connected. Throwing in a fun banger doesn’t hurt either...
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the upcoming months?
To continue releasing music! I have a separate project I’ve been working on for a little over a year and a half now that I’m going to start putting out in September.
MARCELL: I have a few shows coming up this month in LA as well, so I'm preparing for those. My dream is to tour soon, but fingers crossed!
