Q&A: Love Ghost Ends a Year of Successful Music Releases With “Hollywood Blvd.”
☆ By Marilù Ciabattoni ☆
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR EMO RAP ARTISTS — let us introduce you to Love Ghost. As Dan Bell’s bilingual music project since 2015, he has released countless singles in true MC style: in 2023, “Veneno,” “Payback,” “Haunted House,” “GLOCK,” “Snap,” “Human Error 404,” “LEFT ON READ,” in addition to his latest, “Hollywood Blvd.”
Kurt Cobain and Marilyn Manson’s influence is evident from the electric guitar riffs and strong vocals of the track. However, the rap element certainly makes Love Ghost fall under the category of emo rap, along with artists such as the late Lil Peep and XXXTENTACION. And the bilingual Spanish-English element definitely sets the artist apart from other rappers in this genre.
Bell took a break from releasing one single after another to answer some questions for Luna. Read the interview below as he talks about his inspirations, recent tour experiences, and how he views the future.
LUNA: Who is Love Ghost? How and when was this persona born?
BELL: It’s a bit complicated, but basically Love Ghost is a band/music project that I started around 2015. I was only in eighth grade at the time. Now I’m 23. I’ve always had an interest in creativity and writing things, especially music. Love Ghost is a means for me to express myself, and I’m privileged to have some people care about what I do.
LUNA: How has your music changed within the past few years?
BELL: I would hope that it’s gotten better (laughs). But I’d say that my music has changed as my worldview has changed. My music is getting more misanthropic and less romantic. It reflects how I feel, and that’s the truth.
LUNA: Who inspires your music?
BELL: Kurt Cobain was a huge influence of mine, along with Lil Peep and Marilyn Manson. That’s one reason that I’m so excited to be working with Tim Skold, because ever since I was a kid I’ve loved his production. Two other inspirations to note would be Edgar Allen Poe and Dostoevsky. They are my favorite authors.
LUNA: Could you introduce your favorite singles you've released so far?
BELL: It changes, honestly, but some of the most memorable moments that I released music would be as follows: “I’ll Be ‘Fine’” because that’s my first song that did any real numbers. “Fade Away,” and “Payback.”
LUNA: How did you develop your style? Will you experiment with other genres in the future?
BELL: I’m also trying to experiment with other genres and expand beyond my imagination. I honestly started making this genre out of convincing. The drummer at the time couldn’t make it to the recording session, so we improvised and put electronic drums on it. That song was the first song to reach 1M views on YouTube.
LUNA: Let's talk about “Human Error 404.” What inspired the song, and how did it come to life?
BELL: I wrote it at a time when I was tired and depressed. It’s about not being able to connect with other humans and not having a desire to socialize anymore. I’m sure you know this, but “Error 404” is a malfunction on the internet when a file/site isn’t found. I guess you could say my zest for life wasn’t found anymore…
LUNA: Who produces your tracks? How do you choose which producers to work with? Do you have some dream producers you'd like to work with?
BELL: I work with several different producers. “Human Error 404” was produced by The Mechanic. I met The Mechanic while I was living in Mexico City.
LUNA: Is music your main occupation at the moment?
BELL: Music is my main job at this point. I do some acting on the side as well.
LUNA: Have you ever been on tour?
BELL: Yes, I went on tour in Europe and Mexico. It was pretty epic. I loved playing in London and Germany. I especially love the architecture in Europe and how different it is from America.
LUNA: Who's your dream feature?
BELL: Billy Corgan.
LUNA: Where do you see yourself in one year as a musician?
BELL: I try not to imagine where I could be, but instead just enjoy the journey of chasing my dreams.
