IN CONVERSATION WITH LYVES

interview by JANA LETONJA 

Alternative R&B artist Lyves is releasing her upcoming EP 'Out of the Blue', her most intimate and transformative body of work yet, on 27th June. With over 100 million streams and widespread praise, Lyves has carved out a singular lane as one of the most compelling voices in left-leaning R&B and soul music, creating emotionally rich, genre-defying music that has been described as “medicine for the soul”.

‘Out of the Blue’ feels like a major emotional and creative shift. Can you take us into the headspace you were in when making this project?

The songs were written over the span of a few years, so they naturally came from different emotional spaces, but what unified them, and made me feel they belonged together, were the themes that kept emerging - healing, reflection, inner transformation, my relationship with faith and with love. They feel personal, almost like diary entries. A window into the quieter, softer part of me perhaps. The part that holds healing as something sacred.

This EP is described as your most intimate and confident work yet. What helped you find that confidence?

I believe it came from choosing to share more of myself. I wrote about things I’d previously held back from - mental health, motherhood, my relationship with faith. I stopped trying to edit out the parts of me that felt too tender, and instead leaned into them. Motherhood especially has sharpened my sense of purpose. I hope to be an example for my son, and that desire touches everything, how I live, how I create. Parenthood has also made me braver. It’s quieting the perfectionism. I don’t get as tangled in overthinking now. I focus on creating my best work and follow where it wants to go.

There’s a clear departure from the emotional weight of your earlier material. Was that shift intentional, or did it emerge naturally through motherhood and healing?

It was both intentional and natural. I started to recognise patterns in myself, how I was unintentionally chasing feelings of nostalgia and longing. That had served me in some ways, but I realised I was ready to move into a new space. I wanted to challenge myself, not just artistically, but personally, to choose joy, and lean into lightness. I’ll always be someone who feels things deeply, and that sensitivity will always live in the work, but this EP marks a turning point, one where I reclaimed my voice and my sense of self with more clarity and hope.

The EP blends ambient R&B, cinematic soul, and ethereal pop. What drew you to those sonic textures this time around?

I’ve always been drawn to music that transcends genre, anything that evokes emotion. With this EP, I didn’t chase a specific sound, I just let the songs become what they wanted to be. Some needed space and minimalism, while others called for layered, cinematic textures.

You worked with SamTrax, Sam Crowe, and top-tier engineers like Adam Jaffrey and Zino Mikorey. What did each collaborator bring to the table creatively?

Each collaborator was so important to the life of the project, not just musically, but energetically. I feel really fortunate to work with people I admire and trust, and their insight and care are woven into every part of the EP. SamTrax has a gift for hearing the heart of a song and helping it reach its fullest potential without losing its essence. He elevated the musicality and supported me deeply, both as an artist and a producer.

Sam has been a long-time collaborator and dear friend. His sense of melody and his musical vocabulary constantly inspire me. He helped bring shape to songs I’d been sitting with for a long time. ‘For Eden’ will remain a lasting memory as I had about 5 different versions of it. Sam carefully and meticulously held it as though something incredibly precious and helped me finally finish it after years of sitting on it.

Adam is a mixing mastermind, he just gets it. I absolutely love working with him. On ‘For Eden’, it was like he read my mind. He brought so much intention and sensitivity to the mix, and gave the song exactly what it needed. 

Zino brought such precision and warmth to the final sound. His ears are incredible, so sensitive and refined. He was a guiding light in bringing the EP together sonically. Each person generously shared not just their talent, but their presence, their intuition, attention, and genuine care. I’m truly grateful for that.

How did becoming a mother reshape your approach to writing and producing music?

Becoming a mother has reshaped a lot, especially how I write and create. There’s a new depth, a sharper sense of purpose. I’ve always led with heart, but now the emotion feels more distilled, more intentional. I’m writing with a clearer vision, not just for myself, but with the hope that my son will one day see the value in following your truth.

I think motherhood also made me braver. Time feels more precious and this impermanence has helped me let go of the need to perfect everything. I trust my instincts more and don’t get caught up in second-guessing the way I used to. I just create, and stay close to what feels honest. In a way, becoming a parent has given me permission to be even more myself. And creatively, that’s been a real gift. There’s a lot of new music coming. Some of it surprised me, and I think it might surprise others too.

You have such a rich multicultural background - Italy, Portugal, Australia, the UK. How do those landscapes influence your creative process?

I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up between so many beautiful cultures. It’s gifted me with a deep curiosity and openness about the world, and that curiosity definitely fuels my creative process.

Living in Portugal as a child, I was surrounded by beautiful Fado music. Its emotional rawness really stayed with me. Even though my sound exists in a different space sonically, the spirit of Fado, its depth and soul, runs through what I do.

I also love writing while I’m traveling. Some of my best work is born from those in-between moments, from moving between the places I call home.

How has your background in psychology shaped the way you write and think about emotion in music?

For me, it’s less about the academic training and more about the real-world experiences I’ve had, especially through my work in advocacy. I’ve spent many years in mental health spaces, both professionally and personally, and that work has deeply shaped who I am.

‘For Eden’ was a turning point in my songwriting. It was the first time I found a way to speak to something that means so much to me. I wanted the song to be a voice for the unseen, for the beautiful people I met navigating psychiatric care, and for those quietly holding space for their loved ones through it.

Your work is often described as “medicine for the soul.” What role does healing play in your creative process?

That description means the world to me. I’ve always written from what feels like my highest self, and I think healing lives in that space. Music has always been how I process, how I move through life and how I share my deepest truths. I write not to explain things, but to feel them more deeply. And if the music resonates as healing for others, then I feel incredibly grateful. That’s the best kind of exchange.

What are you hoping listeners take away from ‘Out of the Blue’?

I hope listeners connect with it and that it makes them feel something. To remind them that they’re not alone in what they’re feeling.

What’s coming up next for you after the release of this EP?

I’m already working on what feels like the next chapter. The new music has more energy, it’s bolder, brighter, more adventurous perhaps. There’s still emotional depth, but it’s wrapped in something playful, maybe even a little daring.
I’m giving myself permission to take more risks, both sonically and lyrically, pushing beyond where I’ve been before and elevating my songwriting to new heights. I’m committed to continuously evolving as an artist and a person, and I hope that growth shines through in the music.

CREDITS

photography KATHERINE NEEDLES