Words by Carol Wright | Photographer: Josh Suguitan

We got to chat with singer Lisa Danaë about breaking into the industry as a Filipino-American and her new song “Starlet”.

When did you become passionate about making music?

I knew I had a love for performing and entertaining at a very young age. I used to line up my  stuffed animals and stand on the couch to perform to them. I started taking piano lessons at the  age of seven then added the violin and was very involved with other music performance related  extracurricular activities such as choir and dance, so I was always creating. My first studio  experience was when I was 15, but I wasn’t able to get back in a studio until college when I  worked on my first album. From there, I just knew I wanted to continue to create music because  it was a safe place for me to get out all sorts of emotions.  

Tell us about your song “STARLET”. What inspired the lyrics?

“STARLET” was inspired by a music writer from Musical Notes Global who wrote reviews on  my past releases, “Type Erase” and “1445”. She called me a “rising pop starlet” and my co writer, a girl named jaen, said that we needed to write a song called “Starlet,” and I was totally  down. I’ve spent too many years trying to find my place in the music industry while being told  how to dress and what my sound should be like and it left me feeling lost and disingenuous.  During the writing session, she asked me questions about what I dreamed of being growing up,  so I opened up to her about what I envisioned for my career, who I looked up to and why, but  how that changed over time as I started getting an insight of what the music industry is really  like, so once we established the theme of owning your identity and empowerment, the lyrics and  melody came together easily. “STARLET” is truly the anthem that I never thought I was ever  going to be able to write. 

You also came out with a music video for the song. What was it like coming up with the idea for the video and seeing the final product?

I actually came up with the idea to replicate looks of Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and  Mariah Carey when I was in the studio putting together the production. When I was going over  visual ideas with my photographer and videographer, Josh Suguitan, I told him how I had this  concept in my head and really wanted to see what we could do with it, so we decided to base the  storyline off of transitions instead of being literal like my past videos. Since “Starlet” is about  owning your identity, we incorporated all four looks from the artwork as those different styles  make up my identity. This is the 4th video I’ve worked on with Josh and I really loved how this  one turned out. The camera work is stunning and he’s also a photographer, so he shot and edited  the video in a way that each shot could be a still picture. He has an amazing eye, knows how to  use every inch of his environment, and knows how to give direction, so I really enjoy working  with him. 

The music industry and entertainment industry as a whole is working to become more progressive. How does it feel to be getting into the business at this time?

I’m excited about this especially as a Filipino-American woman fighting in this industry. We  don’t have a lot of representation within my community and the Asian community as a whole, so  I am hopeful for change. However, it’s tough because a lot of entertainment companies can be  performative and still have yet to make progressive change in inclusivity and diversity. But I’m  staying positive while reaching out to and trying to work with other creatives in my own  community and looking forward to the future.  

Who are some of your music inspirations?

I grew up listening to the Commodores, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Queen, and many more. As I  got older, I was very into No Doubt, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and so many  more artists. And currently, I really love Dua Lipa, Post Malone, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, and  more. I love to pull inspiration from different genres just depending on what I want to make the  audience feel with the lyrics. 

What advice do you have for aspiring singers?

Stand your ground, stay true to yourself, and work hard. Not only am I writing and creating  music, but I’m creating content that goes with my brand. You need to be open to opportunities  that you may not necessarily think benefits you as an artist instead of putting your eggs in one  basket. These opportunities can potentially lead you to your ultimate goal of being an artist. This  industry isn’t a one lane game and if you’re not open to that, then it may not be a right fit.  Everything will fall into place how and when it’s supposed to and you will find the people that  understand and believe in your vision, your brand, your music, etc., so do not compare yourself  to others and just enjoy the journey.