Swiss-born, London-based artist Lou Zerker creates music that blends old-school pop-punk, cozy bedroom pop, and nostalgic indie-pop. With influences like Post Malone, Ryan Ross, and Blink-182, his sound balances catchy choruses, sing-along vibes, and modern production. Lou’s journey began at 12 as a classically trained tuba player, and he later toured Switzerland as a bassist in an indie rock band. After a five-year break to explore new experiences, he’s returned with a fresh approach to songwriting, prioritizing melody before lyrics, and is ready to make his mark on the music scene as a solo artist. This week, we sat down with Lou to chat about his musical journey and new single, "Crazy."
Photo Credit: Manuela
SJ: Hi Lou! Thanks so much for talking with us today. We’re excited to dive into your new release!
LZ: Hi Stefani! Thank you loads for having me, I’m excited to talk about it too!
1. SJ: You started your musical journey by playing the tuba when you were 12. Do you feel any part of that experience has affected any part of your current sound?
LZ: Oh definitely! Playing the tuba alone was no fun so I participated in different orchestras, where I learned most of my musical knowledge from. It taught me so much about arranging and composing and growing up as a Disney kid, it kept the fascination for music going. I miss it sometimes.
2. SJ: Now, you’re based in London, creating tunes with a wide range of influences from pop-punk, cozy bedroom pop, and nostalgic indie-pop influences. Were there specific artists that sparked your interest early on, and your sound?
LZ: That’s an awesome question! My biggest influence ever is and always will be Blink-182. They were my introduction to pop punk and playing guitar in the first place. Without them, I wouldn't have bridged the gap between classical to modern music. Post Malone was the 2nd biggest inspiration since his versatility showed me that you can make any kind of music in your style and that you don’t have to fixate yourself on one genre. And to finalize the sound I am making today I draw loads of inspiration from The1975 since their sound is so nostalgic to me but yet very modern - if that makes sense.
3. SJ: Tell us about your songwriting process. You’ve said you like to write melodies first, which is typically a less common way of starting a song. How did that process start and why do you feel that’s a more effective way of songwriting for you?
LZ: Haha it’s definitely not - I wish I could start with lyrics and make the song afterward. But my brain doesn't work that way. I always listen to the music first and I’ll dive into the lyrics later. I feel like it is because I started writing songs at 14 when my English was terrible. So I usually made the song first with made-up words and concentrated on the lyrics when I finished everything else and now I kept this process going.
4. SJ: You just released your single "Crazy." What inspired this track?
LZ: "Crazy" was inspired by that frustrating emotional space where you’re stuck between letting go of someone and still wanting them back. So it’s about those moments of conflict where part of you knows it’s over, but also can’t move on. Going through my old camera with pictures of Tokyo gave me those moments again and I had to encapsulate that!
5. SJ: What did your songwriting process look like for this song? Recording process?
LZ: As you can imagine I started with the music and arrangement first. I wanted to capture that tension with dreamy synths and nostalgic but punchy drums. And when I finished the track I mumbled over it and surprisingly every time I came up with a different melody, it always resolved in “... her eyes are now calling me crazy”. So from there, it was fairly easy to piece together the rest of the lyrics since I got my hook right there.
SJ: What is one song you wish Lou Zerker wrote?
LZ: Oh wow, that’s a tough one! I would say… "Chemicals" by Post Malone! This is the sound I identify myself with at the moment and I love the simplicity of the arrangement and the narrative. But this answer will change over time I guess.
SJ: What’s next for Lou Zerker?
LZ: I am currently working on my first EP Story Of A Lonely Guy, which is planned to come out early next year. 5-6 tracks that are slightly brighter than "Crazy" but aimed to be even more captivating! I am really excited about that!
SJ: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us!
LZ: I thank you for those lovely questions! I had so much fun answering them and I hope we can repeat that!
Listen to "Crazy" below!
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