L¥AN Talks “MEMENTO MORI” & Reveals Inspiration Behind The New Project
Intro:
Experimental artist L¥AN is today’s featured interview artist after the release of his new project “MEMENTO MORI”. The Danish native started his music journey playing guitar back when he was 19 years old. L¥AN has produced projects such as SPACE by Regan Pierce, some songs, and an upcoming album for KAYLA. And outside of other collaborations over the years, he continued to grow into a well-rounded musician. Before reading our brief conversation, make sure you listen to L¥AN today below.
Me: While making “MEMENTO MORI”, what was the creative process like? How'd you get inspired?
L¥AN: Creating this album was a difficult process. I had to put myself in uncomfortable places, forcing myself to feel specific emotions and relive past struggles. I intentionally revisited moments I believed had gone wrong in my life so I could truly inhabit the lyrics. It was one of the most emotional periods I’ve ever experienced, but I needed to go through it in order to finally bury that part of me and move forward.
Musically, artists like Quadeca, Kanye West, BROCKHAMPTON, Kevin Abstract, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, 070 Shake, James Blake, Tyler, The Creator, Radiohead, and David Bowie shaped the sound, but every song’s meaning comes directly from my own life. I’ve always struggled to let go of failure—when something falls apart, the regret stays with me and colors everything I do. With this album, I set out to face that weight directly. Just sit with those memories, really feel them, and put down what brought me to this point. Making this album was how I finally started to let that regret go—so I could keep moving and learn how to live my life again.
Did you draw inspiration from any specific genres or artists for this release?
I drew a lot of inspiration from primarily the experimental scene. I blend a whole lot of genres together for this album. For example, I blend R&B/Soul with Hip/Hop, rock, pop, EDM, Gospel, Hyperpop, Psychedelic Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, and more. As I said before, I drew inspiration from a lot of artists. But the main ones are Quadeca, Kanye West, 070 Shake, Tyler, The Creator, Radiohead, and James Blake.
Quadeca is, without a doubt, my favorite artist. I love everything he's done the past few years after his From Me To You album. He's changed so much and grown into a full-blown artist. And he is truly inspiring me to create something I can be proud of as well, and I am very proud of MEMENTO MORI.
Additionally, how would you describe your overall current style of music? Has it evolved?
My style has grown so much over time. I actually started out producing strictly R&B for other artists—it was all I knew and definitely my comfort zone. This album changed that. It took me about two years to make, and honestly, I almost scrapped it at least fifty times. I lost count of the nights I wanted to delete everything because I didn’t think it was good enough.
I’m so glad I didn’t. Hearing it now, I feel like I created something unique and genuinely beautiful. Each track blends different sounds and ideas—it’s an experimental piece of art with a mix of genres I never imagined myself exploring. I’m truly proud of how real and varied this album turned out.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from this specific release?
The biggest takeaway I hope people get from this album is that, in the end, the only person holding you back is yourself. That’s been true for me—my own regrets and doubts were what kept me from reaching this point for so long. I’ve learned that nothing is ever so bad that it’s completely without value. Every experience, good or bad, teaches you something. Don’t let fear or regret stop you from chasing what you love. No matter how hard things get, don’t give up on your life or your dreams. If you keep moving forward, things have a way of working out the way they’re meant to.
Excellent! From there, what was the most challenging part of the recording process?
The most challenging and almost devastating part of making this album was staying in character. I was diagnosed with Autism when I was seventeen, so I often find it difficult to imagine myself in any scenarios outside of the present. Having to constantly look back, relive my seventeen- and eighteen-year-old mindset, and try to understand how I felt back then was incredibly hard.
I had to put myself through experiences I had already lived through, just to truly feel the pain I carried and reconnect with the emotions I used to feel. Many of these songs touch on not fitting in anywhere, because that was exactly how I felt—I always felt like I didn’t belong. Forcing myself to feel that again at twenty-two and twenty-three helped me understand myself in a completely new way. It allowed me to finally put that part of my past on the shelf and move forward. It helped me find myself, accept that it’s okay to just be me, and realize that I am good enough exactly as I am. Ultimately, it helped me stop hurting myself, stop hating myself, and finally start loving myself.
Where does your stage name originate from? Has it ever changed in the past?
L¥AN comes from a mix of my real name, “Lean,” and my brother’s name, Kennan. He’s the most important person in my life, so I wanted to include him in my name. At first, I tried blending our names into “Lennan,” but it didn’t feel quite right. Then I added a “Y” and turned it into the Yen sign (¥), which gave it a unique, experimental look, something that really fits my music. I also love how it looks mysterious, which matches my online persona, since I’m naturally a pretty mysterious person. Even though it’s written as L¥AN, I just pronounce it “LYAN,” which feels simpler and easier for people than “Lyennan.”
Nice! And, do you have any upcoming releases or plans that you're comfortable sharing with the readers?
I’m excited to announce that an album I produced and wrote for my good friend and fellow musician, KAYLA, will also be released this year under my label, ABSTRKT RECORDS. It’s a full album with a story behind it that I can’t dive into just yet, but I can’t wait to share this incredible project with her and with all of you.
On top of that, I have four other musical projects in the works! It’s been such a busy year for me. I’ve also already started working on my next album, and it’s already shaping up to be something really special.
I’m sure fans are extremely excited to hear that! And before we finish, why should a new listener check out this release today?
I think people should check out this song—and the whole album—because it’s really more than just music; it’s a journey. Each track is emotional and raw, blending different sounds and genres in ways you might not expect. The album tells a story of growth, struggle, and figuring out who you are—something I think anyone who’s faced challenges or tried to find their own voice can relate to.
It’s experimental, personal, and heartfelt from start to finish. I hope listeners can connect not just with the music, but with the feelings and stories behind it. It’s the kind of album that sticks with you, makes you reflect, and maybe even see a little of yourself in the journey.
