Artist Advent Day 12: Local Rainbow
Written by: Keyali Mikaela
Welcome to Day 12 of Next Wave's Artist Advent Calendar, where we dive into the heartfelt and authentic world of Local Rainbow. In this exclusive interview, Local Rainbow shares the intimate journey that led to a musical career, drawing inspiration from a family rooted in music and a personal desire to express and overcome life's challenges.
With musical influences like Dodie Clark, Taylor Swift, and Phoebe Bridges, Local Rainbow brings a refreshing perspective to the industry, weaving together narratives of mental health, heartbreak, and self-discovery. The artist's commitment to connecting with a target audience, particularly the LGBTQ+ community and kindred spirits who've faced their own struggles, adds a unique dimension to their artistic vision.
Join us in celebrating Day 11 of Next Wave's Artist Advent Calendar as we immerse ourselves in the melodic and introspective world of Local Rainbow. From the upbeat rhythms of "Boys in Bands" to the poignant tones of "Wasn't Gonna Be Me," Local Rainbow invites you on a musical journey that is both relatable and deeply personal.
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Next Wave: What inspired you to pursue music?
Local Rainbow: I would say a big inspiration for my career in music would be my dad. He’s a musician himself and I was brought up surrounded by musicians. It really encouraged me to start being musical, see if I could write like him and if it could help me with my issues as it did for him.
Next Wave: Who are your musical influences or role models?
Local Rainbow: My musical influences would be Dodie Clark, Taylor Swift and a little bit of Phoebe Bridges. I’ve always been inspired by female musicians, especially Dodie as she wrote about her mental health and it was the first time I saw someone do that. I was immediately inspired, so I picked up a ukulele and started writing my first song.
Next Wave: What's the most challenging aspect of breaking into the music industry?
Local Rainbow: I would say the most challenging part of breaking into the music industry would be trying to reach a target audience. I’ve always dreamed of reaching a lgbt audience and like minded, kind people who have been through heartbreak or mental health issues in the past.
Next Wave: How do you go about promoting your music and building your fanbase?
Local Rainbow: I would say the way I promote is mostly engaging with my audience as much as possible. So doing Tik Tok live frequently and sending some thank you notes out to some dedicated fans.
Next Wave: What are your long-term goals and aspirations?
Local Rainbow: My long term goals as an artist is to be able to release a 12 song album, continue to develop and grow as an artist, meet other musicians, build a strong, kind fan base, and help others.
Next Wave: Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey so far?
Local Rainbow: I think my most memorable moment was when I was walking in my hometown and heard a car go by with someone playing my single “ boys in bands “. I didn’t know how to react, it was super surreal.
Next Wave: Can you share a little about your creative process and how you come up with new ideas for songs?
Local Rainbow: So my new single 19 came to me randomly. Normally I have a plan for a song, but this track is totally different from the others, so it came spontaneously. I was in bed one day, picked up my guitar and started writing. I noticed “omg I haven’t written a heartbreak song for once!”
Next Wave: What song, ep or album of yours would you recommend to someone who is listening to your music for the first time?
Local Rainbow: I think I would recommend “boys in bands“ as it’s my most popular and I think it’s an upbeat one for people to start getting into my music. Then I would suggest going to “wasn’t gonna be me“ as it’s my favorite and it’s more musical and indie.
