Lennie Rayen, 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Toronto, is making waves with her gentle voice and heartwrenching lyricism. Her craft for songwriting is outstanding, which comes as no surprise since she started writing music at a young age. She debuted in 2021 with her single, “Me & You,” and has amassed a pretty decent following since then. She just recently released her first EP, Believe That It’s Blue on October 6th. This 5-track masterpiece cohesively detail hard and heavy subjects such as heartbreak, confusion, and the painstaking journey of learning how to let go. I had the pleasure of being able to talk to Lennie about herself, her songwriting process, and the process of creating Believe That It’s Blue. Read below for the full interview with Lennie Rayen.
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Caffeinated Corner was created to replicate the feeling of chatting at coffee shops with new friends. From the warm taste of coffee, the slightly chaotic energy of the espresso machines, to the life stories shared, caffeinated corner aims to replicate this environment online. Join me as we talk with different artists about their favorite things, stories from their childhood, and new projects on the horizon.
Sidney: Hi Lennie! Before we get into the big questions, I wanted to start off with a few ice breakers. Starting off, what are some of your favorite hobbies outside of writing music?
Lennie: Writing consumes me, but I enjoy cooking. I love making soup, and I’ve recently concocted this cauliflower soup that I think is amazing. Although, the other day I cut my finger while cutting up a sweet potato and had to have it glued. Cooking and I are currently estranged.
S: Oh, no! Well since you and cooking are seemingly taking a break…what are some other things you’re into right now? Any music or TV shows you’re really loving right now?
L: I get so obsessed with songs or albums where I can listen to them on repeat an embarrassing amount of times. Right now, I’ve circled back to one of my all time favorite records Wide Awake by Rayland Baxter.
S: I’ll definitely have to give that a listen. What do you typically do to unwind and just relax?
L: Usually cuddle my cat, watch mindless reality TV, and drink tea–preferably homemade ginger-lemon tea. I’ll also turn to my journal whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, emptying my mind of paper keeps me sane.
S: That sounds so cozy. Okay, now last icebreaker. As always, we are curious about everyone’s coffee shop orders. What’s your go-to drink?
L: Iced oat matcha with vanilla, or any hot tea just black.
S: Amazing! So now let’s move into talking about your latest EP, Believe That It’s Blue. What’s the inspiration behind the title? I noticed that a line in “A Fruit” when you sang “Across the table’s a fruit / You believe that it’s blue.” What’s the connection between this line and the title?
L: Believe That It’s Blue just made sense to me when encapsulating the project as a whole. The line in “A Fruit” has its own life, but for the title…I wasn’t in the best place writing these songs. Believe That It’s Blue captures that feeling. Where you can’t believe anything is better than blue, like your mind is closed off to anything light. It’s easy to convince yourself things won’t get better, especially when you’re in it. For me, I felt that way about everything: my mind, my relationships, etc. I just wanted to feel good, but I had a wall up against myself.
S: You summed up that feeling so beautifully. You also managed to convey that feeling very gracefully throughout this project as well. Obviously there are heavy themes you touch on, especially letting go and heartbreak. When you wrote these songs, did these lyrics come from personal experiences?
L: Yes, they are all personal to me. It’s harder for me to start writing if I don’t have something I feel compelled to talk about. I feel like I can talk to people easier through my lyrics than when I speak.
S: Very understandable. How would you describe the flow of this EP? Was the order of songs intentional at all?
L: The placement made sense lyrically, and each song bleeds into one another. I’d say the EP is very dynamic, yet cohesive at the same time. I don’t know, it just makes sense to me!
S: No, I totally get it. I do agree that after listening to the EP all the way through, each song does truly bleed into the next. It’s very cohesive. Is there a particular song or specific lyrics you enjoyed writing the most?
L: “In My Head” was really fun to write. “Before I Go” almost didn’t make it onto the EP, but it’s one of my favorites. I haven’t really talked about love in this way before, so it felt vulnerable, but good. When there’s pieces missing on both ends of the relationship, and you can’t give to each other anymore. You both know you shouldn’t be together, but all you want is their comfort.
S: I am so glad “Before I Go” found a place on the EP. I’m torn between that and “A Fruit” being my favorite. Speaking of “A Fruit,” that music video is phenomenal. It’s uniquely abstract and filled with magical realism. Can you tell me the story behind that music video?
L: Thank you! I wanted the video to be a world where you’re not sure if you’re seeing things correctly. I’ve always had a fascination with how we all perceive things differently, and I feel like I’ll come out of my body with it. Like, I’ll be in a room full of people and start thinking about how we’re all not perceiving the same. So the fruit is representing this idea of perception, how it’s always changing and appearing differently.
S: Wow, that’s a very unique approach. I love that. I want to pivot for a second because I am always fascinated by songwriting. Can you walk me through your process?
L: It always starts a little different, but usually I’m starting on guitar, and I’ll write vocal melodies simultaneously with a rift or chords. I’m very lyric focused, and that’s something I really care about. It can take me anywhere from 30 minutes to three months, or even a year to finish a song. I’m the same with a good melody. If I’m not 100% on a melody, I don’t want to write it. It can block my creativity sometimes because I’m so picky.
S: What inspires you when it comes to writing your lyrics?
L: Lyrically, I mostly express how I feel or what I’ve been through. I’ve always had this feeling of not being able to say what I mean well enough, and I’m an introvert, so writing songs is a safe place.
S: Do you take any inspiration from other artists?
L: I think my music is a melting pot of musicians. I take influence from like 10 different artists at once. I’m definitely influenced by other artists all the time, and I find inspiration in everything, not just music. Joni and Leonard are two of my favorite lyricists. Lana Del Rey definitely made an impression on me when I was younger. I also love Pat Benatar, but I don’t think you can hear that in my music at all. Inspiration is everywhere, and I think it’s cool to take bits and pieces and make something unique to you.
S: For sure! Are there any specific cities or venues you’d like to perform at?
L: I want to work on my live show. A goal of mine for sure would be to tour. I’d love to play The Basement in Nashville or Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn.
S: Amazing. Other than the release of this EP, do you have anything else you’d like to share?
L: This EP is my first project ever, so stream Believe That It’s Blue!”
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