Image Credit: Asja Caspari
Anthony Lazaro, also known professionally as Lazer Owl, has released his album Set Fire to the Night via Lazaro Records. The album features fast-paced dance songs that fade into more mellow and laid back tunes. Also strategically placed is the noteworthy song ‘Treason’, which ends off the album on a sombre yet lyrically divine darker note that shows Lazaro’s ability to shift his sound where he deems fit.
We find out more about the Lazer Owl moniker in this exclusive.
Stream/ download: Set Fire to the Night
You have released three albums this year under your moniker, with Set Fire to the Night being your third. How did you manage to juggle all of this along with your other releases?
The early releases were mostly composed of songs from 2019: that’s why you can hear a clear stylistic change from Interstellar to Set Fire to the Night. Interstellar was mostly an underwater trip, an homage to the classic downtempo sounds combined with more contemporary influences and Deja Vu has strong synth-wave roots. Set Fire to the Night has probably a more contemporary sound and the songs were mostly created in the last 9 months. It’s an attempt to conciliate vintage and contemporary pop electronic and R&B in a cohesive musical space.
Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?
I’ve been a music freak all my life. I also co-founded one of Italy’s biggest music fanzines and been a reviewer for a long time. The producing part started gradually, from playing just on the guitar to learning my first DAW, and then slowly shifting my attention to the production side of things.
Please tell us more about how your latest song/release/project was conceived.
Set Fire to the Night is an attempt to put together all my different music passions: synthwave, electro-pop, downtempo, R&B. I wanted to create something eclectic but coherent with this record, a bridge between all these different genres
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
I try to create a small draft every day. If I’m really inspired I sing something on it. If it’s really good (in my opinion!), I go on and develop it. If it’s really really really good (always in my humble opinion) I complete the project. If I love it, it goes on my albums.
How much do you invest in how your music is received upon release? Are you very concerned about how your art is received?
I always hope to release one of these little music diamonds that are able to trigger a very emotional response from the audience and a tam tam among them. That works only for a small percentage of my songs, but when it happens it’s incredible!
Can you please elaborate on the noticeably darker tone of your song ‘Treason’ on the new album?
My songs always start with a strong melodic or production idea: in the case of ‘Treason’, it was, at first, all about the dark vibe and the groove. But there’s also kind of an uplifting vibe transpiring through the song. The story follows suit: ‘Treason’ is all about a negative experience that’s in the rearview mirror. You’re past this experience and you’re able to joke, even if in a caustic way, about it. We all, unfortunately, get to meet people like the antagonist of the song in our lives: and sometimes the mere fact of being past that can make us feel so much better like we just emerged out of a long dark tunnel.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
People tell me that my songs are helping them during these pandemic times, and that’s incredible. A lot of people tell me they put my songs on repeat and get a few endorphins at the end of a difficult day.
Are there any key non-musical influences on your sound and creative process?
I’m a movie freak: I love watching old classics on a projector. I think all these soundtracks are probably a big influence on me :).
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects, DJ mixes or collaborations in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
I’m working on a co-release for Soave as Anthony Lazaro, and I’m already giving the finishing touches to a couple of secret singles for Lazer Owl. It’s gonna be a very warm start of the year, indeed!
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