Photo courtesy of Connor Meany

Since lea last released an EP - 2023’s Happy Never Ending - she decided a rebrand was in order. Moving from the moniker L E A, the neon-pop punk vocalist’s musical journey led her to become lolitslea.

One of her 2024 singles, “Favorite Singer”, just so happens to be the first song that was written for her upcoming album. It was originally written in December 2022 and had a theme that she genuinely loved.

“I actually thought I was going to release it much earlier, but as I was buttoning up my album and completing my full vision, I decided to be patient until I had more songs complete,” she said. “Once it was time, ‘Favorite Singer’ was patient and eagerly awaiting its time to shine.”

When asked about why “Favorite Singer” is an important single into her next batch of music, she said that there is a certain process that helps her outline the stories she wants to tell.

“I’ve noticed a theme with my releases,” she said. “I like releasing chronologically. I write one song, polish it up, and move on to the next. This helps keep the story flow very linear.”

She goes on to say that “Favorite Singer”, on the surface, is about pining over someone while coming to the realization that being treated by someone better is well-deserved and out there waiting. The lyrics may stem from a specific moment in time for her, but it revolves around a highly-relatable topic.

As she worked on her upcoming album, she easily recognized the impact Happy Never Ending made on her career. That opportunity not only opened a lot of doors for her, but played a crucial part in the development of her sound.

“I think the most rewarding moment of ‘Favorite Singer’ was that I could continue writing music similarly, if not better, than my last EP,” she said. “I was a bit nervous about keeping fans engaged and interested in new music. The rewarding part was that I indeed was able to grow after my previous project and ‘Favorite Singer’ already gave me exciting new opportunities and connections.”

In addition to the single, lolitslea released a music video for “Favorite Singer” that encapsulates the 2010s. Instead of a storyline, she opted for a Good Charlotte and/or Jonas Brothers-esque live band performance that changes backgrounds throughout the song. She calls it an “easygoing, fun visual” that relies on the textures and technology of the decade to bring the viewer back to a time when music videos were the highlight of the late afternoon.

Growing up with the Asbury Park alternative scene and Warped Tour era, those influences are heard loud and clear on “Favorite Singer”. The song is meant for sizable audiences and thunderous applause, and is just a taste of what’s next for this era of lolitslea.