INTERVIEW: Chris Lanzon On Embracing Imperfection In Music & Life

Chris Lanzon. Photo supplied.

From the moment I first heard Sydney artist Chris Lanzon’s music, I was impressed by his honesty and vision. I feel like he’s got buckets of potential, and he goes a long way to proving that potential on his new EP, Far From Perfect. It’s a project that really resonates with me, and I think you’ll enjoy it as well.

I spoke to Chris about the EP, and where it sits in his musical journey. He’s put together some really introspective answers for me, which always makes for a great chat - so check out the project below, and read on to learn all about Chris!

Firstly, can you introduce yourself and your music?

Hey! I’m Chris - I’m a musician from Sydney. I’m 20. I write and produce my music as a way of expressing myself and getting my thoughts and feelings out of my head. I’ve always found listening to music the most comforting and healing thing. I hope that through my songs people can find some sort of catharsis or connection. I hope they can relate in some way, and feel less alone.

You’ve just released your new EP, Far From Perfect – what does that phrase mean to you, and how does it apply to your life?

The phrase Far From Perfect to me is very much about self-doubt and feeling inadequate. Those are feelings I’ve wrestled with a lot. Through making this project I wanted to lean into those emotions, and in doing so I learned the importance of accepting imperfection. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, but it’s important to keep going - that’s how we grow.

It’s the second in a trilogy of EPs – how has putting together a trilogy of EPs changed the way you approach writing and recording music?

I’ve always been very ‘project minded’ with things that I make. I love it when songs are part of a larger universe. Creating these first two EPs felt very much of the same world; Far From Perfect was almost a reflection on the story and discoveries of Melancholy. Moving into the next project knowing I want to expand on that world means I can build upon what I’ve learnt, both technically and personally, and that’s super inspiring to me.

I wanted to ask about the fairytale ending that precedes Far From Perfect. Do you believe life can have fairytale endings, or is reality too messy for that?

The close of my first project Melancholy was very much a fairytale ending, like the light at the end of the tunnel. This was very reflective of where I was at that point in my life, I felt like I had come out of quite a dark and confused headspace and had found more contentment. But soon after I became even more introspective, and the self-doubts and questions came creeping in - that’s when Far From Perfect began.

So, I’m not sure if life can have fairytale endings. I think it comes down to how you look at things. I feel like almost every experience is a learning experience, and an opportunity to grow. That doesn’t have to be messy, but it leaves room for constant change, rather than a ‘happily ever after’.

The acceptance of imperfection is a key theme to the project. For anyone that’s still trying to get to this stage, how did you reckon with the idea that life doesn’t always turn out like you’d expect?

It’s a key theme to the project, and I think it’s a key theme to life. Like, it’s a lifelong process. It’s not easy to accept imperfection, to be truly content with everything that happens in your life. I think the idea is that in order to truly live, you often need to step out of your comfort zone. This will always feel scary and challenging and ultimately ‘imperfect’, but to accept that and lean into it will reap greater rewards than staying stagnant and chasing perfection.

In terms of the sonics of Far From Perfect, what inspired you while creating the songs on the EP and how do you think that differs from your previous releases?

There were a wide range of inspirations for this project, but I think the main thing was learning new things about production and experimenting. I’ve treated these first two EPs as learning projects, with every song trying something I haven’t done before, and figuring out new ways to create a certain sound or write a certain way.

I think this project differs from pervious releases in that it has a more refined sound. I’ve learnt so much more about production and mixing since I made Melancholy and I hope that can be heard in the quality of the music! I’m excited to continue learning and building on what I’ve done so far.

The EP is accompanied by a short film that was recorded on the South Coast of Victoria. What is it about this location that spoke to you specifically?

I haven’t spent much time in Victoria, and Melbourne has always been a city I was drawn to. I’d never seen the South Coast and it was quite a spontaneous trip. Once I’d finished the EP I wanted a change of environment, to get away and reflect on what I’d just made and what it really meant to me. I’d recently started working with a new team who were helping with the release of the project (Hunnydew Recordings) and they’re from Melbourne.

They suggested the idea of coming down and going on a road trip and then maybe we could film some stuff and see what happens. We didn’t really have much of a plan, but I love how it turned out. I think it just captured my headspace in a really honest way. And South Gippsland was stunning!

I think as a musician, you’re someone that’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and it’s something that audiences definitely respond to. Is there a distinction between who you are as a person and who you are as a musician, or are they intertwined enough to be indistinguishable?

It’s interesting you say that actually, I would say that I am quite afraid to be vulnerable - and I think in my personal life it’s rare that I do express full vulnerability. I’m quite an introverted person, and keep a lot of my thoughts to myself, which I guess is why I turn to music as my outlet for my deepest thoughts and feelings. So the vulnerability in my music is more out of necessity, rather than intention.

There’s definitely an irony in making super introspective music for my own catharsis, and then sharing that with the world so publicly. It’s usually only after I release music that I realise “damn… I kinda just put all my deepest feelings out for anyone to listen to”. It’s like someone finding your diary or something. It’s scary, but my hope is that people can find value in it for their own lives. That’s why I think it’s important to share the music.

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Finally, what are the next few steps for you, both personally and music-wise?

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting since the EP came out. Much like how I felt after Melancholy, sometimes you think you’ve found the answers or arrived at a place of contentment, but there are always peaks and troughs. Right now I’m excited to dive back into experimenting and learning again, both musically and personally. I just want to keep growing.

You can follow Chris on Facebook here, Instagram here and Twitter here.