Like most of the world, we fell in love with Lennon Stella back in 2012 when she covered Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” with her sister Maisy Stella. (You probably remember the viral video, which now has over 30 million (!) views.) Luckily for her fans, she quickly landed the role of Maddie Conrad on the hit ABC TV series “Nashville” and her overnight success grew into a lasting career in the music industry.
Fast-forward to 2020, and the 20-year-old singer-songwriter is still one to watch with an empowering EP and a number of singles to her name—not to mention, an upcoming tour on the horizon. Below, we chat with Stella about her meteoric rise to music stardom, including the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way, the person who’s shaped her career the most, and the #1 piece of advice she has for aspiring musicians.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: You launched your career on the hit ABC TV series “Nashville” as Maddie Conrad, alongside your real-life sister Maisy Stella. Can you take us back to that time? What are some of your fondest memories of those early years learning music and finding your voice/style as a musician?
LENNON STELLA: It was a really beautiful way to grow up. The cast and crew are the best people to learn from, both professionally and as humans and it really made me who I am.
You gained national attention when you covered Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend" with your sister and it went viral. You even appeared on “Good Morning America” and now your YouTube channel has millions of views and subscribers. What did that experience teach you? How did you handle the overnight success? How did you turn that virality into longevity and bring those new fans over into your world now as a musician?
I think the most important thing that keeps everybody with me and on the same page as me is to remain honest and true to myself. I think that’s the reason why people have stuck around. Being honest is what I’m going to continue to do, no matter how I evolve and change and an artist throughout my career.
How did you learn how to write music? What does your writing process look like now? Where do you source inspiration? How has your music evolved?
Typically, I’m in a session with one producer and another writer and I just write about however I’m feeling at that time. Or, if I have some concept that I want to write about, I’ll go from there. My music has evolved as I’ve evolved as a human and as I’ve discovered more things about myself. I’ve discovered me as an artist and the music I want to make.
““My love of music, above all, will forever keep me going—whether that means being heard by few or many.””
In an interview earlier this year around the time of the launch of your EP, you spoke about the importance of allowing yourself to grow and refusing to put yourself in a box. How have you grown as an artist/person since that launch in January? How have you cultivated that confidence to be yourself and not be tied down to limitations?
I feel that I’ve grown so much in making the album, writing and touring, and all that I’ve done since the EP release. If I’m being entirely honest, that’s something I’m still learning. I’m still finding the balance of trusting myself and doing what I want, while also respecting the opinion of my team and working together. I think I’m just taking it all as it comes and trying to learn the best I can.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
I think if I were to hit a bump in the road, that would probably also mean that I wasn’t satisfied with what I was doing and I’d want to make a change. I think following whatever I’m doing and naturally trusting the changes I want to make will naturally lead to success.
The music industry is historically male-dominated—what has been your experience? Do you see a change coming through? What hopes do you have for the future? What advice can you share for other female musicians coming up behind you?
I definitely see a trend and people talking about the power of women and that they want to have women be seen equally. I think that it’s a very positive thing being apart of the music industry at a time like this where there is so much evolution and growth happening. I’m happy to be a part of it.
Who are the women in the industry that have been mentors and supporters for you? Why? How has this person shaped you and your career?
My sister is a big one. She’s the most authentic and true-to-herself person I've ever met and she always reminds me to stay true and not stray too far away from what I know and love.
What advice can you share for other musicians reading this who are struggling with society’s and the industry's expectations or limitations on them? How can they develop the confidence to be themselves and grow into their own voice?
I think, just in general, if you really believe it with your whole heart, the people listening to you will believe it. If it’s honest, then it will work and people will listen. To find that honesty within yourself and listen to it is the most important thing, everything after that falls into place.
With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?
My love of music above all will forever keep me going—whether that means being heard by few or many.
The filtered world of social media often hides a lot of the hard work and behind-the-scenes hustle. What is the reality of being a famous musician today? What are the key traits required to be a success?
If you look at every true legend or icon, one thing I think they all have in common is their honesty and truth. So, I think that’s the most important thing to practice and the thing that will give you all that you could ever want.
The music industry is fairly cut-throat and competitive, what advice do you have for musicians coming up now? What do you wish you'd known when you were first starting out? Why?
Not everything everyone tells you is true, and, above all, you need to trust yourself and your gut instincts. I think your gut knows best and will lead you where you’re meant to be.
You've achieved so much success since your EP, what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way and what have they taught you?
I’m still learning and I’m open to forever learning. I’m just trying to take everything as it comes and I’m learning to be more trusting in myself and sure of what I want.
“Not everything everyone tells you is true, and, above all, you need to trust yourself and your gut instincts.”
You have had incredible success already, but what does success mean to you? How do you measure success? Why? What characteristics make you successful in the music industry?
I love this question because I think that success really is completely up for interpretation and it’s different for everyone. A failure to someone else may not be a failure to me. In my opinion, if I had a number one song that I didn’t love fully, that would not be a success. To me, truly loving the music I’m making, regardless of the world recognizing it, is the most important thing.
In a saturated industry, what do you think makes you and your music stand out? How can others reading this find/create a unique point of view? How do you stay true to who you are and your voice?
I think the only way to be unique is to be yourself. You’re the only person with the exact opinion and voice and things to say, so that’s the only way to be unique and stand out in life or in the industry.
What is the #1 book you always recommend? What is the #1 album you always recommend? Why?
Astrology for the Soul and The Power of Now. These books really centered me and helped me understand myself and accept myself entirely. “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac. I think this album embodies everything that music should be.
