[Exclusive Interview]: Cody Lovaas Releases New EP In Quarantine
Cody is singing to our hearts while we’re in isolation
"Hi i’m cody my favorite color is yellow and i hate the sound of styrofoam being rubbed together. along with long walks on the beach, i love the ocean and of course, making music :) annnnnnnd here’s the real bio..."
That blurb right there is enough to give you a sneak peek into the character of the talented Cody Lovaas. The singer/songwriter has released his new EP Pull Out Couch today, and wow do we love it. The project is more than just a list of 5 tracks. They’re perfectly constructed, perfectly unique, and perfectly empathetic. Each song is as if it follows along the emotional roller coaster we are all facing in this time while we are trapped at home. It captures the highs and the lows and it moves in waves just like the San Diego-native’s favorite place, the ocean. When I first heard Cody’s voice on “Find”, an amazing collaboration with producers Shallou and Kasbo, I was instantly hooked (the song now has 28.3 million streams). His voice is raw and strong, and yet his melodies and tones always seem to soften the topics at hand, like a yell that was calmed down. His music is the perfect blend of pop, acoustic, and soul.
The EP includes:
Just So You Know
OH NO! (feat. ROZES)
Be Here
Tired
How Love Goes
The personas his songs embody are each these beautiful whines and conversations that Lovaas has in his mind, and after having seen him perform live a couple of times, it’s very cool to see how I can actually picture him creating these records. That’s how powerful his imagery and lyricism are; they fabricate these intricate storylines all accompanied by the melodic cries of his guitar. So, with that, I think it is safe to say it’s worth taking a listen to, and it may just be the antidote you need on rainy days at home or days you need a sweet pick me up.
Now, a little bit about Lovaas:
Cody was only fourteen when he started performing, and one time at an intimate open mic in his hometown of Carlsbad, CA, he caught the attention of Jason Mraz, who then became his music mentor and the rest was history. The artist has written hundreds of songs and has molded his very own sound, and you can even hear that sense of innocent love and heartbreak, coming-of-age, and growth in his music now. Lovaas has also had the opportunity to support artists on tour such as: Jason Mraz, Shallou, Ziggy Marley, Donovan Frankenreiter, Switchfoot, Steven Tyler, and Kasbo.
I am honored to interview and feature Lovaas today for this amazing EP. Make sure to listen to it at the link above.
Here is Our Interview:
[Neelu Mohaghegh]: How did you get started in music, and why music?
[Cody Lovaas]: “I was seven years old, driving around with my mom when i asked her if i could start playing the drums. she is very noise sensitive so she suggested the guitar... she sold me when she said i could even bring it to the beach. so, i started taking guitar lessons once a week with a terrible guitar teacher who told me to sit up straight, read the notes to the music i didn't care about and he gave me strings that really hurt my fingers. eventually, i negotiated my way into a new teacher who's first question was, "what kind of music do you like?" he showed me his passion for the instrument and stole a little bit of it, ran off and created an evergreen love for music. it wasn't until i wrote my first song that i felt as if it wasn't really a choice to pursue music, but rather a necessity.”
[NM]: Which song that you've written is the one you would use to describe yourself?
[CL]: “i'm a twenty one year old gemini. half the time i have no idea what the fuck is going on in my own head. that's why i don't think i've been able to fully explain my whole self in just one song quite yet. i think i'd have to suggest my entire catalogue :)”
[NM]: What was the inspiration and songwriting process for this new EP?
[CL]: “again, the message behind the ep isn't just one clear thought, but rather a series of stories, moments and sounds that best explain my experiences with different relationships, different self realizations, etc. all these songs were written when i first moved to los angeles, living on my manager's pull out couch... hence the ep title, Pull Out Couch.”
[NM]: What is your detour?
[CL]: “i have a difficult time sitting still, so if i'm not working on music, i could be doing a bunch of random things. i've been surfing since i was a young buck, i'm an avid granola eater, jacuzzi enthusiast, family man, palo santo supporter and puppy lover. i'd also like to list some things i'm bad at. not a chef, texting is not a specialty, i break shit left and right, i'm actually not a great speller, slow reader and i can't paint for shit.”
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Thanks so much, Cody, for your time! I really do love this project and am so excited to see what other amazing projects you will produce. Stay safe and well, and hopefully see you perform live again soon!