Cherry Lena is an alternative Pop R&B singer-songwriter from Montreal, Canada. Having first captured the attention of audiences with her performances on The Voice Quebec in 2018, she has since been making a name for her stunning combination of warm R&B tones and subtle 1950’s jazz vocals. Her music is rich and timeless, resulting in a sound which effortlessly displays the musician’s undeniable talent and passionate delivery.
Her latest single “Love-Bombed And Ghosted” is a soulful track fusing lo-fi R&B and jazz with a pop sensibility. Through a flow of dynamics she gives the space to adore each pluck of gritty riffs, with punchy basslines and percussion adding both sass and power. The single touches on the type of person who feeds off others’ affection, just to run and hide when they are scared to feel something beyond the shallow waters of ghosting. The empowering artist shares, “It’s about a boy I met in June. I fell hard and fast. He showered me with love and affection and then simply vanished from my life. It hurt my pride the most. I felt like such a fool since he was never even mine.”
Produced and mixed by producer duo Pops & Poolboy, “Love-Bombed And Ghosted” features uplifting and infectious melodies which contrast the sombre lyrical theme. The songwriter explains, “Although the subject of the song is sad and emotional, the melodies are bubbly and catchy because it portrays the mood of the day I recorded it. At that exact moment, we were just kids having fun and creating and I was feeling grateful to be able to share and create.”
Racking up an impressive amount of streams on Spotify, the artist continues to win over the hearts of listeners across the globe. Her cover of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” in collaboration with Apashe has received more than six million views on YouTube alone. Proving to be a force to be reckoned with, expect to see a lot more from Cherry Lena.
What’s your story as an artist?
I’ve been passionate about music and dreaming of becoming a singer for as long as I can remember. At about 7 years old, I started singing lessons, and I kept on going until Cegep, where I studied music & pop/Jazz singing. After that, all I needed was the confidence to put myself out into the world and go after my dream, which I’ve been doing for the past 4 years.
What inspired this last release?
The writing process for ‘Love Bombed And Ghosted’ was unusually spontaneous. I came to the studio in quite an emotional mood that day. I arrived and sat on the patio outside with Adel and Clement. I was just telling them how I had been Love Bombed by this boy that just suddenly ghosted me. That’s when Adel said, “Love Bombed And Ghosted, that’s a sick song title“ We kind of all stared at each other and ran inside to start writing this song from scratch. The process was extremely therapeutic for me.
Do you get inspired by other art forms?
I find inspiration in everything that I see including movies, art pieces, nature, songs, people. I try to be as receptive to inspiration as I can because it can be found anywhere and appear to me unexpectedly.
Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?
It was a hot sunny summer day. I remember thinking that there wasn’t even a single cloud in the sky. The song was written in Pops & Poolboy’s home studio, which is super cozy and comfortable. Although The subject of the song is sad and emotional, the melodies are bubbly and catchy because it portrays the mood of that day. At that exact moment, We were just kids having fun and creating and I was feeling grateful to be able to share and create.
What’s your favorite place or environment to write?
I would say that the lighting of the room I’ll be creating in is very important. I like the neon lights settings when it’s a little bit dark. Nothing too bright. I need to feel in the zone. The people I am with also affect the creative process, I need to feel like it’s a safe space for me and my emotions.
What’s a record that shaped your creativity?
Frank by Amy winehouse
Who is an artist or band you look up to today?
‘Oh No’ by Biig Piig, ‘Somebody Else’ by 1975 and ‘ Cry On Me’ by Jesse Jo Stark are my favorite songs at the moment. They have been on repeat for days.
What excites you the most about what you do?
The creative process is definitely the fun part! I find it very therapeutic and liberating. I really enjoy it, it never really feels like work. The day of the release is hard for me because it feels too real. I tend to feel a bit like I was giving birth to something. I get a little stressed out on that day and need to keep busy not to overthink it.
What is your view on genres and music styles since you mix a lot of them in your music?
I believe an artist doesn’t have to stick to just one genre. As we evolve as humans, we get to know ourselves and discover new aspects of ourselves every day. I find that change is good since it shows an evolution. For example, my first love will always be 2000s R&B and 1950’s jazz music. Although I have migrated into a more alternative Pop sound, there will always be subtle elements in the production or in the melodies that will remind you of my roots. My voice being rich in R&B tones, I find the combination of it with different subgenres of Pop interesting. For example, This is actually my first time using an electric guitar on one of my songs for ‘Love Bombed And Ghosted’ and I loved it. I would say this song is more soft Pop-Rock influenced than my previous singles and I look forward to exploring that style further. But then again, the horns in the song kind of remind you of the ones in some of Amy Winehouse’s songs. I like the unique blend of Pop that this results in.
What does music and art mean to you?
It means everything. It’s my whole life. Music was always my passion and my entire life revolves around it. I do my best to honor my love for it every day.
How would you describe your act in one word?
Fruity
