Photographs / Abi Polinsky
CD + Styling / Phil Gomez
MUA / Rory Alvarez
Hair / Isaac Davidson
Photograph assistant / Aj Kyser
In dialog with Phil Gomez
Paul Klein, the inventive pressure behind LANY, has all the time poured his coronary heart into his music. However after a near-death expertise and a interval of intense self-reflection, Paul’s inventive imaginative and prescient has advanced. On this unique dialog, he opens up concerning the transformative energy of vulnerability, the inspiration behind his nostalgic sound, and the thrilling new ventures that lie forward.
Phil: I simply came upon that you just needed to evacuate due to the LA fires, what had been a number of the objects you took with you?
Paul: Um, yeah, the one two issues I believed to seize had been this guitar that John Mayer gave me, and a small secure that I purchased about 5 years in the past. I simply put little issues that imply one thing to me in it, and people are the one two issues I grabbed.
Phil: I can’t even assume what I might seize, in that instantaneous if I used to be in that state of affairs.
Paul: I went upstairs and checked out my closet for like 10 seconds. I used to be like, what am I alleged to do? Choose my favourite pair of denims? It was ridiculous. And it was so sudden, too; we weren’t ready. I believe some individuals who had been nearer to the fires had began to organize and take into consideration what they’d seize in the event that they needed to, however to be trustworthy, we couldn’t have been additional away. I actually assume somebody undoubtedly began the fireplace the place we had been.
Phil: You talked about we had a few temporary encounters, and one in every of them was your accident. Did your perspective on life shift after that?
Paul: Yeah, I imply, I believe in like a thousand other ways, most likely, and a few that I nonetheless haven’t absolutely found but, however um, my first feeling, waking up within the ambulance, was actually, like ‘God loves me.’ Like, uh, like I’m alleged to nonetheless be right here. I felt very grateful. I don’t understand how else to say it. The man requested me to maneuver my fingers and toes, and I may. Once I realized that, I used to be like, ‘Thanks, God,’ actually. Um, and I believe that’s given me a sure sense of confidence, truly. I really feel extra assured in who I’m and what function I play right here on earth, and um, it’s given me, like, a good higher sense of objective.
Phil: I like that. Has your inventive course of modified? Is there extra intention in your storytelling?
Paul: I believe so. I don’t even know if I can take credit score for it. I’ve simply seen that I’m a greater artist and individual, however I don’t wish to take credit score for it. I really feel prefer it’s one thing that’s been gifted to me. The songs that I used to be writing after the wreck are higher than those that I used to be writing earlier than, and I don’t know why.
Phil: I imply, particularly together with your music, whether or not it’s with LANY or all the things you’ve put out earlier than, it’s simply so nostalgic. It takes me again to highschool, in my room, crushing or heartbroken over my “best love.” I’m curious to see how your music evolves. Since most of your music captures that second of nostalgia and feels very youthful, and on condition that Paul Klein in 2025 feels extra grounded and mature, I’m questioning if these themes of heartbreak, love, loss, and lust are nonetheless going to be a part of it?
Paul: I believe so. Writing about love is the best factor you could possibly ever do. I don’t know, I by no means get sick of exploring it. I imply, each single one in every of us is born with this want to be liked and to like. It consumes us. We’re all obsessive about it. If you happen to say you aren’t… effectively. I’m unsure how mature that’s, and even what it means to be mature in songwriting, however the music that I write is a snapshot of the place I’m at presently in my life. And as I proceed on my journey, hopefully the songs journey with me.
Phil: I like that. Yeah, your songwriting and lyrics are very private. Is there ever a line that you just gained’t cross? Do you ever really feel like one thing is simply too private to share, or are you simply an open ebook?
Paul: I believe I’m an open ebook. I don’t have something I’m tremendous ashamed of or embarrassed about. All of us have much more in widespread than we notice, so I discover that being weak permits us to attach manner simpler and higher than faking it.
Phil: True. Um, is there a lyric that you just’ve written that also resonates with you or a lyric that you just, like, it’s form of like a mantra for you?
Paul: We now have this tune referred to as “Alonica” on our final album. Alonica is a made-up place—we outline it as a spot inside your self, the place being you and having you is sufficient. Once I was youthful, I might look outdoors of myself for validation as a substitute of inside. Alonica is that place the place I’m alone and completely satisfied, not unhappy. It’s a spot of paradise, not ache. The second verse says, “Darling, I’ve lastly settled in.” I’m form of writing to myself within the tune. “The water’s good for a midnight swim. It’s paradise. The celebrities and I are catching up like outdated mates. My coronary heart is studying learn how to love once more.” I went by an expertise in my life the place I felt betrayed by some individuals I actually trusted. I felt like I wanted to tighten my circle and deal with myself just a little bit. That verse explores the concept of discovering therapeutic by your self versus looking for it in someone or one thing else. I believe that’s a giant second that all of us ultimately get to in life, the place we study to be just a little self-sufficient in that space.
Phil: Proper. I imply, RuPaul says it finest, “If you happen to can’t love your self, how within the hell are you going to like someone else?”
Paul: I’ve all the time stated that as effectively. Yeah, RuPaul is a prophet.
Phil: No. I imply, it’s true. How can you give love, consolation, and peace once you don’t have that in your self?
Paul: Yeah. Lots of people will search for it in someone else, and so they simply gained’t be capable to discover it, you realize?
Phil: So, I do know you journal. What was your final journal entry about?
Paul: Ooh, um, excellent. The concept could be to do it each morning, however typically I don’t have the time. So, uh, yeah, I simply uh, sit in my yard and I journal, and oftentimes there might be sure issues that I do know I wanna write about that I’ll preliminarily discover within the journal first to see if there’s sufficient meat on the bone, if you’ll, on that concept to see if I can go and write a tune about it.
Phil: I suppose your songs are a manner of publishing your journal, however would you ever think about letting your precise journal be a part of your visuals?
Paul: Doubtlessly, if there’s nothing in there that’s too damaging.
Phil: Do you ever take into consideration releasing any solo songs?
Paul: No, as a result of I simply really feel like, um, I don’t know if I care an excessive amount of about being a solo artist. I’m unsure if I’m eager about that. I really feel so linked to LANY and the function I play in that area. Um, we’ve constructed one thing actually particular, actually. Like, day-after-day it’s brick by brick, and I don’t wish to—I wish to be a very good steward of that. I don’t care to, like, pull a Brandon Flowers, despite the fact that Brandon Flowers is superior, however I simply don’t care.
Phil: I imply, typically when you could have that synergy with somebody, the artwork simply brings you a lot extra depth, and also you’re capable of bounce backwards and forwards.
Paul: Yeah, undoubtedly. I’m actually fortunate and completely satisfied to be in LANY and never simply Paul Klein, I suppose.
Phil: What’s one thing that you just really feel the individuals who have grown with you and adopted you, um, and the band, nonetheless don’t learn about you?
Paul: Mm. I’m positive there’s quite a bit they don’t learn about me. I’d wish to assume that I’m an ever-evolving, advanced particular person, and, um, yeah, there’s one thing cool about not telling all people all the things. I don’t know if everybody must know all the things about me. I’ve acquired to convey just a little thriller again.
Phil: Is there one thing about your self—as a persona, inventive, or artist—that you just really feel you’re clear about, however that you just don’t assume individuals see?
Paul: I don’t know. I imply, not likely. I believe it’s fascinating that we’ve offered over one million tickets world wide and we’ve by no means been nominated for something, like ever. I believe it’s form of fascinating how we’re like the most important band that you just’ve by no means heard of. Perhaps at some point we’ll get our flowers, however it additionally doesn’t matter, you realize?
Phil: Proper, typically—particularly with this oversaturated tradition we’re in—it’s good to be just a little beneath the radar and simply do your personal factor. I imply, you’re not a secret; individuals know the music and the story. However typically it feels extra vital, extra particular and real when it’s solely the individuals who actually get it that respect it. On the identical time, we put ourselves on the market—not only for recognition, however as a result of it’s a part of the artwork type. And it’s good to be validated.
Paul: Yeah, it’s. However yeah, I suppose that’s one factor that after the wreck, I’ve fully let go of — the issues that I can not management. I believe I used to carry on tightly to some stuff… and to not get too corny, however my dad has ridden bikes his entire life and he simply all the time instructed me individuals get actually damage once they brace for influence, once they maintain on to stuff. And so I simply bear in mind squeezing a break, however then additionally remembering on the final second to completely let go, and I believe that most likely helped me.
Phil: I like that, it provides me chills.
Paul: Yeah, so I’ve undoubtedly let go of the issues I can’t management—like somebody’s opinion of me, or whether or not they assume our music is worthy of an award. I don’t fucking care.
Phil: And that’s when all of it comes collectively.
Paul: Yeah
Phil: You speak quite a bit about—and we form of touched on it just a little bit—love and heartbreak. Love is a giant muse of yours. Do you imagine in soulmates?
Paul: I undoubtedly assume going by life with somebody is healthier than going by it alone. I believe it’s the most important, most vital resolution you make on earth—the place you determine to spend your life. Everybody must be tremendous choosy with that call and never rush to make it, and make it for your self and no person else.
I imagine in love, however I don’t assume there’s just one individual for everyone. That methodology would simply crumble instantly—the domino impact could be whole chaos. However I believe there’s somebody on the market for everyone, after all.
I believe you can also make it work with anyone, actually. And a few individuals do. Some individuals make it work with the incorrect individual, however they simply make it work.
Phil: With your whole music and storytelling up to now, and all the things you’ve been by—and you’ve got a variety of music coming forward—what’s on the bucket record? What else do you wish to discover or experiment with? Are there any initiatives that we haven’t seen you do earlier than?
Paul: Yeah. I actually like garments. I’ve all the time been obsessive about them. I’ve all the time had a shoe drawback—manner too many sneakers. Rising up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, particularly again then, vogue wasn’t precisely a essential export, however I used to be obsessive about it. I’d love to start out my very own line, and I’m working in the direction of it proper now. We now have an ideal little merch enterprise, with LANY and I’ve all the time designed the merch that we put out. It’s simply been enjoyable for me. Prior to now, we had been form of compelled to print on no matter inventory Gildan or Consolation Colours has obtainable. I’ve all the time been just a little bit pissed off about placing our designs on these kinds of blanks. So, for the final three years, I’ve been engaged on making my very own clean firm, and we’re now printing on these blanks that I’ve made. I’ve chosen the patterns, the cuts, the silhouettes. I simply would love to supply artists, corporations, and folks world wide with another, but inexpensive, choice to Gildan or Consolation Colours or something like that.
Phil: That’s tremendous cool. What would your assortment appear to be?
Paul: Proper now, we’ve got a zipper hoodie, a hoodie, and a crew neck that we simply finalized final week. We additionally finalized the T-shirt. Finally, we’ll get to lengthy sleeves, and I believe it could be nice to supply individuals with good colours to print on, or only a nice washed black or pure black. It’s all concerning the match and really feel of these blanks.
Phil: What would that model be referred to as?
Paul: It’s referred to as EMPT. We’ve simply began rolling these out and had been capable of do it in Australia on tour. We’re about to do a Valentine’s Day merch drop and we printed all of it on EMPT.
Phil …the place vogue has all the time been easy for you; you’ve all the time had this cool form of model, so I can see how that may result in you doing greater than vogue.
Phil: What was the very last thing you bought?
Paul: Nice query. I’m actually into 424 proper now. Guillermo is the inventive director, and it’s one of many first manufacturers I’ve seen shortly the place I’d stroll within the retailer and wish to purchase half of what’s on the rack, which is superior. I did simply purchase my first runway piece from Celine: simply this black leather-based jacket. Clearly, I like classic, after all, however with regards to newer issues, 424 is my favourite proper now.
Phil: What was the final classic merchandise you bought?
Paul: It will’ve been an Oakland Raiders cheerleader T-shirt that seems like tissue—that’s how smooth it’s. Or subsequent, I’ve acquired a pair spots in LA that I’ve truly refused to inform anyone about as a result of I simply don’t need anybody competing with my pull there. I refuse to inform anyone; we’ve gotta convey again gatekeeping.
Phil: I respect that! So, should you needed to describe your sound with a scent, what scent would that be?
Paul: I like that query. Let’s go together with one thing like Palo Santo. I really feel prefer it’s not essentially seasonal, so it really works year-round. It’s additionally a stupendous scent; after I stroll into a spot and odor it, I really feel like somebody has put a variety of thought into it.
Phil: I often have Palo Santo in my equipment. It’s an ideal scent. We referenced RuPaul earlier, and this can be a query I all the time take from her: If you happen to may return to your childhood self, what would you inform him?
Paul: I’d simply say to him, “Simply wait.” I felt actually ignored my entire life, very ignored. And um yeah, like I believe lots of people who I grew up with are most likely fairly shocked at the way it’s turned out for me. I didn’t have anybody actually in my nook, to be trustworthy with you. So there have been a variety of instances the place I felt fairly remoted and not sure, you realize, form of doubted myself, however I’d inform him, “Simply wait and see.”
Phil: All proper, that’s nice recommendation, particularly these days once we’re simply oversaturated with all the things. We would like that instantaneous gratification however typically you simply must let life… life…
Paul: Precisely.
Phil: And that takes persistence and time.
Paul: I’m probably the most impatient individuals on the earth, and it’s one thing I’m attempting to get higher at. Yeah, I’m so impatient, however that’s one other factor I’m studying publish wreck—simply studying to be affected person. There’s a lot in life you possibly can’t management, so that you simply must let stuff occur and wait.
Phil: Paul Klein is happiest when?
Paul: Within the studio. Writing music.
Phil: Paul Klein feels the sexiest when?
Paul: He has been going to the fitness center persistently and weighs lower than 180.
Phil: Paul Klein is at peace, largely when?
Paul: Sitting on his sofa, smoking a joint. (laughs)
Phil: Interval. Is there something that we missed that you just want to inform LADYGUNN and your followers?
Paul: Simply needed to say thanks for having me. Um, nice shoot, nice staff. And, uh, yeah, love you all.
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