Talking all things with Lyn Lapid—from Ariana Grande and TikTok to writer’s block and vulnerability
Artistic freedom is something all creatives aspire to attain. In a world of bounds and limitations, it sounds like a dream to achieve a state of success where you have none. But there’s no denying the intimidation that comes when such freedom lands in our hands. When that happens, how do we navigate through it to find ourselves and, hopefully, not get lost? On one regular Monday, I met someone who may be the best person to talk about these things with.
Lyn Lapid is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter and producer who knows a thing or two about creativity and aspirations. After all, she was discovered by Republic Records in 2020 through her original (and viral) song, Producer Man. The song was heavily based on an experience she had when she first entered the music scene, but it also became her debut single. It’s a full-circle moment!
@lynlapid u won’t catch me selling my soul to be another Barbie doll pop star controlled by the industry. PERIODT. #fyp #musiclives #foryou ♬ Producer Man – LYN
Born and raised in Baltimore but of Filipino descent, Lyn received a warm welcome from excited fans and artists on her first day back in a place that she considers home. Despite the shy waves and the quiet hellos, the genuine and overflowing desire to learn more about her filled the intimate space. Fortunately, a chat session started things off.
Lyn answers the questions of one of her lucky supporters, Jan
(photo courtesy of UMUSIC Philippines)
Left to right: Gabby of H3RIZON, Elise Huang, Bernie of H3RIZON, Lyn Lapid, Dia Maté, Tiara of H3RIZON
(photo courtesy of H3RIZON)
We already know that Lyn is a Gen Z figure who speaks for the quiet kids, listens to Ariana Grande religiously and uses TikTok a lot. But we also learned that she’s never been on a cruise ship since she fears the ocean, that she hopes to collaborate with the country’s very own Zack Tabudlo and that she’s a K-pop multi.
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As a fellow stan, I took the opportunity to ask how she gets inspiration from K-pop—her genre is so different from the sound after all. Inspiration truly is everywhere as she takes it “from their aesthetic and how well-put-together their music videos are.” Friends are a great source, too! She loves writing about hers because she thinks that her personal life can be boring at times (agreeing to disagree on this one).
But while there’s always something to write about, writing is not always easy. Lyn looked back at her debut single, saying it took almost four months to finish. “I wrote the first verse and then the second verse, then I got the most horrible writer’s block,” she recounts. “I couldn’t bring myself to finish the song ‘cause everybody wanted me to finish it, but I just couldn’t figure out how to, so I had to take a break from writing the song to truly be able to come back to it.”
She further instills the importance of pausing for a while and creating mental space, saying that “Stepping away is a good way to kind of reset, and then coming back to it is how you can come back better.”
Given everything that’s been said, it’s easy to tell that Lyn has a strong sense of self-awareness. She’s able to translate her thoughts and feelings into words and vibrations—ones that resonate with people beyond her generation. Her heart can be heard through music; she's the human version of her songs. So, who could be a better person to ask about finding one’s voice as an aspiring creative?
“Honestly, I feel like putting yourself out there on social media can be a scary thing, but I see value in it because it allows people to see who you really are as a person and what you want to say as an artist,” Lyn reveals. Right then and there, I came to the realization that the online realm does provide an immense amount of freedom which, as Lyn mentions, can stimulate fear. It can even cause judgment from those who do not understand. But these don’t really erase the fact that social media is a powerful place to start.
“Just be consistent in putting yourself out there. Being vulnerable and being open to being vulnerable on social media [are big things].” Give in to the trends, sure, but don’t let them define you. Don’t trade the sincerity and honesty in your craft to fit in the outdated mold of success. To sum it all up in three words: be yourself—unapologetically.
Words Kyla Villena
Art Matthew Ian Fetalver
