Lucy Fitzgerald 
Hi! What was the main inspiration or story behind your song “Carousel,” and how did it first come to you?
A: Carousel has no crazy story behind it. I just had a show and the afters were at a bar named Carousel. There was a girl there that caught my attention. It was just a song that came in the heat of the moment, being in the living of it.
How would you describe the overall mood and vibe of “Carousel” to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?
A: My friends say this is the summer of DFMO (Dance floor make outs), and I wanted this to be a song that falls into that category.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process for this track? Where did you start?
A: I wrote this a year ago and I kind of just let it sit for a while. Maybe back in october, my friend ÊMIA (Anh) and I got in the studio (LoveGrove Studios – Sam Roller runs this- he’s my guitarist in my band) and we just started throwing ideas at eachother and going through old voice memos, iphone notes, etc. I felt like this song was a little out of my comfort zone and has more of a sexual undertone than I’m used to writing. Anh really helped me feel comfortable with that.
The track blends danceable energy with more introspective tones, how do you balance movement and emotion in your production?
A: This song is more production heavy than anything else. I wanted the production to mimic the lights on a dancefloor. This chorus should feel like the rush of doing poppers (not that I do those).
“Carousel” has a somewhat melancholic vibe despite its rhythm, what lyrical motifs or personal experiences underpin that bittersweet feeling in the song?
A: I think the bittersweet feeling comes from chasing that high, emotionally. That’s a pretty consistent theme in my songs. I fall for the chase. But god I’m tired of the chase.
Given your background self-producing in bedroom studios, how much of “Carousel” was done at home versus in the studio? How has your process evolved since your earlier EPs?
A: I recorded the bass at home, and my vocals were actually recorded in my bedroom and partially at LoveGrove Studios with Van Isaacson and Sam Roller. The entire production of the song however was made entirely with my co-producer Ethan Wilson, all on Zoom. He lives in texas so all of our sessions we just work together virtually unless he’s in town. But we both sat in our bedrooms for the last year working on this song. Compared to my earlier EPs, this has become more collaborative. Ethan is my right hand man in all of my music. He’s really helped me find my sound and also can evolve with me in ways I haven’t experienced with other producers. In terms of recording vocals, I still feel more comfortable recording in my room. I am super hypercritical of myself in recording sessions, recording the same line like 20+ times and pausing and starting and it’s a very long process. So I feel guilty doing that at a studio where people are watching me. I’d rather just keep putting blankets up in my closet and doing things how I’ve always known.
How does writing about love—especially within the LGBTQ experience—shape the themes and intimacy of “Carousel”? Did that perspective influence how you approached this song?
A: This song felt very out of my comfort zone. I write so many songs about girls and personal experiences as a queer woman, but for the most part I try to keep my love life more private (with the exception of the one song I named after my ex). It’s so silly people DM me asking who these songs are about, but sometimes it really isn’t at all. Writing details (ie ‘your tinted chapstick’s all I use’ from my song Pretty Girl Pretty Tempting) can make songs feel so much more personal and relatable. I like to keep people guessing, keep people on their toes. Writing about intimacy felt really uncomfortable for me initially especially because I don’t want to make the people I date uncomfortable if I do write about them. They’re people with feelings, not just an inspiration for my art. To keep personal and professional separate, I tend not to post my relationships anymore. I think at one point I wanted to, but overtime I realized to protect myself and anyone I’m romantically involved with, I don’t want to put them online so publicly and then people associate songs/lyrics with whoever I’m with. This is the same approach with all of my music. For instance, I think of artists like Role Model who everyone knows who his most recent album is about and I see comments online like ‘omg this is about—–‘ or ‘idk how i’d feel if i were the next girlfriend’. And that’s true, I think about that when I release music. Because it’s not just fans listening, it’s my family, friends, partners, etc. I want to be respectful of the people I date and I might mention moments with them but songwriting is already so vulnerable and there’s only so much I’m willing to share.
Looking at the broader arc of your upcoming album, how does “Carousel” fit? Does its concise, rhythmic nature set the tone for what’s to come?
A: I think Carousel is the start of a new chapter of my music. I don’t really want their to be a theme or for it to be about one specific person. It’s about my life, and I want it to be more than love songs about girls. That was a huge thing for a while–normalizing writing songs about the same sex. But now for me it’s more about the connection than anything else. I’ve written so many songs that I don’t even know if they’ll make the album but we’ll see.
What have listeners been saying since the release? Any interpretation or emotional feedback about “Carousel” that surprised or resonated with you?
A: I’ve been told Carousel sounds like a grown up version of my song Criminal which is so funny because Criminal is the first song that people took attention to on Tik Tok. I hated that song, it doesn’t match my style at all. But people wanted it released. At shows, I perform a very different version that what’s on streaming platforms and I love that version way more. But I’m grateful for that song nonetheless, it’s honestly why I am here and have the listeners that I do today. I do agree though, this song Carousel does feel somewhat similar to Criminal.
Looking ahead to this summer, do you have any live shows or special plans in the works that you can share with your fans?
A: I just had a show Mercury Lounge, and I’m performing at Brooklyn Pride! I’m going on tour with Rachel Bochner at the end of this month. I have another song I’m releasing next month and I’m super excited to tease that.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
