The Top 5 Pieces of Advice Lavrence Has Ever Received

Sydney LGBTQI+ artist Lavrence has returned with the follow up to his hit single, “My Space” (released earlier this year), with an equally joyous and life-affirming track, “Radio Man”. A song about self-image and identity, the song explores the idea of ‘success’ and the notion that it can be cultivated, felt and even experienced from within – regardless of outside perception.

Written/produced alongside Sydney DJ and producer Bobby Gray, and mastered by Brendan Zacharias, the track has all the 80’s synths, drum machines and underlying groove that a listener could wish for, along with an earworm chorus that is sure to get you moving.

“It’s a song about validating yourself over seeking it from external factors,” said Lavrence. “Ultimately, I’m telling you I’m a star - I’m not waiting for you to call me one.”

Lavrence’s taste for performance was quickly established after growing up in a music obsessed household, and quickly racing home from school each day to perform “Spice” by The Spice Girls, dressing up as either Ginger or Posh. He later honed these skills at a performing arts high school, where he studied singing, dancing and acting.

2019 has already seen the ambitious rising star grace the stage at the huge Heaps Gay Pardi Gras at Manning Bar, Birdcage at Sly Fox for their 7th birthday, Honcho Disko, Fur Coat Social, Cherch at Knox Street Bar, Canned Fruit at Secret Garden Bar, and many more following his performance debut at Heaps Gay’s The Haus Of Acrylic party at The Imperial Hotel, Sydney. 

His break out single “Shine” garnered airplay on FBi Radio and Radio Adelaide and received high praise by outlets such as Purple Sneakers, Pilerats and AuspOp, while the follow up “My Space” was premiered on Music Feeds and received rave reviews on triple j Unearthed from the likes of Declan Byrne, Dave Ruby Howe and Gemma Pike.

So, without further ado, here are the Top 5 pieces of advice Lavrence has ever received…

1.     “Never put anyone on a pedestal.” – My older brother (also a musician) said this to me once and it changed my outlook on how I see myself really. It taught me that the traits I admire in other people or artists, I possess within myself. Nobody is superior or inferior. We all possess greatness within us – if we so choose to cultivate it.     

2.     “Make the music you want to hear, not the music you want to make.” – I’m not sure where I heard this, but it inspired me to remove a lot of the ego from my creative process. It inspired me to focus more on the craft of making a great song over anything else. It simplified things for me. 

3.     “You won’t get anywhere by fighting your way there, you’ll get there by floating.” – A psychic said this to me when I was younger. I didn’t fully understand what she meant at the time, but I’ve since come to experience the truth in that statement. It really speaks to energy. Are you coming from a place of lack? Or are you coming from a place of gratitude?

4.     “Don’t rely on the opinions of others for how you see yourself.” – I’ve learnt this lesson so many times. You could line up 10 people and they’ll all have a different opinion of you based on their limited perception. I’ve learnt to define and even chose my identity for myself – that’s coming from a position of power.    

5.     “If you live your life avoiding negative emotions, you inevitably avoid positive emotions too. You can’t isolate them.” – My mother said this to me. It taught me not to close myself off to the experiences and connections that colour life because of fear. In saying that, healthy boundaries are a must.