By: Staff
After years of silence, a once-hidden voice emerges with a track that feels hauntingly intimate and boldly cinematic. Lucas Player, a 21-year-old multi-instrumentalist, breaks his self-imposed quiet with “More Than You”, a song as raw as it is deliberate, as ethereal as it is grounded.
Crafted entirely within the confines of his room, “More Than You” carries the weight of unspoken truths. The drums echo like distant footsteps, the melodies linger like half-forgotten memories, and the vocals—a delicate interplay between vulnerability and resolve, reside somewhere between a whisper and a cry. It’s a confession as much as it is a proclamation: Player’s story is far from over.
After taking a break from music Player reemerges with a track that distills the lessons, losses, and longing of those years into a few minutes of music. “More Than You” marks a turning point in his journey as an artist. It's cinematic, deeply personal and universally resonant.
With its understated cinematic flair and unpolished beauty, “More Than You” is a must-listen for fans of Joji, the atmospheric charm of The Strokes, and the heartfelt honesty of Clairo.
This track isn’t just a return; it’s a promise. Player hints at more music to come, a larger narrative waiting to unfold. For now, “More Than You” stands as a reintroduction, an invitation to step into the world of an artist who’s been waiting in the wings.
We had the chance to talk with Lucas Player for an exclusive interview where he opens up about his creative journey, the meaning behind this track, and his next steps.
Begin Interview:
Hello Lucas Player, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
What inspired the name Lucas Player for your artist persona? How does it capture the connection you want to build with your fans?
I won't comment on that for now, maybe someday. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. It can be hard to talk about myself but I'll do my best.
Your vocals are an absolute stunner. The ethereal stylings were so captivating. What was the reason you chose this delivery method and how does it represent the feelings you want the listener to absorb?
I don't think it's a method I'm necessarily choosing, that's just how it comes out. I never believed I could sing, so I never saw myself as a singer. I still don't really feel like a singer, but I needed to get the words out.
What inspired you to leave your music composition studies and take the leap into pursuing your own vision?
I really liked studying music. My whole life I hated school, but with music it was different. I was keeping notes when I didn't have to, reading ahead, taking extra books from the library, sometimes doing so much extra work that my homework could have been a final project. I had perfect grades, but I always had this feeling that I was about to fail. I think I got as much out of it as I could have. Honestly, I was never interested in a degree. I just wanted to be somewhere I belonged, and that's not what I found at school.
"More Than You" has been described as the most important song you've ever written. What makes it so significant to you?
It's a lot for me. I started writing it about a year ago while studying, and I finished it after I left. It marks commitment for me. If I were to try and reintroduce myself to the world, this song would be my first words.
Can you tell us about the process of writing and recording "More Than You" in the same room where it all came together?
I don't have a lot of room but I make it work. By the foot of my bed I have a drum kit, and a piano beside the head. I can almost touch my desk and my bed at the same time. A few guitars, wires going everywhere, boxes of equipment. It's a well organized mess.
Your music combines cinematic and lo-fi elements. How do you strike the balance between raw emotion and refined production?
Sounding "lo-fi" is something I used to aim for, but I'm not doing it on purpose anymore. It's not easy to articulate how I feel, and so if I were to strive for absolute clarity in my writing and production, I would be leaving things out.
Looking back, how do you view your early years as Kibishi, and what prompted you to disappear from the scene at 17?
It was a learning stage for me. It started when I was 15. I was rapidly absorbing everything I could about making songs. I had some help from another musician who goes by Alicks. I really looked up to him, and being able to talk and even collaborate gave me some confidence. I was also fortunate to be taking summer classes at NYU, where I learned the fundamentals of music production. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was excited to apply what I was learning. I was having fun, skipping school and making beats. Two years later something went wrong. The years got faster and the days got longer after that.
After years of silence, what motivated you to reemerge with this track? Was there a specific moment that sparked your return?
The music never stopped coming. I really just didn't know who I was anymore, or who I wanted to be. I spent so much time alone—not just feeling lonely, but truly isolated. I remember going to Starbucks one day and being surprised at the sound of my own name when the barista called it out from behind the counter. I barely understood how to interact with the world anymore. I never stopped documenting myself though; I had this feeling it would be for something.
More recently, things started to happen while I was away studying—things that I wished weren't happening to me at the time. I was already feeling like I was on the wrong path, and I was always talking about leaving. Something in me broke, and maybe I wanted it to. I remember the moment. It was late at night, I packed my car and I was gone before the sun came up.
Having nothing gave me clarity. Nothing to lose. Even when it hurt, I felt a strange reassurance that it was correct. I promised myself that I'd follow that feeling, even if it turned out to be foolish.
Do you have any professional advice that you would give your younger self that might have changed the current course your career is now on?
I don't know. Even if I could go back in time and shake myself I don't think I would have listened. I had to learn everything the hard way.
You said, “Some years you win, some years you build character.” This is very insightful and powerful; what occurrences brought about this statement?
It's actually a Steve Jobs quote, and it's not the only one I tell myself. I often come back to his biography. I hope people don't get the wrong idea when I admit how much I look up to him, but it gives me comfort knowing that somebody so idolized can be so complicated too.
How has your classical training in piano and guitar influenced the way you approach songwriting and production today?
My mom played piano and guitar, so both were always within reach. Piano came first. I'm told that even at two I was playing, but I don't remember taking it seriously until I was five, when she insisted I start lessons, and I didn't always get along with my teachers. Guitar came a little later, I think I was eight. It helps to be so comfortable in front of the piano, guitar too. I'm lucky to have all of that experience and muscle memory just already there. Now I'm fluent in this second language that I don't even remember learning.
As someone who creates every aspect of their music solo, what do you find most rewarding and most challenging about working independently?
The best part about working by yourself is that nobody can tell you what to do. It also means that nobody is going to push you, so you have to push yourself.
How do you hope listeners will connect with "More Than You," especially given its deeply personal nature?
I try not to think about it too hard. There's no way I can know. I'm just trying to be honest in what I'm doing, and what I'm saying. I'm taking a leap of faith that anyone will relate or even appreciate it at all.
Do you have a favorite song from your early years of listening to music that you would like to cover in the studio that makes you feel connected to who you are as an artist today?
Right now I'd probably say My Life in Art by Mojave 3. I don't know if I'd do it justice, but I love that song. It reminds me of something I can't remember.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, i.e., the creation, the actual release date, etc?
Turning the good ideas into work that's ready. Once I find something I like, the pressure's on to make it the best it can be. If we're counting iterations of the same song, I probably have thousands unfinished. I feel like I have to discriminate what can be heard and what can't. I'm used to saying no to my own ideas. The hardest part is saying yes.
Which of your already released songs, including this one, is the most important to you, or had the most impact on your life or career and can you tell us why?
It's hard to say. This one feels the most important to me right now. I can't speak to my career, but it's already given me something I haven't felt in a while.
What’s one fun or surprising fact about you that fans might not know?
For a short period of time before committing myself to music again, I had my heart set on racing cars. I was actually really close to spending the entirety of my savings on a race car and a season's worth of tires. I went looking and found an old Van Diemen Formula Ford. I wanted it so badly, even though it was too outdated to be competitive. I just wanted to be on the track. I still think about it sometimes. I think racing is the most artistic sport in the world.
Now that you’ve returned with “More Than You,” what’s next for you as an artist?
I'm not just going to write one song and leave again. This time I need to tell the whole story. I'm preparing something bigger, and I can't wait to share it.
Lucas Player, thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.
Thanks for making the time. Means a lot.
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Lucas Player’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
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