Lia Pappas-Kemps Isn’t Afraid To Feel Everything
Written by Daphne Bryant
All images courtesy of Oscar Tam
At 21 years old, Lia Pappas-Kemps doesn’t mind being the youngest person in the room.“ This is a very leveling industry. My [age] feels pretty irrelevant in a lot of ways,” she says. Unless it’s pertaining to her lyrics, the matter of Pappas-Kemps’ youth rarely comes up. The Toronto-based singer-songwriter does touch on universal topics that any girl would resonate with, though her songwriting process remains fairly intimate and raw.“ I often write alone and I don’t know if I write from any [specific] perspective. I’ll look back retrospectively and be like, oh, that’s what that was about, rather than sitting down and [thinking]:‘ This song’s about this.’” Opposed to focusing on what kind of story she wants to tell, Pappas-Kemps centers her emotions and is more concerned with evoking them in a way that feels authentic.
In true Pisces fashion, Pappas-Kemps is an extremely emotional person.“ I cry a lot and I feel like [being a Pisces] is helpful for writing,” she says. Her newly released debut album, Winged, is a musical rollercoaster that explores juxtaposing feelings of self-doubt and total euphoria.“ The ups and downs are vast, which I think is so specific to this age. [One day]‘ I’m literally the best ever, and [the next] I’m like, oh my god, I’m the worst person in the world,’” says Pappas-Kemps, laughing.
The making of Winged seemed to go by really fast:“ I wrote a lot of it when I was in Montreal, when I was living with my cousin [Elia] who produced the record. I was reminiscing and looking at photos, and our apartment was so fucking funny.” Neither Pappas-Kemps nor Elia cared to decorate the apartment all that much. There was one couch, the walls were bare and the living room workspace was a simple set-up: one computer hooked up to a huge flat-screen TV.“ I can’t believe we were creative in that environment, but there are a few songs that feel so Montreal to me, and it’s really nice to have that commemorated,” says Pappas-Kemps.
Her favorite song on Winged, as of right now, is“ Orchid”, a track she’s been playing live quite a bit. Pappas-Kemps reflects on the beginnings of her musical career, at a time when performing still felt daunting:“ When I first started [doing live shows], I was like, I’m never gonna get over this feeling of total-anxiety [backstage]. But now I feel more confident in myself, and I think that alleviates it, though the anxiety never fully goes away. It is just really weird. Sometimes I’m on stage, and I’m like,‘ I can’t believe people do this. It’s crazy!’” At the same time, Pappas-Kemps touches on how ancient performances are, as a practice, and how it is really special to be carrying on the tradition. Humans simply can’t resist live vocals, powerful lyricism, and the rush of being in a crowd!
As far as the sound of Winged is concerned, Pappas-Kemps was inspired by a lot of grungy, acoustic-driven music.“ I feel like the songs on this record were pretty much all written on an acoustic, so that’s such a thorough line for me. I love the acoustic guitar!” When it comes to Winged’s visuals, certain songs utilize certain imagery.“ [Orchid’s music video] was really specific. The main thing we were going for was vast emptiness. There’s a lot of space in the song, and it touches on loneliness in a big way.”
Luckily, Pappas-Kemps is able to combat loneliness with the support of her artist community in Toronto. The music scene around her feels genuinely accessible and more than alive, with music lovers consistently going to shows and sharing their excitement.“ Everyone is welcoming and willing to work with you or talk about your music,” says Pappas-Kemps. She confesses that she may have had a head-start, considering she grew up in the city with an older sister who makes music, though she asserts that the people really are lovely. She also challenges the“ musician friend” stereotype, in which peers or partners“ force” themselves to enjoy music that they don’t actually love. Faking it just isn’t Lia’s style (and she doesn’t even have to fake it, because she’s truly a fan of her friends and their work)!“ I’ll listen to my friend’s music and adore it. I’m not just supporting my community, these are some of my favorite musicians in the world.”
For Lia Pappas-Kemps, the emotional extremes that define Winged aren’t something she’s trying to escape—they’re something she’s learning to embrace. In your early twenties the highs and lows can feel massive, but that same intensity fuels honesty and heart. As Pappas-Kemps looks ahead to touring and eventually making another full-length album, one thing seems certain: this superstar isn’t afraid of feeling everything, and that vulnerability is exactly what will draw in fans and new listeners alike.
