rising pop diva lisa danaë speaks up about being her own starlet
By Sophia Denison
Fresh off the release of her new single, “STARLET,” rising pop diva Lisa Danaë affirms there is strength in self confidence and vulnerability. Following the release of her single, a lyric and music video were dropped on Danaë’s YouTube channel. The “STARLET” music video was shot in L.A. and features Danaë in seven different pop diva looks — emulating past pop-idols Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears — until Danae embraces her own starlet identity.
Ease Up: So how are you feeling? Your music video comes out super soon!
Lisa: Yes! I’m really excited for this to be out. We had to stop filming for like a whole month because of all the protesting going on in L.A., so it’s been a long time coming. I probably would have released this last month, but we wanted to take some time off and be mindful of everything going on, you know.
EU: What was your favorite part of filming your music video? Do you have a favorite memory that you want to share?
L: So, there are some nighttime scenes that we shot at LACMA; I had never been there before and I have lived in L.A. for like 5 years now but I had always seen those lamps, especially, are pretty iconic here. I had no idea we were filming there, so when we got there it was a night shoot and that was probably the most fun because that's when we did all the diva looks, like Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears, and we had it to ourselves which was really surprising. My videographer, who used to live in that area, said usually there’s still people going over there around 2 A.M. but no one was there; it was like a ghost town so we were able to utilize the whole space and it was just really fun. We all kinda got delirious at one point; we wrapped, I think, around 4:30 AM. Then, it was really funny because my cousin, who was doing my makeup for me, was spraying hand sanitizer over all the lamps, just because of COVID and everything going on; we were trying to take precautions because I had to touch everything, so that was just funny and entertaining overall. So, yeah, that was my favorite shoot day because it was all four of us together and yeah just being there alone, with the security guards watching us.
EU: That sounds like so much fun, I’m so happy you guys still got to film it despite all the protests on top of COVID; it’s just such a crazy time for everything. Speaking of your favorite looks, you have so many different outfit changes, which one do you feel is your favorite or expressed your style the best?
L: Oh, that's a good question. So I really love ‘90s and early 2000s fashion, so I was very very happy for a lot of those trends to come back. Just so they're more available. My favorite look from “STARLET” I think is the denim look. I call that one the “blue jean baby” look and it has the denim bucket hat with these cute “STARLET” button pins that I had one of my friends make for me, and the denim jacket is really dope. It has green see-through pockets that I really love. And then the cargo pants that I was so stoked to get and then I have some iridescent sandal heels. So that one's probably my favorite look out of all seven looks in the music video overall.
EU: Yeah, I can definitely see the ‘90s inspo from even your sounds and watching the music video. It's so fun. So, you talk about being center stage and headlining in your new song, “STARLET,” and a lot of lyrics have to do with performing. I'm assuming that you're looking forward to doing more live performances once the pandemic is over?
L: Yes. I actually started live-streaming in 2017, so I feel like I was kind of prepared for everything that was going on. It's definitely a different vibe though, because prior to live streaming, I obviously was performing live and you're feeding off the energy from the audience. Live streaming can be, well, it's just different; you can't see anyone, you know. It's hard to know how people are reacting and then you just have to be mindful of your own energy. But I hope that we can slowly start getting into performing live. I know a lot of venues here, specifically in Anaheim, tested out a drive-in concert, which seems like a really cool idea. I would love to be a part of that. I've heard great things and great experiences that people had. But as much as I don't mind live streaming, yeah, you're definitely missing that connection with the audience and I’m looking forward to hopefully being able to step back into live performing with people in a safe way and safe environment.
EU: For sure. So thinking ahead, then, what would your dream performance of the song “STARLET” look like? Like lighting, costumes, set the stage for us.
L: That's a good question. You put me on the spot there. It's so weird because I'm very visual, so you would think that I would know the answer to this already. I would definitely say as far as the lighting goes, “STARLET” really represents my brand. I'm all about vulnerability and staying true to myself and with “STARLET”, it kind of felt like a rebrand. But with lighting for a huge performance, I would definitely stick to my favorite colors, which are my brand colors, so like pinks and purples. I would want to try to keep up with the ‘90s and early 2000s theme and I honestly would love to have some choreographed dance to this, but I feel like there's so many different rhythms going on in the song to where it was kind of difficult for me to even imagine where to have some choreography. I think stage-wise definitely with pink and purple hues. And I would love to have a big band in the background, you know, with all of the anthemic production that's going on. I want those big drums too, like you know those ones that Imagine Dragons uses, like those big bass drums? I would love that. That's something that I've always always wanted. I think that would be a really good visual to have on stage. Kind of just a party on stage happening with even maybe a stage riser where I can walk up the stairs with other dancers with me and being on a solo high stage with someone.
EU: Oh my gosh, I can totally see that. That's perfect. I can't wait to see that someday. So, kind of talking more about your inspiration behind the piece, I know you were kind of going there. I read that the word “starlet” actually came from a review, which I thought was really interesting, and I wanted to ask, did you always see yourself as a “starlet”? And if you didn't, how was that journey for you?
L: The concept behind “STARLET” really was exactly what the lyric is: I dreamed of being like the divas that I looked up to. Those three ladies in particular, they've always inspired me. Of course, there's so many other female artists that I really, really love and that have inspired my music. I think once I got older, I felt that stardom, like that star factor, was slipping away from me. Because of, I mean, to be honest, I don't look like any of them. Going more into the music industry and seeing, you know, who they heavily market, I felt like that dream of being in the spotlight as a pop star was just slowly going away. So, when I received that review and had them call me a “rising pop starlet,” that really fueled my fire again and it truly inspired me. So I really appreciate them for writing such kind words about my past releases, because I definitely felt like I still had the dream and envisioned everything that I wanted since I was younger, but I really felt like it was just slowly slipping away because I didn't think it would be possible.
EU: Yeah, that's really, really cool. And I can definitely hear it in the song like with the explosive choruses “I'm a starlet.” It's like you're reminded, you know? Yeah, it's awesome. I wanted to ask: both in your lyric video and then also on one of your shirts there's a butterfly. I don't know if that means anything or it's just a coincidence but I just wanted to bring it up if it does; does it have any special meaning?
L: So it's kind of funny because the butterfly thing — I just really liked that shirt. I remember my friend and up-and-coming stylist, Eileen, we were going through the looks and specifically for that shirt. We wanted to do more of a ‘70s outfit. I love butterflies because each one is unique. And after a while when I was thinking about the lyric video I was like, “You know what, I think that we need to incorporate the butterfly,” because I feel like they have their own identity, and it just worked with the shirt as well and it just became a symbol that I started using. And I made sure at least specifically for the lyric video that we showed an ordinary butterfly with the common colors of the orange and yellow but then turning it into the “STARLET” butterfly that is Lisa Danaë by using my colors of the pink and the purple. So it kind of was just like a happy accident.
EU: I love the visual; I noticed it right away. So, you're obviously a pop lover, going off of just what you have on your Spotify and everything. What in particular draws you to that genre?
L: I love that, with pop music, you can really do anything. You can pull inspiration from any genre. My parents raised me to make sure I was really well-rounded, listening to rock, jazz, R&B, pop, and, of course, hip-hop. I love that with pop, in general, you can really just mesh everything together. Sometimes I want to or feel like I want to perform more of an R&B jazzy vocal, or I love hip hop and trap, so I like to incorporate those elements in my music and I feel like, with pop, you can really kind of just do whatever and you don't really have to stick to a particular mold.
EU: That's awesome. I was going to ask too, with this “STARLET” single, I noticed that your production is definitely amped up compared to some of your other songs that you've released in the past. Are you looking at this as a new era? Is this what we're going to see in your future?
L: It is. Like I said, I feel like this song is a perfect rebranding song for me. And I, again, I'm just a very visual person. So I'm always trying to figure out ways to elevate and I'm looking forward to sharing the next single and then elevating the visuals even from there. But I just want to do big things. So I have to figure out ways that I can push the limit and elevate each packaging for each song.
EU: Very exciting. You talked a little bit about your identity, but I wanted to kind of get into that. Do you feel, as a Filipino American pop artist, that your identity has influenced your music at all or your style? Or do you just want to talk a little bit about that?
L: Yeah, so I think with Filipinos, you know, we pull from a lot of different cultures. I feel like we have a lot of talent and a lot of things to offer as a community. I just feel like we're misrepresented and I don't really understand, I guess, what it is. I've met a lot of talented Filipinos and I'm always trying to work with creatives in the Filipino community, that way we can lift each other up. But as far as culture and what we can bring to the table, I don't know. Maybe that's why people don't necessarily connect with us. It's because we do pull from so many different cultures. But we do have, you know, like our own food that is truly ours. And then, obviously, our language as well. But yeah, I don't understand the disconnect. And maybe it truly is because that maybe people are just kind of confused. I think people need to be more aware there's so many great vocalists in the Philippines that I've connected with and discovered recently, and they're also just trying to figure out, you know, why they can't break out, at least specifically in the States. And I feel I feel like we all have, as a community, something unique. It's just we have to figure out how to connect to the audience, again here specifically in the States, and prove to them that we can stand on our own as a community.
EU: Year, that's completely valid. Yeah, that's just that's so interesting to me too.
L: I really think it is because again, no one can figure out maybe, yeah, what our culture is. Because again, you have to look at our history as to why we are conquered by Spain, and then everyone else coming in. So even with my Filipino background, my grandpa had more of the Spanish side, and then my grandma has more of the Chinese side, so even Asia in general, it's kind of just like a huge mixture of everything. But yeah, it's interesting because people kind of categorize us. With like K-pop or J-pop, that's a completely different world. I feel like, if anything, a lot of the Filipino artists that I know, are more jazzy and R&B-style artists. So I don't know why we're categorized into K-pop or J-pop because that's just not even close. And we're in the Philippines, like, we're not in Korea or Japan so I don't know.
EU: Yeah, it’s very weird. I think it's so important that artists like you are doing what you're doing and releasing singles like “STARLET” because there's so many listeners, I'm sure, that are looking up to you and you are that starlet to them. And I think that that's very, very inspiring and so important. It’s such a positive message that you're putting out to everyone.
L: Well, thank you. I’m glad it came across with you. I honestly never thought I would be able to write an anthem, like “STARLET” — I just never envisioned that for myself. A lot of my past releases are about heartbreak, so they're not really uplifting. I would say “1445” would be the song that is the most uplifting but musically wise, like it's not necessarily hard-hitting anthem production. But it still talks about mental health and then rising above from there. So I thought it was actually a really good transition to have with “STARLET” after releasing something like that, because “STARLET” is basically like “Okay, I'm here. Ready to go.” Again, I have the inspiration like, “Let's do this. I can do this on my own. And I'm going to stay true to myself,” which is also something that I really want people to understand from “STARLET” as well you just stay true to yourself, like don't try to imitate anyone else. Try not to compare yourself to anyone else. Just stay on your own path.
EU: Yeah, I think that that message definitely got across when I was listening to your single. I wanted to ask, you describe yourself as a “starlet,” which we've made clear, but what other three words can you come up with that would describe yourself to someone who maybe hasn't heard your music before? They can be anything.
L: Okay. I would definitely say vulnerable. Vulnerability is strength and that's something that's that's the message I want people to hear from my music. Ooh, what other words to describe me? That's hard. I don't really like you know, it's hard talking about yourself. Independent. Why is this so hard? Vulnerable, independent, and strong.
EU: Love it. Love it. And okay so I wanted to end this interview on a question of what moment in your life comes to mind when you felt the most like a “starlet?”
L: Honestly, I think it would just be it would just be like an intimate moment with myself and learning how important self love is. And then being able to give advice to my friends or family members that may be going through some sort of self-doubt. But I think it would just be a more intimate moment where it's like I'm looking in the mirror and I'm just like, “Okay, Lisa, you can do this. You can do this. You can pick yourself back up and just focus on you and finding peace with you. Whatever negative thing, just try to just forgive like don't hold a grudge and just move forward. I'm a star. I'm a starlet and let's just go. Just got to go.”
EU: Well, thank you so much. This was so awesome. And I really enjoyed your single! I'm definitely going to be looking out for your new releases. And I'm so excited to see where you head next with your production with your live performances, hopefully. And I wish you all the best.
L: Thank you so much for having me.
Be on the lookout for more new-era singles from Danaë later this year. In the meantime, make sure to stream “STARLET” and check out her music and lyric videos!