Pop artist Luke Markinson has recently revealed his more vulnerable side with his latest single “Study Abroad”. The track shies away from his usual highly detailed hyperpop production style, allowing the listener to focus solely on the lyrics and vocals. It’s a new musical direction for Luke, but it works really well. Feeling a bit like an old Troye Sivan track, “Study Abroad” is a heartfelt, reflective song that invites listeners to see Luke’s inner dialogue regarding moving away from his partner.
I got the chance to chat with Luke via Zoom, and talk with him about everything from his college career to his music career.
Brigid: Hi! How are you?
Luke: I’m pretty good, I’ve been a little stressed because I just moved into a new apartment. The past few days have been a little chaotic.
Brigid: I can believe it! Where’d you move to?
Luke: So, I go to Washington University in St. Louis. I was in LA for the summer working, but I just got back here a couple days ago to get ready for school.
Brigid: Gotcha. What are you studying?
Luke: Psychology, and minoring in marketing and writing. I saw on your Zoom handle that you go to Illinois, so you’re also in the midwest!
Brigid: Yeah! I just graduated from Illinois.
Luke: What did you study?
Brigid: Music technology, like audio engineering. I just finished there in May.
Luke: Do you still live in Illinois?
Brigid: Yeah, in the Chicago area. I’m moving to Orlando soon, though.
Luke: I was just in Chicago for Lollapalooza, have you been?
Brigid: I was just about to ask you about Lolla! I saw on your Instagram that you went. I was also there! Did you get COVID after it?
Luke: No thank god!
Brigid: I did! Was it your first time going or have you been before?
Luke: That was my first time. It was really fun, I love Chicago.
Brigid: What were your favorite sets?
Luke: Charli, obviously. It was really good, but part of me was sad because the crowd was kind of lacking. She was amazing, but I’ll have to see her on tour.
Brigid: Yeah, I was hoping for more of the deep cuts. Anyways, we can jump into talking about your music! You just had this single release, which is awesome. How do you feel about the release and everything that comes with it?
Luke: I’m really excited it’s out there. It’s really cliché to say, but it’s one of the most personal songs I’ve released. Definitely more simple and intimate feeling than my more electronically charged songs. The reception has been really good. This big Twitter account PopCrave actually posted it. It was really cool to see that, but a lot of the replies were like, “who is this?”
Brigid: That’s what stans say to everyone, though. But, it’s hard.
Luke: Yeah it was a little tough to see, but I think I played it off well in the replies. So now, I’m just gearing up for a show in October. I’m excited to perform this new song and some unreleased ones.
Brigid: Totally. I feel like this one, the lyrics are super vulnerable. Did you have any reservations about releasing such a personal song?
Luke: The whole song is about my fears before studying abroad in Europe, away from my boyfriend at the time. You know, would he want to stay with me? Will he find someone else? All of those insecurities. I made this song for a final for one of my classes. I showed him [my boyfriend at the time] the song and he loved it, but we haven’t really talked in a while, I don’t know if he even knows it’s out. I was a little scared to put it out since it’s about him. But, at the end of the day, art is art. It’s subjective, and I want people to be able to relate to it.
Brigid: So you made this song for a class! How did the production come together?
Luke: The song first started with just me on the piano, and then I worked with another student in my class. We talked through the intricacies of production, going back and forth with notes. After getting notes from our peers and teachers, we had a mostly finished song! After the class ended, we worked on it a bit more to get it ready for release.
Brigid: It’s so cool that class projects can lead to art. I wanted to ask a bit about your sound, and how you got to that hyperpop realm. Can you walk me through your musical journey?
Luke: Definitely. I started on Vine, posting covers and original songs. It was very laid back, just me singing at the piano. Once Vine ended, I didn’t make a lot of music. When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to get back into it. I think coming out around then had a big influence on the music direction I wanted to take. I found unity and solace in the hyperpop community, in a way. Like Charli [XCX], SOPHIE, Dorian Electra, Kim Petras… All of these queer or queer allies were making this music that was experimental, but also very pop. I fell in love with it. I started creating along the lines of that, I was really inspired by Charli’s how i’m feeling now.
Brigid: For sure. Tell me about this show you’re preparing for! Is it one of your first live performances?
Luke: It’s going to be my biggest live performance yet. I’ve done a couple shows in LA, so this is the first one outside of there. My school puts on a concert every semester, and there’s usually a student opener and a headliner. Last semester it was Zedd, but I was abroad so I couldn’t attend. They asked me to be the opener for this one. This is my first time performing with dancers, so it’s going to be a little tricky to master the choreography. But I’m excited for the challenge.
Brigid: That’s super exciting, and cool that it’s going to be in front of your peers.
Luke: Scary, but exciting. I’m used to performing for people I don’t know, so this will be interesting!
Brigid: You said you’re going to have dancers?
Luke: Yeah, I’m working with one of the hip hop groups on campus. I think six dancers.
Brigid: That’ll be awesome. I know you said you’re planning on playing some unreleased tracks, are there any future releases in the works?
Luke: Definitely! I don’t want to give away too much, but some singles and a project are in the works.
Brigid: Totally, seems like there’s a lot to look forward to between upcoming music and the upcoming show.
Luke: For sure. I’m obviously biased but I think these next songs are my best yet. I’m super excited to continue to play with that hyperpop, dance-pop sound.
Brigid: That’s really cool! That’s all I’ve got for you today, thank you for taking the time!
Luke: Thank you!
