Images / Abi Polinsky
CD + Styling / Phil Gomez
MUA / Rory Alvarez
Hair / Isaac Davidson
Photograph assistant / Aj Kyser
In dialog with Phil Gomez
Paul Klein, the artistic pressure behind LANY, has at all times poured his coronary heart into his music. However after a near-death expertise and a interval of intense self-reflection, Paul’s creative imaginative and prescient has developed. On this unique dialog, he opens up in regards to the transformative energy of vulnerability, the inspiration behind his nostalgic sound, and the thrilling new ventures that lie forward.
Phil: I simply discovered that you simply needed to evacuate due to the LA fires, what have been among the objects you took with you?
Paul: Um, yeah, the one two issues I believed to seize have been this guitar that John Mayer gave me, and a small protected that I purchased about 5 years in the past. I simply put little issues that imply one thing to me in it, and people are the one two issues I grabbed.
Phil: I can’t even suppose what I’d seize, in that immediate if I used to be in that state of affairs.
Paul: I went upstairs and checked out my closet for like 10 seconds. I used to be like, what am I presupposed to do? Decide my favourite pair of denims? It was ridiculous. And it was so sudden, too; we weren’t ready. I believe some individuals who have been nearer to the fires had began to arrange and take into consideration what they’d seize in the event that they needed to, however to be trustworthy, we couldn’t have been additional away. I actually suppose somebody undoubtedly began the fireplace the place we have been.
Phil: You talked about we had a few temporary encounters, and one in all them was your accident. Did your perspective on life shift after that?
Paul: Yeah, I imply, I believe in like a thousand other ways, most likely, and a few that I nonetheless haven’t absolutely found but, however um, my first feeling, waking up within the ambulance, was actually, like ‘God loves me.’ Like, uh, like I’m presupposed to nonetheless be right here. I felt very grateful. I don’t understand how else to say it. The man requested me to maneuver my fingers and toes, and I might. Once I realized that, I used to be like, ‘Thanks, God,’ actually. Um, and I believe that’s given me a sure sense of confidence, really. I really feel extra assured in who I’m and what position I play right here on earth, and um, it’s given me, like, an excellent higher sense of goal.
Phil: I like that. Has your artistic course of modified? Is there extra intention in your storytelling?
Paul: I believe so. I don’t even know if I can take credit score for it. I’ve simply seen that I’m a greater artist and particular person, however I don’t wish to take credit score for it. I really feel prefer it’s one thing that’s been gifted to me. The songs that I used to be writing after the wreck are higher than those that I used to be writing earlier than, and I don’t know why.
Phil: I imply, particularly together with your music, whether or not it’s with LANY or every little thing you’ve put out earlier than, it’s simply so nostalgic. It takes me again to highschool, in my room, crushing or heartbroken over my “best love.” I’m curious to see how your music evolves. Since most of your music captures that second of nostalgia and feels very youthful, and on condition that Paul Klein in 2025 feels extra grounded and mature, I’m questioning if these themes of heartbreak, love, loss, and lust are nonetheless going to be a part of it?
Paul: I believe so. Writing about love is the good factor you would ever do. I don’t know, I by no means get sick of exploring it. I imply, each single one in all us is born with this need to be cherished and to like. It consumes us. We’re all obsessive about it. Should you say you aren’t… effectively. I’m unsure how mature that’s, and even what it means to be mature in songwriting, however the music that I write is a snapshot of the place I’m at presently in my life. And as I proceed on my journey, hopefully the songs journey with me.
Phil: I like that. Yeah, your songwriting and lyrics are very private. Is there ever a line that you simply gained’t cross? Do you ever really feel like one thing is just too private to share, or are you simply an open e-book?
Paul: I believe I’m an open e-book. I don’t have something I’m tremendous ashamed of or embarrassed about. All of us have much more in frequent than we notice, so I discover that being susceptible permits us to attach manner simpler and higher than faking it.
Phil: True. Um, is there a lyric that you simply’ve written that also resonates with you or a lyric that you simply, like, it’s form of like a mantra for you?
Paul: We now have this track referred to as “Alonica” on our final album. Alonica is a made-up place—we outline it as a spot inside your self, the place being you and having you is sufficient. Once I was youthful, I’d look outdoors of myself for validation as a substitute of inside. Alonica is that place the place I’m alone and joyful, not unhappy. It’s a spot of paradise, not ache. The second verse says, “Darling, I’ve lastly settled in.” I’m form of writing to myself within the track. “The water’s good for a midnight swim. It’s paradise. The celebrities and I are catching up like previous buddies. My coronary heart is studying learn how to love once more.” I went by means of an expertise in my life the place I felt betrayed by some individuals I actually trusted. I felt like I wanted to tighten my circle and maintain myself slightly bit. That verse explores the thought of discovering therapeutic by your self versus looking for it in any person or one thing else. I believe that’s a giant second that all of us finally get to in life, the place we study to be slightly self-sufficient in that space.
Phil: Proper. I imply, RuPaul says it finest, “Should you can’t love your self, how within the hell are you going to like any person else?”
Paul: I’ve at all times stated that as effectively. Yeah, RuPaul is a prophet.
Phil: No. I imply, it’s true. How can you give love, consolation, and peace whenever you don’t have that in your self?
Paul: Yeah. Lots of people will search for it in any person else, and so they simply gained’t be capable of discover it, ?
Phil: So, I do know you journal. What was your final journal entry about?
Paul: Ooh, um, excellent. The thought can be to do it each morning, however typically I don’t have the time. So, uh, yeah, I simply uh, sit in my yard and I journal, and oftentimes there shall be sure issues that I do know I wanna write about that I’ll preliminarily discover within the journal first to see if there’s sufficient meat on the bone, if you’ll, on that concept to see if I can go and write a track about it.
Phil: I suppose your songs are a manner of publishing your journal, however would you ever take into account letting your precise journal be a part of your visuals?
Paul: Probably, if there’s nothing in there that’s too damaging.
Phil: Do you ever take into consideration releasing any solo songs?
Paul: No, as a result of I simply really feel like, um, I don’t know if I care an excessive amount of about being a solo artist. I’m unsure if I’m keen on that. I really feel so linked to LANY and the position I play in that house. Um, we’ve constructed one thing actually particular, actually. Like, every single day it’s brick by brick, and I don’t wish to—I wish to be a great steward of that. I don’t care to, like, pull a Brandon Flowers, despite the fact that Brandon Flowers is superior, however I simply don’t care.
Phil: I imply, typically when you will have that synergy with somebody, the artwork simply brings you a lot extra depth, and also you’re capable of bounce backwards and forwards.
Paul: Yeah, undoubtedly. I’m actually fortunate and joyful to be in LANY and never simply Paul Klein, I suppose.
Phil: What’s one thing that you simply really feel the individuals who have grown with you and adopted you, um, and the band, nonetheless don’t learn about you?
Paul: Mm. I’m positive there’s lots they don’t learn about me. I’d prefer to suppose that I’m an ever-evolving, complicated particular person, and, um, yeah, there’s one thing cool about not telling all people every little thing. I don’t know if everybody must know every little thing about me. I’ve obtained to deliver slightly thriller again.
Phil: Is there one thing about your self—as a persona, artistic, or artist—that you simply really feel you’re clear about, however that you simply don’t suppose individuals see?
Paul: I don’t know. I imply, probably not. I believe it’s attention-grabbing that we’ve offered over one million tickets around the globe and we’ve by no means been nominated for something, like ever. I believe it’s form of attention-grabbing how we’re like the most important band that you simply’ve by no means heard of. Perhaps at some point we’ll get our flowers, nevertheless it additionally doesn’t matter, ?
Phil: Proper, typically—particularly with this oversaturated tradition we’re in—it’s good to be slightly beneath the radar and simply do your individual factor. I imply, you’re not a secret; individuals know the music and the story. However typically it feels extra important, extra particular and real when it’s solely the individuals who actually get it that admire it. On the similar time, we put ourselves on the market—not only for recognition, however as a result of it’s a part of the artwork kind. And it’s good to be validated.
Paul: Yeah, it’s. However yeah, I suppose that’s one factor that after the wreck, I’ve fully let go of — the issues that I can’t management. I believe I used to carry on tightly to some stuff… and to not get too corny, however my dad has ridden bikes his entire life and he simply at all times informed me individuals get actually damage after they brace for affect, after they maintain on to stuff. And so I simply bear in mind squeezing a break, however then additionally remembering on the final second to totally let go, and I believe that most likely helped me.
Phil: I like that, it offers me chills.
Paul: Yeah, so I’ve undoubtedly let go of the issues I can’t management—like somebody’s opinion of me, or whether or not they suppose our music is worthy of an award. I don’t fucking care.
Phil: And that’s when all of it comes collectively.
Paul: Yeah
Phil: You discuss lots about—and we form of touched on it slightly bit—love and heartbreak. Love is a giant muse of yours. Do you consider in soulmates?
Paul: I undoubtedly suppose going by means of life with somebody is best than going by means of it alone. I believe it’s the most important, most essential resolution you make on earth—the place you determine to spend your life. Everybody ought to be tremendous choosy with that call and never rush to make it, and make it for your self and no person else.
I consider in love, however I don’t suppose there’s just one particular person for everyone. That methodology would simply disintegrate instantly—the domino impact can be complete chaos. However I believe there’s somebody on the market for everyone, in fact.
I believe you can also make it work with anyone, actually. And a few individuals do. Some individuals make it work with the unsuitable particular person, however they simply make it work.
Phil: With all your music and storytelling thus far, and every little thing you’ve been by means of—and you’ve got a variety of music coming forward—what’s on the bucket record? What else do you wish to discover or experiment with? Are there any tasks that we haven’t seen you do earlier than?
Paul: Yeah. I actually like garments. I’ve at all times been obsessive about them. I’ve at all times had a shoe downside—manner too many footwear. Rising up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, particularly again then, vogue wasn’t precisely a predominant export, however I used to be obsessive about it. I’d love to begin my very own line, and I’m working in direction of it proper now. We now have an amazing little merch enterprise, with LANY and I’ve at all times designed the merch that we put out. It’s simply been enjoyable for me. Previously, we have been form of compelled to print on no matter inventory Gildan or Consolation Colours has accessible. I’ve at all times been slightly bit annoyed about placing our designs on these forms of blanks. So, for the final three years, I’ve been engaged on making my very own clean firm, and we’re now printing on these blanks that I’ve made. I’ve chosen the patterns, the cuts, the silhouettes. I simply would love to offer artists, firms, and folks around the globe with another, but reasonably priced, choice to Gildan or Consolation Colours or something like that.
Phil: That’s tremendous cool. What would your assortment appear to be?
Paul: Proper now, we have now a zipper hoodie, a hoodie, and a crew neck that we simply finalized final week. We additionally finalized the T-shirt. Ultimately, we’ll get to lengthy sleeves, and I believe it might be nice to offer individuals with good colours to print on, or only a nice washed black or pure black. It’s all in regards to the match and really feel of these blanks.
Phil: What would that model be referred to as?
Paul: It’s referred to as EMPT. We’ve simply began rolling these out and have been capable of do it in Australia on tour. We’re about to do a Valentine’s Day merch drop and we printed all of it on EMPT.
Phil …the place vogue has at all times been easy for you; you’ve at all times had this cool form of fashion, so I can see how that may result in you doing greater than vogue.
Phil: What was the very last thing you bought?
Paul: Nice query. I’m actually into 424 proper now. Guillermo is the artistic director, and it’s one of many first manufacturers I’ve seen shortly the place I’d stroll within the retailer and wish to purchase half of what’s on the rack, which is superior. I did simply purchase my first runway piece from Celine: simply this black leather-based jacket. Clearly, I like classic, in fact, however in terms of newer issues, 424 is my favourite proper now.
Phil: What was the final classic merchandise you bought?
Paul: It could’ve been an Oakland Raiders cheerleader T-shirt that seems like tissue—that’s how delicate it’s. Or subsequent, I’ve obtained a pair spots in LA that I’ve really refused to inform anyone about as a result of I simply don’t need anybody competing with my pull there. I refuse to inform anyone; we’ve gotta deliver again gatekeeping.
Phil: I respect that! So, for those who needed to describe your sound with a scent, what scent would that be?
Paul: I like that query. Let’s go together with one thing like Palo Santo. I really feel prefer it’s not essentially seasonal, so it really works year-round. It’s additionally a good looking scent; once I stroll into a spot and scent it, I really feel like somebody has put a variety of thought into it.
Phil: I often have Palo Santo in my equipment. It’s an amazing scent. We referenced RuPaul earlier, and it is a query I at all times take from her: Should you might return to your childhood self, what would you inform him?
Paul: I’d simply say to him, “Simply wait.” I felt actually missed my entire life, very missed. And um yeah, like I believe lots of people who I grew up with are most likely fairly shocked at the way it’s turned out for me. I didn’t have anybody actually in my nook, to be trustworthy with you. So there have been a variety of occasions the place I felt fairly remoted and not sure, , form of doubted myself, however I’d inform him, “Simply wait and see.”
Phil: All proper, that’s nice recommendation, particularly these days after we’re simply oversaturated with every little thing. We wish that immediate gratification however typically you simply should let life… life…
Paul: Precisely.
Phil: And that takes endurance and time.
Paul: I’m probably the most impatient individuals on the planet, and it’s one thing I’m attempting to get higher at. Yeah, I’m so impatient, however that’s one other factor I’m studying submit wreck—simply studying to be affected person. There’s a lot in life you may’t management, so that you simply should let stuff occur and wait.
Phil: Paul Klein is happiest when?
Paul: Within the studio. Writing music.
Phil: Paul Klein feels the sexiest when?
Paul: He has been going to the health club constantly and weighs lower than 180.
Phil: Paul Klein is at peace, largely when?
Paul: Sitting on his sofa, smoking a joint. (laughs)
Phil: Interval. Is there something that we missed that you simply wish to inform LADYGUNN and your followers?
Paul: Simply needed to say thanks for having me. Um, nice shoot, nice group. And, uh, yeah, love you all.
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