Luna Li

Last updated
Luna Li
Luna Li 01.jpg
Luna Li in October 2022
Background information
Birth nameHannah Bussiere Kim
Born (1996-10-03) October 3, 1996 (age 27) [1]
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active2015 (2015)–present
Labels
Website www.lunali.ca

Hannah Bussiere Kim (born October 3, 1996), better known by her stage name Luna Li, is a Canadian Toronto-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim rose to prominence after a series of videos of her home-performed multi-instrumental jam sessions, featuring her playing the harp, keyboard, guitar, and violin, became viral on social media. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Kim began writing music as Veins, and released the record Moon Garden in 2015. As Luna Li, she self-released her debut extended play Opal Angel in 2017. After signing to AWAL Recordings and In Real Life, she released the jams extended play, a compilation of the viral jam sessions she composed during the pandemic, in 2021. Her debut record as Luna Li, Duality, was released on AWAL (Canada) and In Real Life (in the rest of the world) in 2022.

Early life

Kim was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. [5] She is of Korean-Canadian heritage and cites her background as a major influence on her songwriting. [6]

Kim grew up with classical training in piano and violin, eventually also becoming proficient in harp, electric guitar, bass, and drums. [7] She attended Classical Music Conservatory in Toronto, where her mothers are co-directors. [8] [9] She originally attended McGill University in Montreal to study violin, but dropped out after a semester to pursue her own songwriting and to start her own rock band in the Toronto music scene. [6] According to Kim, “When I was first starting out, I thought, ‘Rock and roll is cool, the violin is not.’” [10]

Career

2014–2017: Veins

In 2014, Kim started the garage rock group Veins, the name of which came from a poem written during high school. [11] After returning from Montreal to Toronto in 2015, she concurrently attended Seneca College's one-year Independent Music Production program, graduating in 2016. [9] While Veins was initially conceived as a personal project, the group grew into a six-member live band that performed at local venues in Toronto and Montreal. In May 2015, the group's debut album Moon Garden was released on Bandcamp. [12] Though they had not reached out to media, the record received a warm reception from press and reviewer outlets. [11] [13] In January 2017, they played their last show under the name Veins. [14] According to Kim, the group had intended to change their name since 2016, partly since “everyone thought Veins would be like a metal or a dark hard rock band, which it wasn't.” [7] [11] She and her bandmates eventually decided on ‘Luna Li’, which fit the natural imagery and themes in her songwriting and production. [15]

2017–present: Luna Li

As Luna Li, Kim self-released her first EP, Opal Angel, in 2017. [16] In February 2020, Kim released a new song titled "Trying". [17] Kim released another new song, "Afterglow", in August 2020. [18] In February 2021, Kim released her second EP, titled "Jams EP". [3] Kim released a new song titled "Cherry Pit" in March 2021. [19] Kim's next single, "Alone But Not Lonely", was released in May 2021. [20]

In September and October 2021, Kim embarked on a tour opening for Japanese Breakfast. [21]

Kim released her debut album Duality , in 2022 to positive reviews. [6] [22] [23] [24] She followed it up later in the year with the EP Jams 2. [25]

She toured with Wolf Alice, opening for them in fall 2022, before embarking on a headline tour. [25]

On May 15, 2024, Kim announced her second album, When a Thought Grows Wings, with release set for August 23 by In Real Life and AWAL. [26]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Opal Angel (2017)

All tracks are written by Luna Li

No.TitleLength
1."Opal Angel"2:34
2."Need A Lil' Love"3:10
3."Star Stuff"2:57
4."Ghosting"2:37
Total length:11:18

Jams EP (2021)

All tracks are written by Luna Li

No.TitleLength
1."Cloud Castle"1:03
2."Flower"0:48
3."Baby Shred"1:49
4."Float"1:01
5."Harp Jam"0:58
6."2516"1:08
7."Staying In"0:42
8."Mirror"1:00
9."Kount Challenge"0:46
10."Fairy"0:54
Total length:10:09

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carole Pope</span> Canadian singer

Carole Ann Pope is a British-born Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose provocative blend of hard-edged new wave rock with explicit homoerotic and BDSM-themed lyrics made her one of the first openly lesbian entertainers to achieve mainstream fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shad (rapper)</span> Canadian alternative hip hop artist

Shadrach Kabango, better known as Shad or Shad K, is a Canadian rapper and broadcaster. He has released 7 full-length albums and 3 EP's since his debut in 2005. He won a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011 and 5 of his albums have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, the most short-list nominations of any artist since the prize's creation in 2006. In 2013, CBC Music named Shad the second-greatest Canadian rapper of all time. Shad hosted Q on CBC Radio One from 2015 to 2016 and hosts the International Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution on HBO Canada and Netflix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lights (musician)</span> Canadian musician

Lights Valerie Anne Poxleitner-Bokan, known mononymously as Lights, is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. Her debut album, The Listening (2009), included the singles "Drive My Soul" and "Saviour". Her second album, Siberia, which featured the single "Toes", was released in 2011. Her work has earned multiple Canadian Independent Music Awards, and Juno Awards including Pop Album of the Year for her third album Little Machines, which included the single "Up We Go", and fourth album Skin & Earth, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Lights' fifth studio album, PEP, was released in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel Halo</span> American electronic musician

Laurel Anne Chartow, known professionally as Laurel Halo, is an American electronic musician currently based in Los Angeles, California. She released her debut album Quarantine on Hyperdub in 2012 to critical acclaim; it was named album of the year by The Wire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Chamuel</span> American singer, songwriter and music producer

Michelle Jacqueline Chamuel is an American music producer, songwriter and vocalist. She has released several works as a solo artist and in partnership with others. Her works span various styles including pop, electronic, acoustic and ambient. Influenced by Imogen Heap and Max Martin, she is also known by her producer moniker The Reverb Junkie. Her recent works include music production for the film Glitter & Doom.

Elizabeth Lowell Boland, known by stage name Lowell, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, producer known for her writing collaborations with JoJo (singer), Beyoncé, Madison Beer, Hailee Steinfeld, Bülow, Tate McRae, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julien Baker</span> American rock musician (born 1995)

Julien Rose Baker is an American indie rock singer and guitarist. Her music is noted for its moody quality and confessional lyrical style, as well as frank explorations of topics including Christianity, addiction, mental illness, and human nature. She has received six Grammy Award nominations and three wins as a member of Boygenius.

Charlotte Cornfield is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has released five albums: Two Horses (2011), Future Snowbird (2016), The Shape of Your Name (2019), Highs in the Minuses (2021), and Could Have Done Anything (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beaches (band)</span> Canadian rock band

The Beaches are a Canadian rock band formed in Toronto in 2013 by Jordan Miller, Kylie Miller, Leandra Earl, and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums). The band released two EPs titled The Beaches (2013) and Heights (2014) before signing to Island Records. In 2017, they released their debut album Late Show, which led to the band winning the 2018 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clairo</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1998)

Claire Elizabeth Cottrill, known professionally as Clairo, is an American singer-songwriter. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Carlisle, Massachusetts, she began posting music on the internet at age 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BbyMutha</span> American rapper

Brittnee Moore, known professionally as bbymutha, is an American rapper. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and began her career through SoundCloud. In 2017, she rose to prominence after the video for her song "Rules" went viral. Her debut studio album, Muthaland, was released in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach Bunny (band)</span> American rock band

Beach Bunny is an American rock band formed in 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. Initially a solo project by guitarist and vocalist Lili Trifilio, Beach Bunny became a four-piece band in 2017. The group achieved widespread popularity after their 2018 song "Prom Queen" went viral on TikTok in late 2019. Their 2020 song "Cloud 9" also after went viral on TikTok in 2021.

Nat Puff, better known by her stage name Left at London, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, comedian, and internet personality from Seattle, Washington. She originally gained fame by posting short comedy sketches on Vine as well as parodies of musicians Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator, and Mitski. Since then she has garnered fame as an indie pop musician with several EPs including the Transgender Street Legend trilogy and the song "Revolution Lover". Her debut studio album, T.I.A.P.F.Y.H. was released on June 4, 2021, and her second studio album You Are Not Alone Enough is expected to be released in the near future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Tate (rapper)</span> American rapper and singer (born 1996)

Tate Sequoya Farris, known professionally as Baby Tate, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. The daughter of singer Dionne Farris, she released her debut project, ROYGBIV, in 2015. She has since garnered significant attention for the successful viral single "I Am" featuring Flo Milli and the EP After the Rain, among others. Her song "Beckham" was featured in the pilot episode of Euphoria in 2019. In 2021, she signed a record deal with Warner Records and released her major label debut single, "Pedi", on October 29, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chika (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1997)

Jane Chika Oranika, known mononymously as Chika, is an American rapper. She first garnered attention on social media before signing to Warner Records in 2019. The following year, she was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. On July 28th, 2023 she dropped her album SAMSON: THE ALBUM, which was met with high praise from various music publications and critics alike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Dresses</span> Canadian noise pop duo

Black Dresses are a Canadian noise pop duo consisting of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion, formed in 2017. Their debut album, Wasteisolation, was released independently in 2018. The duo released three additional albums, Thank You (2019), Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches (2019), and Peaceful as Hell (2020), before breaking up in 2020 in response to harassment received by McCallion. Despite maintaining their declaration of disbandment in 2020, Black Dresses has released two additional albums, Forever in Your Heart (2021) and Forget Your Own Face (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renforshort</span> Canadian singer

Lauren Isenberg, known professionally as Renforshort is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Toronto. Debuting independently in 2019 with the singles "Waves" and "Mind Games", Isenberg released her debut extended play, the Teenage Angst EP, in March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backxwash</span> Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer

Ashanti Mutinta, known professionally as Backxwash, is a Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer based in Montreal, Quebec. She is most noted for her 2020 album God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It, which won the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.

<i>Duality</i> (Luna Li album) 2022 studio album

Duality is the debut album by Canadian pop musician Luna Li, released March 4, 2022, by In Real Life Music. The album was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023.

Debby Friday is an electronic musician based in Toronto. Her debut album, Good Luck, released on Sub Pop in 2023, won the Polaris Music Prize.

References

  1. ↑ "Luna Li (@lunaliband) -Twitter". Twitter . October 3, 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-22. ✨24 today!!✨this past year has been so amazing and i've been learning and growing every single day💕🦋so grateful that i spent 23 surrounded by music and the people i love🍒❤️
  2. ↑ Hudson, Alex (May 22, 2020). "Toronto's Luna Li Is the Breakout Star of Physical Distancing". Exclaim! . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Wang, Steffanee (February 11, 2021). "Luna Li On Her Viral Jam Videos, Niche Music Memes & More". Nylon . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ Kelati, Haben (March 23, 2022). "4 concerts to catch in D.C. over the next several days". Washington Post. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Luna Li - Paradigm Talent Agency". www.paradigmagency.com. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Elliott, Debbie (March 13, 2022). "On her debut album 'Duality,' Luna Li finds a sense of belonging between two worlds". NPR . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Mughal, Alisha (January 15, 2022). "Class of 2020: Luna Li Creates Magical Worlds to Inspire Real Change". Exclaim! . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Taylor-Singh, Heather (March 2, 2022). "Luna Li Turns Viral Fame into a Blossoming Music Career". Exclaim! . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Schemmer, Cynthia (2020-11-25). "Top 5 Bedroom Studio Must Haves With Luna Li". She Shreds Media. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ Now Staff (January 22, 2020). "The sound of Toronto right now: this music is setting the tone in 2020". NOW Toronto . Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 Stainsby, A.J. (September 15, 2016). "Veins". Mick Magazine. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Moon Garden, by Veins". Bandcamp . May 29, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  13. ↑ Wright, Cody (August 27, 2015). "Veins - Moon Garden". the deli. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  14. ↑ Anderson, Taija (February 7, 2017). "[PHOTOS] CLASS OF 2017: Veins, PARTNER + MORE". Jesus’ Sister. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  15. ↑ Lopez, Valerie (November 14, 2021). "Luna Li, An Artist Enchanting the Stage and Carving Her Own Path in Music". EnVi Media. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  16. ↑ "New Single From Luna Li "Opal Angel"". Impose . Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  17. ↑ Axeman, Stephen. "Premiere: Luna Li Shares Video for New Song "Trying"". Under the Radar . Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  18. ↑ Rose, Francesca (August 2020). "Today's Song: The Multi-Instrumentalist Magic of Luna Li's "Afterglow"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  19. ↑ Moran, Justin. "Luna Li Follows Her Dreams in 'Cherry Pit'". Paper . Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  20. ↑ Harmsen, Natalie. "Toronto's Luna Li Releases Dreamy Music Video for "Alone But Not Lonely"". Complex . Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  21. ↑ Mahale, Jenna. "Toronto's Luna Li makes psychedelic music to celebrate time spent alone". i-D . Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  22. ↑ Berman, Stuart. "Luna Li: Duality". Pitchfork . Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  23. ↑ Cortassa, Guia. "Luna Li: Duality". Loud and Quiet . Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  24. ↑ Nguyen, Alex (9 March 2022). "Album Review: Luna Li – Duality". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  25. 1 2 Renshaw, David (September 21, 2022). "Luna Li shares Jams 2 EP, announces North American tour". The Fader. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ Kelly, Tyler Damara (May 15, 2024). "Luna Li details forthcoming album, When a Thought Grows Wings". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved May 15, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.