Levina Lye speaks about her work with the same clarity she brings to her songs. Her path began with a school assignment that confirmed her belief that she was “a poet first and foremost,” and that early moment set the tone for a career built on self-driven growth. In this interview, she explains how her writing begins, how her life shapes the stories she tells, and why recording remains the part of the process that grounds her. She also reflects on the release of her debut project, Pieces of Me, her push to raise her own standard, and what fans can expect as she moves into what she calls her era of truth.
What first pushed you toward writing your own music, and when did it start to feel like a true path for you?
I’ve always liked to believe that I am a poet first and foremost. When I was 12 years old, I remember submitting a project to my teacher, and it was a poetry assignment. She read through the whole thing and pulled me to the side the next day and had personally bought me a book so that I could continue writing. I never forget that moment because that was the moment I knew I was truly a poet.
Many artists pull from personal experiences. How does your own life shape the stories you tell?
My life is a story. The experiences I’ve been through honestly could have broke me as a person, but I used music to overcome them. Music has always been my safe place in a sometimes cruel world.
When listeners connect with your music, what do you hope they take away from it?
I hope that my listeners know that I am truly giving them pieces of me and my life. I know we’re all human and we often experience similar things, so I want people to feel that connection with me. I always stress that I am human, and I want people to know I’m going through life right along with them.
Honestly, I’ve always had to prove to myself that I could be one of the best at my craft. I’ve heavily leaned on myself to be the example I needed, always trying to outdo what I had done previously. I am the bar.
What part of the creative process feels the most natural to you—writing, recording, or performing?
I really love recording. I love the idea of bringing a song I wrote to life. The emotions are so pure and raw in the moment that you can really tell that I mean what I’m singing. I believe that is my biggest talent, the art of conveying emotion.
Can you share a moment in your career that shifted how you see yourself as an artist?
Completing my first EP, “Pieces of Me,” really proved to me that I had it, the gift of producing hit after hit. Every song on there showcases a different side of me, but also remains consistent in great overall production and performance.
