- Words Notion Staff
LA-based artist Labit on his latest single “We Should Talk Less”, working with Amy Peters and embracing what’s coming his way.
Finding a niche in the spectrum of genres that he covers, Labit’s musical ascent is much to be admired. The multifaceted singer-songwriter, producer and artist is known for his enthralling folk/R&B productions, which encapsulate a range of melodic concepts. His latest track, “We Should Talk Less”, which came out in early February, sees him experimenting with these compositions, whilst lyrically depicting a heart-breaking love story.
As well as an impressive solo songwriting resumé, Labit (real name Stephen Ordoñez) cut his teeth writing and producing for others. From BYRNE and Jaira Burns to Emei, Labit remains unfazed by the various sonic paths of his fellow artists, leaving a distinctive mark on their music. He’s also one half of Balcony Weekend: a lo-fi pop powerhouse duo who’ve released multiple EPs to great acclaim.
“We Should Talk Less” is a gloomy spectacle, but thanks to its folk-pop nature, the instrumental has ethereal tendencies that illuminate his melancholy verbiage. Accompanied by visuals with an autobiographical narrative, the track drifts masterfully between sombre R&B and contemporary balladry. We spoke with Labit about his new single, working with Amy Peters and embracing what’s coming his way.
You’ve released two singles this year already, “bad4you” and your most recent “We Should Talk Less”. Is this song about a particular situation or relationship?
It is! Thankfully, I’m in a much better headspace now than I was back then (and I hope she is too), but I wrote it at the end of a long distance situationship that was pretty emotionally taxing. It was one of those things where nothing terrible happened and nobody was to blame, but it was clear that we weren’t right for each other. It’s those situations that actually make ending things harder.
You released this single alongside a captivating music video. Can you talk to us a bit about the visuals? How do you go about transferring the lyrical message of your music into both an audio and visual experience for your fans?
I have to give a lot of the credit to the wonderful, creative mind of Mara Whitehead. I’ve been blessed with not only working with her and Raleigh Gambino (who has an amazing and creative eye as well as a DP), but also getting to know them as friends over the years. They are incredibly talented. Us all having such a close relationship personally played a huge part in portraying the song visually because they understood where I was at emotionally. We wanted to convey what a breakup feels like in a minimalistic kind of way to lean into how raw those feelings are. I’m proud of how we were able to portray the loneliness and emptiness of heartbreak without the visual feeling empty.
You’re four years into your music career and are a talented multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter. How did your musical journey begin?
Thank you! My musical journey began as soon as my high school volleyball journey ended. I got cut from the team as a sophomore and decided that I liked playing guitar and writing songs better anyway. So, naturally, I started a pop punk band with my friends…
Was it a lightbulb moment when you realised you wanted to be a full-time musician?
I think I knew it for a long time, but didn’t really know what that would look like for me. I dropped out of college as soon as I had the opportunity to tour. And ever since then, I’ve just been figuring it out. My music career has evolved in so many ways since that first opportunity, but I’ve been finding solace in writing for Labit and as a songwriter in general.
You’re currently working towards the release of your debut album ‘i bet it’s all a dream’. I read that it’s going to be a soundscape of R&B-esque, chill contemporary pop. How do you fuse all of these sounds together? Does the fusion speak to your own musical inspirations?
I’ve realised that the work that I’m most proud of usually comes when I have zero expectations and when I stop comparing it to other songs. That’s kind of how I ended up with such a wide soundscape to this upcoming album. A lot of the time, I focused on writing first, and whatever direction I felt like it was supposed to lean production-wise, I really leaned into it afterwards.
What themes can we expect throughout this project?
The title sums it up perfectly – ‘i bet it’s all a dream’. The overarching theme to the album is on both sides of that coin – positive and negative. There are songs about heartbreak and how numb it can feel to the point where you question whether it’s real or not, and there are songs about new love and all of the possibilities it brings. There’s a string that connects the polar opposite feelings.
Since starting your solo music career you’ve collaborated with artists such as BYRNE, Bad Feelings, Amy Peters, and lots more. With every artist you’ve collaborated with, what lessons have you learnt along the way?
I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of incredible artists both as an artist and a songwriter/producer. I’ve learned that everyone is talented and you can learn something from everyone. And that there’s enough space in music for everyone willing to share their truths and talents.
What’s your favourite part about working with new artists?
My favourite part about working with new artists is the very first part of the session. Most of the time, it’s basically just hanging and getting to know each other and good conversation. It makes the song better when you have a genuine connection with the people in the room. Giving a f*** will let others give a f***.
What music are you currently listening to? Are there any artists or playlists that you can’t get enough of at the moment?
I’ve been really loving Omar Apollo, keshi, and SZA to name a few. To be completely honest, sports podcasts have been filling my time in car rides recently. Sometimes a music cleanse is needed.
And lastly, what’s next for Labit? With your debut album scheduled for release this summer, perhaps a tour to go alongside? Festival slots? A headline show?
We’ll see! I’m open to whatever this album brings me, whether that’s playing live or an entirely new project. I’d love to start playing these songs live once it’s all out. But going to let this dream bring me my next one.
