[INTERVIEW] LMST Talks New Single “Satellite:” Meet the Man Behind the Music

Deshalia Murray

I had the honor of sitting down with LennyMakeSomething or “LMST” amidst the release of his new song “Satellite.” The song is a slow paced, groovy track with a vibe perfect for rainy days or late night walks. According to LMST, the song’s meaning is ”encouraging everyone orbiting in their daily lives to find their own answers,” something we all can relate to. Along with famous production team VYD, who has produced music for artists such as.  PLAVE, Yugyeom, and Kang Daniel, the song is worth the listen. 

LMST, who lives a “normal” life as an office worker during the day and makes music by night, is making a comeback since his last single “Before Sunrise” (feat. LEAFY). He has been making music for over five years and doesn’t see an end in sight. Speaking with him not only gave me a lot of insight into his life and goals as an artist, but I could also see how happy he is sharing his music. He is a humble artist with the goal of expression rather than seeing this as a job. In our interview LMST opens up about his journey and how “Satellite,” a special project, came to be.

As someone who lives both a normal and an idol life, is there any point the two intertwine? To be more specific, Do you take musical inspiration from your daily life or do you keep those two parts of yourself completely separate?

I believe that my ordinary self and my LMST persona each take up half of who I am. In my ordinary life, I’m quite rational and calm. On the other hand, as LMST, I become emotional and very bold. By setting up these two personas, I feel like I can judge myself more clearly and show more possibilities, which makes me very satisfied. At least for now, these two personas are creating a synergy.

I really enjoy observing things and thinking about what meaning they might hold. Whether on the bus, subway, or in a café, I quietly watch people or objects and capture them in photos or videos. At the end of the day, I have a habit of reflecting on how my day went and what meaning the events of the day might have had. I also make a habit of jotting down and recording these thoughts. Most of my song titles and lyric ideas seem to come from these notes. In other words, it’s like a treasure trove, a bundle of inspiration.

Since “Satellite” and its lyrics are linked to our daily lives, is there a particular part of your life that inspired you to become an artist? 

I’d like to emphasize the genius side of having innate talent, but the truth is, until not too long ago, I was just an ordinary person who loved music. However, I did enjoy being in the spotlight, singing at talent shows and school festivals. Judging by the fact that I often sang at weddings at the suggestion of people who remembered me, it’s clear that I had a strong love for singing and music.

After leaving my first job, I opened a multi-space venue that combined coffee, food, and cultural programs. A portion of the profits was invested in indie musicians and directors making diverse films. While directly planning the cultural programs for these three spaces, I was deeply inspired by many artists struggling to pursue their dreams. One day, I came across a sentence in my diary that read, “What is my dream?” That single line was enough to ignite something that I had kept hidden inside. Around that time, in the midst of a heartbreak, with the help of those around me, I released my first single, NO FANTASY, which was the direct beginning of my journey as the artist LMST.

Currently, I work as a sales director at an IT company. My days are extremely busy, filled with strategizing and executing plans to persuade people, but still, I have no hesitation in transforming into LMST once the sun goes down. And, like Spider-Man, the transformed me becomes bolder, more creative, fun, and even sexy... Yes. Somehow, there’s an inexplicable charm.

And I plan to continue making the kind of music that this version of me wants to create. In this process, the balance between my main identity and my alter ego might shift, but I want to convey my various facets in an honest yet sophisticated way, in tune with my evolving life and the passage of time. I’m confident that the stories embedded in my music will resonate with the self-portraits of ordinary people who hold dreams in their hearts.

You worked with “vyd” for this album and they have produced some amazing music. Can you give us a little insight into the process of creating this song with them? 

Since VYD is a talented team that has already worked with major artists like Kang Daniel and Yugyeom, I approached the collaboration with a mindset of learning from them. We had many discussions and spent a lot of time thinking about and exploring new musical styles that we could try out.

Throughout the process, we communicated openly and shared a lot of ideas about the song. As a result, we were able to create Satellite, a song that both the VYD team and I are extremely satisfied with.

What makes “Satellite” stand out/different from your other music? 

This song was a completely new challenge for me. I tried to move away from my usual singing style and focused on singing as calmly and comfortably as possible. The process was unfamiliar and not easy. There were moments when I wanted to give up, and I even thought that this song might not suit me.

However, as I wrote the lyrics, I grew more attached to the song. I started to believe, “I’m the one who can convey the meaning of these lyrics accurately” and “I’m the one who can bring this song to life.” So, I practiced and practiced again. As a result, I was able to create a song that I’m truly satisfied with and proud of.

What are some goals you want to accomplish and what are goals you did accomplish with this release?

The first goal I want to achieve through Satellite is to have LMST recognized worldwide and for many people to enjoy my music. I have an ambitious goal of Satellite being streamed over a million times on global platforms like YouTube Music or Spotify. Based on that, next year, I hope to hold solo concerts, even if they are small, both in Korea and abroad.

The goal I’ve already accomplished is successfully attempting and delivering a song with a calm vibe like Satellite. There were a lot of challenges and difficulties during the process of making this song, but overcoming them made me feel like I’ve grown as an artist.

And another thing—I’ve begun to think about how to spread the word about LMST with people like you and started sharing myself and my music with people all around the world!

Through his words and his music, LMST is an artist with an amazing vision and who has a passion for spreading his love for his art to fans. Please make sure to check out Satellite below (and his other work while you’re at it)!