NYC-based singer-songwriter Logan Avidan recently unveiled her new single/music video, “Left My Heart,” a track from her forthcoming debut solo album, Hot and Bothered.
Speaking about the song, Avidan shares, “‘Left My Heart’ is about not putting limits on yourself. No matter what situation you are in in your life, the only way to make a change or achieve something will come from taking risks and leaving your comfort zone. Diving into all possibilities. Everyone seems to be concerned about the ‘right’ timing, the ‘right’ way, the ‘right’ thing to do. Letting go of these worries and going all in will make you feel the most free. It’s about leaving that heavy weight behind and taking that risk.”
The song’s genesis occurred while Avidan was on a plane. She immediately recorded a voice memo on her phone to keep the idea from escaping. When she landed, she sang it to co-writer and producer John Eatherly, who banged out a chord progression on guitar. Ninety percent of the song was recorded in Avidan’s apartment, followed by finishing the song at Sisserou Studios.
Eatherly’s no stranger to taking pop gems over the finish line. He’s handled drums on tracks for San Francisco dream-poppers Cults, Caroline Polachek’s Chairlift, guitar for Eleanor Friedberger, is chief songwriter for swaggering power pop foursome Public Access T.V., and he’s a current member of indie garage rock outfit, Be Your Own Pet.
Highlighted by Avidan’s haunting, melancholic vocals, “Left My Heart” delivers an authentic mashup of what Avidan says is “girl rock and pop music.”
CelebMix caught up with Logan Avidan to discover how she got started in music, the evolution of her sound, and her creative process.
“Left My Heart” is a powerful debut! I love the production and lyrics. How does it feel to put yourself out there as the solo artist it seems you always intended to be?
Thanks so much! I’m so excited to come out of the gate as a solo artist. There’s so much I’ve been working on over the last few years that I can’t wait to share. I’ve grown a lot into the person and artist I am now, and it is only fitting for ‘Left My Heart’ to be my first foot forward.
The song is off your upcoming debut album, Hot and Bothered. What can you share about the album?
‘Hot and Bothered’ is coming in 2024!! The songs all together feel like the most honest thing I’ve ever made, with a touch of nostalgia from my Blockbuster era. I literally remember being in line at Blockbuster Video, asking for quarters for the bubblegum machine, renting these PG-13 movies that made me excited to grow up. The fantasy of adulthood was just so enticing to me.
Where and when did you first connect with your producer/co-writer, John Eatherly?
John and I met in NYC a few years ago. We were both living in the east village. ‘Left My Heart’ is the first song we made together in 2022 and it sparked the beginning of a creative collaboration.
How did you get started in music?
I come from a family of writers. I remember being a kid and going through an old notebook of poems my mom wrote when she was in college. The first writing I ever put music to was a poem my mom had written. That sparked the beginning of a new love – writing. I got my first guitar when I was 15 and started learning some of my favorite songs. That led to me writing my own.
Would you say your sound has evolved naturally, or have you deliberately pushed yourself in any certain directions?
I’m always trying to push myself into new, unknown territories. I started as a teenage girl in my bedroom with my acoustic guitar. When I moved to NYC the world opened up to me and I’ve been soaking it up ever since. I am forever a student!
What inspires your writing? Do you draw inspiration from poems, music, or other media?
A lot of my inspiration comes from books I read, movies I watch, or conversations I have. To me, songwriting is a form of storytelling. And words are very powerful. Sometimes it’s just one word or feeling that sparks up an idea for a song.
What can you share about your writing process? Is it a cathartic experience?
My writing process is definitely a cathartic experience. It’s my therapy. Whenever I’m feeling hung up on a feeling or a person, I just write about it. It’s a place where I dig up past experiences and present emotions. Sometimes subconsciously, I write about a feeling that I’m going to feel in the future. Almost like manifesting my future reality.
Which artists in your opinion are killing it right now?
Faye Webster, Pretty Sick, Ethel Cain, Mel4ever, Lolo Zouai, Blu DeTiger, and Liza Anne are a few artists that are in my opinion killing it. They each tap into something unique, and their live energy is incredible.
What can your fans look forward to over the next six months? More music videos? Live gigs?
Yes!! Following up my first single, I’ll be releasing more music videos and announcing upcoming shows before the album is out. I can’t wait for this new chapter.