Luella to play Ottawa’s Dragon Boat Festival on June 22 at 8:20 pm
Luella’s soulful dream-pop sound is most notable for its catchy baselines, crisp vocals, and honest lyrics. On her new single, “Peach Ginger Tea,” Luella compares her past relationship to an ice cold glass of peach ginger tea. The idea always sounds lovely on a scorching hot summer afternoon, but after a couple of sips, you realize it’s never been all that sweet and this hot summer weather isn’t going to last forever.
“The lyrics drawback to a time when I was dating‘the perfect guy,” says Luella. “He was incredibly attractive, with a genuine kindness that stood out from others and yet I couldn’t shake the fact we lacked a deeper connection. It seemed as though we only loved the idea of each other. I felt terrible for admitting it, and spent a summer distracting myself with the newfound freedoms of my late teens, trying to find ways to romanticize the relationship I was unhappy in.”
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! My name is Liv Whitfield, I’m an indie pop musician from Kingston performing under the artist name Luella! This musical project came to fruition when I was 16 during the pandemic, as my abundance of free time finally allowed me to collaborate with my father, and now producer, Zane Whitffield who runs North of Princess Recording Studio in my hometown. Together we recorded and released my debut album, “Luna”, in November 2022 which kickstarted my career and opened up opportunities to play shows and festivals around Ontario and Quebec.
Tell us about your most recent release.
May 31st, 2024 marked the release of my sophomore album “Summer Bummer”, a testament to my final years of girlhood, capturing the bittersweet essence of fleeting summers and the complexities of first love and inevitable heartbreak. This project dropped alongside my final and most anticipated single, “Peach Ginger Tea”, a drippy summer bop that compares a past relationship to a bittersweet glass of peach ginger tea.
What excites you most about performing at the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival?
I’m very excited to be playing as direct support for The Blue Stones! They have recorded at my dad’s studio in the past and we have developed a great relationship, with Justin Tessier (drums) even playing on some of the tracks on Summer Bummer. I was also super stoked to find that my name made medium font on the festival lineup poster, a first for me as a small independent artist.
How important is it for you to play at festivals like Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, who promote Canadian music exclusively?
Playing festivals that contribute to the Canadian Music Scene is super important to me because I feel like we have so much talent that deserves to be uplifted. This is also a great way for me to connect with other artists playing the festivals as well as play in front of a new audience of local music supporters.
How do you engage with a diverse festival audience, which might include people who are hearing your music for the first time?
Although the songs I write are deeply personal to my own experiences, I think that my vulnerability speaks to a larger audience, with people being able to find connections between their own stories and mine. Especially on Summer Bummer, the topics and genres of my songs have a wide range, offering something for everyone. When I perform onstage I try to stay authentic and create a unique experience for the audience to engage with.
Are there any other acts or events at the festival that you’re excited to check out?
I’m most excited to catch NOBRO’s set! I’ve been following them on social media since that lineup was announced and I love the energy that they give, I think it would make for such a lively concert experience!
Last but not least, besides the music portion, what part of Dragon Boat Festival piques your interest?
I have never watched a Dragon Boat Race before! I think it will be super cool to take in that side of the festival.