Q&A: D’Lourdes is Bringing Broadway Discipline to the Rock Scene
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
WITH A BACKGROUND ROOTED IN THE HIGH-STAKES WORLD OF THEATER AND BROADWAY - Brooklyn-based D’lourdes brings a level of "diva-grade" drama and athletic dedication to the stage that sets them apart from the standard indie circuit. Their sound, a high-voltage intersection of Paramore’s grit and Olivia Rodrigo’s pop sensibilities, captured the internet’s attention when "How Did You Get So Good?" went viral, but it’s their live show that has turned them into a local staple.
Whether they’re channeling the "angstier" side of their Filipino-American queer identity or leaning into the bold, abrasive energy of their latest tracks, D’Lourdes operates with a "game on" mentality that leaves no room for hesitation. As they prepares for the upcoming All My Friends showcase, they aren’t just looking to play a set, they’re looking for a "sweaty, passionate, sexy explosion of emotion."
We caught up with D’Lourdes to talk about their theater-to-rockstar pipeline, writing lyrics without judgment, and why anger is just as important as joy on the dance floor. Catch D’Lourdes at Sony Hall on April 29th for All My Friends Vol. III, alongside Monobloc, Beau, Catcher, and Mer Marcum, hosted by The Luna Collective and Bands Do BK.
LUNA: You were raised in Texas, and now you’re a staple in the Brooklyn scene. How does the energy of a New York crowd compare to playing back home in Texas?
D’LOURDES: I’ve actually never played a show in Texas before! My time there was before I even knew I’d be pursuing a career in music, so I couldn’t say what the difference would be, but I’m hoping to find that out within the next year.
LUNA: Your background is in theater and Broadway. How does that dramatic training translate into your "rockstar presence" when you’re fronting a band at a venue like Mercury Lounge or Arlene’s Grocery?
D’LOURDES: So much of theatre training is tapping into presence — unlike film and TV, you have to communicate a story to people all the way in the back row of a sometimes 1,000-person theatre, and I think concerts have that same demand. How can you deliver the same show, the same feeling, to everyone in the crowd? It’s important to me to try and make sure that everyone gets the same experience and heart from me, regardless of where they are in the audience. I also think fronting a band is one of the most dramaaaaatic professions in the world; it’s DIVAAAA as F*CK, same as Broadway. Broadway performers are also the most athletic, skilled, and dedicated people I know and I respect them so deeply, so I try to bring the same dedication to my craft as well.
LUNA: You’ve mentioned that your music sits at the intersection of Paramore, Alanis Morissette, and Olivia Rodrigo. Which of those influences feels most present in your latest album, You Get It or You Don't?
D’LOURDES: Olivia, because there’s pop ballads that the other artists don’t cover—BUT I’m also saying Paramore because of the sheer proximity to Hayley Williams. Her latest solo release, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, is very akin to the alternative sound my project taps into.
LUNA: "How Did You Get So Good?" went viral on TikTok almost immediately. How has that digital success changed the way you approach writing new lyrics or engaging with your audience online?
D’LOURDES: The virality of that song came from what I consider to be the most unserious lyric in my discography, so really the only thing that it did for my writing specifically was remind me that you never really know what people will cling to. Honestly, it’s not really up to the artist to decide, even if you try! So I write without judgement. In terms of interacting with people online, the amount of interaction was overwhelming and scared me away at first, but it is such a rare opportunity to be in direct contact with people who connected to something I made as an artist. It’s certainly something I keep as a priority and one of my favorite parts of doing what I do.
LUNA: Your live shows are described as "full out and unapologetic." What is the most important thing you do to prepare yourself mentally and physically before hitting the stage?
D’LOURDES: Physically it’s soooo much water for days before; it's the number one priority. Day of show, it really is just maintaining a calm “game on” mentality. Pep talks are a real thing for me—the typical “you got this, you prepped, you know wtf you’re doing,” etc. I’ll do whatever physical and vocal warm-ups feel applicable on the day, but before the show I will always make sure to have some moments to breathe and get grounded and let myself get excited. It’s all about finding that tight flow between freedom and focus for me (my theatre is showing). On paper that all might sound intense and extra LOL, but I just love this thing more than anything in the world so I really try to keep it sacred.
LUNA: As a Filipino-American queer artist, how does your identity shape the stories you choose to tell in your songwriting?
D’LOURDES: I think it empowers me to lean into the “riskier” stories, which really just means me being more honest. Like everyone else in the world, my perspective and experience is completely unique, and even if I tried with all my might to be the best possible version of someone or something else, it would be super whack and realistically fall short. For a while that feeling of not having that inherent “mainstream appeal” shrank me, but now it just empowers me to lean into the bolder choices. Lyric-wise it probably makes me angstier; production and performance-wise it makes me braver.
LUNA: Who have you been listening to lately?
D’LOURDES: I’ve been running Donuts by J Dilla every day; I'm obsessed with it. Other top in rotation lately is Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams, 22, A Million by Bon Iver, Ready To Die by Notorious B.I.G., and LUX by Rosalía.
LUNA: For this upcoming NYC show, is there a specific song in your set that you think perfectly defines who D’Lourdes is right now?
D’LOURDES: "HEY!" — it’s rock and pop, a bit abrasive and odd, full of energy and attitude. The band murders it too (as they do with everything else).
LUNA: You’ve played iconic spots like Sultan Room and Mercury Lounge; do you have a "bucket list" venue in NYC that you’re dreaming of selling out next?
D’LOURDES: Bowery Ballroom and Webster Hall.
LUNA: What can the fans who are coming out to this specific show at the end of the month expect from your performance?
D’LOURDES: A sweaty, passionate, sexy explosion of emotion. Equal party and rage, cause anger is equally as important as joy right now. At the very least I’ll be leaving everything I got on the floor, and I hope the crowd does the same <3
