Q&A: Liang Lawrence Finds Light in the Heavy on New EP ‘It’s a Funny Thing’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
AFTER RELEASING TWO EPS THAT EARNED HER A GROWING INTERNATIONAL FOLLOWING — Liang Lawrence is entering a new chapter with It’s a Funny Thing, out today. The London-based singer-songwriter has always thrived most with confessional lyricism, but this latest project has marked her most intentional body of work yet.
Crafted with producer Jon Joseph and co-writer Coby Miller, the EP was built during an intensive week-long session that allowed Lawrence to fully immerse herself in a new sonic world. The record, while focusing on playful and sunny textures, balances lyrics that wrestle with burnout, self-doubt, and the endless search for meaning. Tracks like “A Day Off in Margaritaville” and “Thoughtless” highlight her ability to balance honesty with wit, leaning on humor as a way to soften that vulnerability.
For Lawrence, the project isn’t just about catharsis, but about connection, as she invites listeners into her questions while offering them a space to reflect on their own. With headline shows on the horizon this fall, she’s bringing a new energy to the stage and is determined to present the songs in their fullest form with a live band.
We chatted with Lawrence about building It’s a Funny Thing, the balance of humor and heaviness in her songs, and what’s next as she heads into a new era. Read on for more.
LUNA: It’s a Funny Thing feels like it’s arriving at such a big moment for you. How would you describe this chapter compared to your last two EPs?
LAWRENCE: Honestly, this is the first time I’ve really felt like an artist. This project made me feel like I was creating something new and important to me. My earlier projects were meaningful too, but I was still figuring out how to be an artist. I’d just throw things into the void and hope they worked. This time it was much more intentional; how the songs were put together, what I wanted to say, and the sonic palette. I’d never sat down for a long stretch to produce one body of work. My last two projects came together over a few months, but this one was different. I worked with producer Jon Joseph and my co-writer Coby [Miller]. We went in for a week with the songs ready and just immersed ourselves in the world of the EP. It really felt like we created a little world you step into when you listen, and then step out of again.
LUNA: I love that. I’m sure by your third project you’ve learned so much and approached it differently. You’ve lived in eight countries before turning 18. Do you hear those places in your songs?
LAWRENCE: Not really in a literal sense. Moving so much gave me a need to create, because my upbringing was emotionally unstable. Writing became my solace. It’s not that I reference those countries directly or weave them into the music culturally, but the experience shaped why I lean on music. It’s something I’d love to explore more in the future.
LUNA: That makes sense. The experiences still sparked your songwriting. Let’s talk about the title of the EP. What’s the “funny thing” the record refers to?
LAWRENCE: The songs can feel heavy, especially lyrically, but by the end, you’re like, “Well, it’s a funny thing, isn’t it?” It’s a very British way of softening vulnerability. You spill your guts, then say, “It’s funny, isn’t it?” to lighten the mood. I wanted the record to feel reflective and spark conversation, but also have that lighthearted touch. You can talk about the heavy stuff, but at the end of the day, that’s life.
LUNA: Right, that balance of deep but lighthearted. You’ve said “A Day Off in Margaritaville” kind of knew itself before you did. What was the first spark?
LAWRENCE: It happened quickly. I made the whole project with Jon and Coby, and that was the only song we’d written together before recording the EP. It hasn’t changed much since—those are the original vocals and guitars from that first day. It felt like the song already existed between us, and it just fell out naturally. It was about an anxious time for me, but the song itself feels fun, which was what I needed. It showed me I could write something light and upbeat, which was pivotal.
LUNA: How do you balance light and heavy in your writing?
LAWRENCE: Humor, and just saying it as it is. I’m very upfront in conversation, and I approach music the same way. Some people find that confrontation refreshing. The EP aims to strike that balance; that’s why I struggled with the title, but settled on It’s a Funny Thing. It’s also a lyric from a track called “If It Isn’t Killing Me,” which personifies mental illness with a touch of humor. That sense of humor is how I approach life, too.
LUNA: I love that perspective. And I think humor in music is always refreshing. Speaking of “A Day Off in Margaritaville,” if you could relive that actual day off and make it perfect, what would it look like?
LAWRENCE: Honestly, the deep existentialism of that day couldn’t be changed, but I wouldn’t rewrite it because the song came out of it. That said, the pho we ordered took eight hours to arrive—it was so random [laughs]. We were stuck in this desolate spot in Oregon, it rained all day, we couldn’t bowl because the local league had the lanes booked, and when the pho finally came, it was average. I wouldn’t change the weirdness though—it made the day what it was.
LUNA: That is wild. And the pho being average is just tragic. Okay, shifting gears: “Thoughtless” feels like a burst of honesty and frustration. What headspace were you in while writing it?
LAWRENCE: I was going into a lot of sessions with new people, which can be exhausting when your songs are vulnerable. I was also struggling with guilt about not seeing my parents or friends enough, not making enough money, and writing songs that felt selfish. Then I remembered something a guy on a date once said to me: “So you’ve stopped using your brain to do music?” It stung, and it fed into that self-doubt. The song was me questioning everything—my authenticity, my choices, my purpose. The chorus is literally just, “She’s looking for something.” There’s no solution, just the expression of frustration. I still feel those questions daily, and I think a lot of people can relate.
LUNA: Exactly. Sometimes songs don’t need solutions, just resonance. Was the contrast between the shimmering, hooky sound and the heavy lyrics intentional?
LAWRENCE: Not really, it just happened naturally. Melody and lyric usually come together for me, so they dictated each other. I wrote it with Luca Caruso, and it just clicked that way.
LUNA: You’ve been on the road a lot. Has touring influenced your songwriting?
LAWRENCE: Touring actually feels like a break from writing. Life happens on the road, and I get to let the songs just exist and connect with people. Playing them live gives me a new perspective on them. It’s a much nicer way to engage than just promoting online.
LUNA: I love that. What are you most excited to bring to your autumn headline shows that fans haven’t seen before?
LAWRENCE: Energy. I’ve always dreamed of playing with a band, and we’re working hard to make that happen for these shows. Many people have only seen me play acoustically in support slots, but I want to bring the songs to life as they were recorded: with a full band and all that energy.
LUNA: Last question: what’s on your current road trip playlist?
LAWRENCE: “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette, “There’s Your Trouble” by The Chicks, something by Spacey Jane—probably “Booster Seat”—and definitely some Eagles.
LUNA: Solid playlist. Love it.
