Is it possible to be 100% yourself on social media? Pop singer Lorelei Marcell is trying to answer this question and bring honesty back to the internet. And not in the curated, relatable-on-purpose sort of way that many paradoxical social media influencers present as their brand. On her single “ANTISOCIAL,” an irresistibly hypnotic track glued together with her soulful vocals and the contrast between pop sugar and gritty electric guitar, Lorelei confronts the juxtaposition of the modern age’s overdependence on social media as a branding tool, diary, and FOMO-inciting addiction. This tug-of-war battle with an online presence is one that has only intensified as social media has become an all-consuming branch of our world. How often should you post? Is it unhealthy? Is it unsafe? Is it turning our brains into Swiss cheese while we sit and scroll through endless entertainment and trends that change as fast as we blink? It’s a juggernaut that we now face at our fingertips daily, and for artists and creators, it’s one that has become essential to building a career.
As the music industry chases after social media in search of how to stay on top of the Next Big Things, artists are doing their best to carve out their own corner of the internet. Whether we like it or not, finding a fanbase online and creating content is an added part of the job for musicians in 2022. Gone are the days of scheduled live TV appearances and edited print pieces sculpting the artists’ image. The internet is a wild, fickle, slithering thing, hard to harness and even harder to hold on to, and with it comes an explosion of mental overstimulation.
On the inspiration for writing this song, Lorelei said, “I felt like I was on a conveyor belt just spewing out random content to promote myself on an app that couldn’t care less. I love music and creating, but parts of me don’t resonate with showing that much of myself online. Also, being constantly fed the idea that ‘unless your videos or posts are going viral, you basically have no career,’ was really taxing on my psyche and morale as an artist. Artists aren’t content creators, but in a way, they have to be now.”
In “ANTISOCIAL,” Lorelei sings “Does anyone know what they’re doing here?” in an existential query that plagues a generation of youth who have been exposed to every immediate bit of crisis and information at a near-suffocating frequency. Finding your footing in this landscape is borderline dystopian. “Now every day I wake up, makeup / Wait, I’m talking to a camera,” Lorelei croons. Artists, and everyone else, are caught in the collective psyche the internet has created, where your personal brand is an extension of who you are. Of course, in music, the concept itself has existed for decades, but never has it been so important and so personal. Many fall into two extremes: posting curated, highlight-reel content that appears perfect, as if we’re watching Serena van der Woodsen embodied, minus all the gossip, versus the other end of the spectrum that sees crying selfies as no big deal, even if it means being called dramatic or risking being seen as attention-seeking. How do you find the balance? How can someone create the most authentic online persona possible, if it’s even possible at all?
When asked about finding that sort of balance as someone with a growing fanbase reliant on riding the waves of social media, Lorelei said, “Being authentic is something that I will always be in touch with. I believe that if you make good music, it will reach who it needs to reach. Continuing to write, create, and post will have its ups and downs, but learning to adapt is something every musician will have to work through if they want to be successful.”
“Posing, posting, hate what I’ve become,” the song continues. “All my friends are different since we met / I forgot they only know me through the internet.” In short, “ANTISOCIAL” presents a stark truth––any online presence can only exist as a filtered version of ourselves, no matter how vulnerable. The key is this, as Lorelei said when asked about authenticity as a musician on the internet, “Take it all with a grain of salt.”
After all, if good music is good music, it will prevail.
Lorelei answers more questions about creating “ANTISOCIAL,” being authentic, and what inspires her offline, below:
KEKE MAGAZINE: Congratulations on the release of your newest single! The lyrics and themes in this song are so great and resonate with what young people face today–navigating two worlds when it comes to real life and the internet. Was there any specific experience or moment that inspired you to create “ANTISOCIAL”?
LORELEI MARCELL: Thank you so much! There were definitely a lot of moments that inspired this song. I remembered feeling really frustrated because I felt like I was on a conveyor belt just spewing out random content to promote myself on an app that couldn’t care less. I love music and creating, but parts of me don’t resonate with showing that much of myself online. Also, being constantly fed the idea that “unless your videos or posts are going viral, you basically have no career,” was really taxing on my psyche and morale as an artist. Artists aren’t content creators, but in a way they have to be now…this song is just my inner thoughts on how I began adjusting to this new side of the music industry.
KM: TikTok has been a major point of discussion when it comes to the music industry recently. What’s your take on navigating the platform as a rising artist?
LM: Something that has really helped me with navigating the world of TikTok has been shifting my mindset about how I use it. Looking at it in a less serious light has been really beneficial. Reminding myself that it is not the end all be all to having a career is refreshing, but also acknowledging that staying active is important as it is still a great way to reach a wider audience. It is really competitive though, thousands of other artists are making similar, if not the same, content, and it ultimately comes down to the really minute differences as well as what the algorithm is favoring that day. In a way, that is comforting to be aware of.
KM: As an artist, do you consciously take social media into account when creating?
LM: In a way, you have to. Making content that is 100% authentic to you as an artist is a bit unrealistic. It’s like songwriting in a way. You have to find a balance of staying true to yourself and your brand, while also incorporating parts that give it universal appeal.
KM: Were there any specific inspirations for the sound of “ANTISOCIAL”?
LM: Yes! The producer, John Samuel Gerhart, and I wanted to incorporate some futuristic video game/phone sounds in the production to accentuate its emphasis on social media. In the post-chorus we wanted to incorporate sounds that support the song’s angsty feel as well, hence the electric guitar and real drums.
KM: How do you find a balance between being authentic creatively and being mindful of the ever-changing online landscape when it comes to music?
LM: Being authentic is something that I will always be in touch with. I believe that if you make good music, it will reach who it needs to reach. Continuing to write, create, and post will have its ups and downs, but learning to adapt is something every musician will have to work through if they want to be successful.
KM: Have you found it more or less difficult to be authentic online since doing music? Does it feel different now that you have fans that follow you?
LM: I honestly think it’s becoming easier day by day. Having fans that follow you and genuinely want to hear your story makes it easier to be authentic, I think. People can see through what’s real and what’s fake, so having a fanbase there to check in with is super helpful. I also think everyone is starting to learn that everything online is curated, so take it all with a grain of salt.
KM: Have you evolved as an artist throughout your career so far? What part, if any, has social media played in it?
LM: Absolutely. Social media aside, the biggest parts that have grown are me as an artist and my maturity and knowledge of the music industry. That in itself is better than any viral moment. I would be lying if I said social media hasn’t played a part in it though. Establishing a fanbase has been really exciting. It’s cool to have people follow your story and genuinely want to hear more with each release. I definitely have Instagram and TikTok to thank for that.
KM: On the flip side of things, pre-social media, what or who most shaped you into the artist you’ve become?
LM: I love this question. Definitely the music I grew up listening to. Artists like Al Green, Fleetwood Mac, Gary Clark Jr., Alicia Keys, and Sam Smith really helped me establish my voice. Singing covers in my bedroom with my keyboard every day was definitely some of the most beneficial moments, especially because it made me realize this is what I wanted to do.
KM: What do you hope listeners most resonate with on “ANTISOCIAL”?
LM: I hope people take away that it is okay to feel overwhelmed by social media, and that you don’t have to define yourself as an extrovert or an introvert, because those labels might make you feel even more misunderstood. You can just do your own thing.
KM: What advice would you give to listeners growing up with social media?
LM: Everything. Is. Curated. Even the “real” stuff. Also, only follow people who make you feel good about yourself. You can’t control the media as a whole, but you do have the power to control who you follow and what you see. Use social media, but use it smartly. It can be a really creative and educational place if you let it 🙂
KM: On Instagram, you use the term “introverted extrovert” in your captions surrounding this new single. What does that mean to you? How do you move through the world, both IRL and digitally, as an “introverted extrovert?”
LM: This means you are someone who gets fulfillment out of being alone and with a lot of people. The proper term is ambivert, I believe. I definitely am someone who can be alone for days, even weeks on end, but can also see people non-stop for long periods of time. It just depends. I think a lot of people can resonate with this, which is why I wanted to showcase this idea in my posts. I think being alone and surrounded by people both give me a lot of artistic inspiration, but in different ways, so being able to be in touch with both is really helpful.
KM: How does “ANTISOCIAL” play into your future album?
LM: A good handful of the songs are a bit sadder and more acoustic, so it is definitely one of the angstier, more upbeat tracks on the album. I think it adds a lot to the project 🙂
KM: What’s your favorite form of social media and why?
LM: Definitely Instagram. I know a lot of people would probably disagree, but it’s where I got my start, and I like to have fun with what I post on my grid and my story.
KM: Which artist’s social media presence do you admire most, or just enjoy most?
LM: I love Madison Beer and Sabrina Carpenter’s online presence. I feel like I’m inspired by their aesthetic. Also, Emma Chamberlain. She is just so, so cool.
KM: To end on something light, what’s your favorite way to relax and/or have fun offline?
LM: I feel like it’s online shopping, but not actually buying anything is really relaxing for me, haha. Just looking at clothes and going on Pinterest and getting photo ideas is really fun. Anything lighthearted, like communicating with hometown friends, is also relaxing.
To learn more about Lorelei Marcell and stream ‘ANTISOCIAL’ visit her website here.
Follow Lorelei on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.
