Melbourne-based pop-rock artist Lucy Lorenne is making waves with her latest single, Wanting You.

Channeling 90s pop grunge with a fresh, empowering twist, Lucy blends nostalgic influences with her own modern style. From Avril Lavigne-inspired anthems to a playful tennis-themed music video, Wanting You is a hype anthem for anyone navigating love, loss, or situationships.

In this exclusive interview, Lucy shares the inspirations behind her sound, the evolution of her artistry, and the collaborative energy that brought Wanting You to life.

Nicolle: What inspired the 90s pop grunge vibe of your new single Wanting You? How did you blend nostalgia with your own artistic style?

Lucy: Like most girlies from the late 90s / early 2000s, I grew up on artists like Avril Lavigne and The Veronicas, who paved the way for female-driven, punk-influenced pop music (I even sang Girlfriend by Avril to my class when I was six lol). This sound has had a bit of a revival recently, with artists like Olivia Rodrigo and SZA blending the 90’s grunge influence with a contemporary pop sound.

When we were writing Wanting You, we wanted to tap into that nostalgia, recreating the vibe of the music we loved growing up and making it modern and relevant. Right now, we have artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan ruling the music kingdom and they’re all about empowering and hyping each other up, and I love that. I think of my songs as little pep talks you’d give yourself before a night out with your girls. It’s just a good time. 

Nicolle: The music video sounds playful and intriguing! What was the concept behind the tennis theme, and how does it tie into the song’s message?

Lucy: The music video is hot, playful, full of energy and a whole lotta fun. During the writing session for Wanting You, we actually already had the vision for a music video set on a tennis court. Not only because the all-white retro tennis fits are cute af, but also because this ‘ball’s in your court’ kinda metaphor. We had just seen Challengers and were inspired by the whole aesthetic. There’s just something dramatic and hot about the sport.

The video features myself, my band, and this all-too-familiar ‘Chad’ type character. He’s hot, he knows it, and I’m caught up trying to impress him by pretending to be something I’m not (a cute tennis girlie). Then it hits - he likes the attention, ugh! That’s the shift, I ditch the act, change into my stage fit, and perform with my band as my true self. The grand finale? Knocking him out with a tennis ball, a win for the girls.

Nicolle: How has your sound evolved with Wanting You, and how does it compare to your previous releases?

Lucy: My sound has evolved with Wanting You. I started out writing and releasing indie-folk tracks, which were for sure more mellow and introspective. Over time, though, I realised I wanted to jump around on stage more so I leaned into this kinda pop-rock production. For this release, I took it a step further by infusing grungier elements like heavy guitars, catchy riffs, and just general high-energy vibes. To describe it to people I usually tell the story of when I once had a kid at all ages show we were playing come up to me and say my music was giving badass bitch Barbie, and honestly, I’m so here for it. 

Nicolle: How has the indie music scene in Melbourne influenced your style and career as a pop-rock artist?

Lucy: The indie music scene in Melbourne has had a huge influence on my career. There’s such a vibrant and supportive music community, and that sense of connection helps us artists thrive. Being an independent musician is not easy. There’s constant self-doubt, comparison, and second-guessing, not to mention the challenges of navigating the competitive nature of the arts, being a woman in a male-dominated industry, and the pressure to be a social media content creator.

But being part of this scene offers so much in return—platforms to connect with other artists, incredible opportunities for gigs, collaborations, and, most importantly, friendship. Also! Being a Melbourne girlie means I have the freedom to express myself, both musically and stylistically, however, I want.

My style is a mix of pop-preppy Y2K vibes with this grunge band rocky look, and living here means I can dress like that all the time. The indie scene celebrates individuality, and that energy has shaped both my sound and my branding.

Nicolle: Did you collaborate with other artists, producers, or directors for this single and video? What was that creative process like?

Lucy: Yes! Collaboration was at the heart of Wanting You. I co-wrote the song with Matt Hargreaves and Josh Whitty and it came together over two songwriting sessions before we hit the studio with the whole band.

Sound engineer (and guitarist from our band) Gus Walker, led the recording process before handing it over to Ben Oldland for production, mixing, and final magic. For the music video, Matt and I conceptualised and co-directed the project together, which was shot by DOP Ben Thompson, with Tia Ackers on behind-the-scenes videography and photography. Matt then did the most captivating edit of the video and the cutest cover art design.

Collaboration is everything to me. It brings new ideas, perspectives, expertise, and creativity to the project. Working with other creatives helps bring my vision to life and helps the songs come alive. Also just being surrounded by a supportive network of artists who share the same passion makes the entire process so much more fun. 

Nicolle: What do you hope your listeners will feel or take away when they hear Wanting You and watch the video?

Lucy: The story behind Wanting You comes from personal experiences and stories shared by my girlfriends—being really into someone who’s just not that into you. I sing about those frustrations, and to me, the song is a hype anthem. It’s for all the babes stuck in a situationship, and I want anyone going through one to let this song remind them of their worth, find the strength to move on, and DUMP them! I hope my song helps with that. But really, I hope people just have fun. This track is meant to be hot, playful, provocative, loud, and lowkey, a bit of therapy. Scream it at the top of your lungs, dance, and just have fun.

With Wanting You, Lucy Lorenne has delivered a powerful anthem that combines nostalgia, self-empowerment, and infectious pop grunge energy. The song captures both the frustration and liberation of navigating messy relationships, offering listeners a chance to reclaim their worth and let loose in the process. Through her honest lyrics, high-energy sound, and playful music video, Lucy continues to carve a space for herself as a vibrant, empowering voice in Melbourne's indie music scene and beyond.

As she looks ahead, Lucy is set to take her evolving sound to new heights, with more music, collaborations, and live performances on the horizon. Her ability to blend authenticity, creativity, and pure fun ensures that fans can expect nothing less than bold, unapologetic artistry. Be sure to stream Wanting You on all platforms, watch the music video, and follow Lucy Lorenne to stay tuned for the next chapter in her exciting musical journey.

You can listen to Wanting You on all major streaming platforms and follow Lucy on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

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Nicolle Knapova is a little bit of everything. She is a freelance translator, content creator and social media executive for The C Word Mag. She loves indie music and is always browsing through Spotify to find the next amazing artist to obsess over. Her love for storytelling means she’s always writing something and she’s not afraid of any genre. Her biggest dream is to be a published author. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.