LEW understood transformation as a vital practice. After taking her first steps in the industry as a young teenager, she carved out a path as a country singer, building a solid career within a genre that, over time, stopped feeling like her creative home. For years, she followed a mold that wasn’t truly hers, guided by external voices trying to define what she should be, how she should sound, and what she should represent. However, in 2023, after leaving her record label, she embarked on the most authentic and challenging journey of her life as she sought to discover her own identity.

In that creative silence, a personal voice re-emerged—confident, experimental, and deeply honest—leading her to embrace a bolder musical identity that blends electronic pop, sensuality, humor, introspection, and a renewed understanding of what it means to be vulnerable. “Too Sexy to Be Sad,” her new EP, is the synthesis of that entire journey.

We sat down with LEW to discuss this artistic rebirth and the project that came to life after a year of radical changes. She also shares with us why she believes vulnerability is a form of power and which dreams she plans to pursue in this new stage of her career.

This EP was born from a year of radical changes in your life, with moves, emotional shifts, and an artistic breaking point shaping its creation. At what moment did you clearly feel that you needed to transform not only your sound but also the way you relate to your art?

There was a moment during one of my last concerts as a country artist where I thought, Hm. I really loved this kind of music at one point… and I’m not sure if I love it that much anymore. It was bittersweet to step away from something I had poured so much energy into building. Changing genres, changing my name, and moving across the country - it felt like starting completely over. But I knew it was the right move, and I’d do it all again. I don’t think we give ourselves enough room in this industry to evolve. I’m really glad I did and that I took the time to.

You mention that for years, you felt you had to be “digestible.” What exactly did that mean for you creatively, and what ultimately pushed you to break away from that belief for good?

I got into the industry when I was still a teenager. I knew I loved music, but I had no idea who I was yet. I was surrounded by people telling me what they thought was best for me, and it felt safest to listen, even when it didn’t feel fully authentic. I was still making choices that were me, but I was holding back. I always wanted everything to be 10x more experimental, weird, or unique. A lot of inner work and meditation helped me realize: this isn’t fully who I am. And that’s okay. Giving myself grace has been important—especially knowing how young I was when I got signed.

You’ve said that after leaving your label in 2023, a stronger, more confident inner voice emerged. How did that awakening influence the way you wrote and produced this new project?

After leaving my label in 2023, it felt like my throat chakra completely activated. It was a wild experience. I wanted to sing and write and talk nonstop. I let that excitement and passion lead the direction of the project, and I didn’t hold back. It felt so good to finally say what I wanted to say and - especially with the music video - visually execute ideas I’d had in my head for years but had been too scared to bring to life.

You name this new chapter “Too Sexy to Be Sad,” a provocative phrase that turns vulnerability into power. How did you arrive at this concept, and what does it represent for you emotionally and artistically?

I was writing with Liv Miraldi and Mike Robinson. Liv walked in and said, “I don’t know why, but I keep hearing the phrase I’m too sexy to be sad.” And I was like, “Oh my god—that’s exactly how I’ve been feeling.” It felt cosmic, like the phrase had been floating around waiting for us to grab it. I knew pretty immediately that song/phrase was going to spearhead this project. I just got home from two months on tour and sure enough that was the tank top that everyone wanted at the merch table...the one that said "I'm too sexy to be sad!" I think it activates a sense of humor while also dealing with a very real, true theme like depression.

Could you tell us what “Wait On Me” represents for you and how you built such an intense, sensual sound without falling into clichés?

“Wait On Me” is a fun song about not always wanting to make the first move. It’s that feeling of: You’ve been staring at me all night. I don’t bite. Come talk to me. Mike Robinson and I wrote it together, and his instincts and production really kept the song feeling fresh. I’d been listening to a lot of bass-heavy pop and dance music, and he steered it into that world so incredibly effortlessly.

“Boring” and “Too Sexy to Be Sad” have an empowering energy, with strong electronic and pop elements. What was the creative process like for these two tracks that, while different, share the same declaration of strength?

Creating with Mike is so fun. He usually starts with the craziest beat or sonic hook you’ve ever heard, and it makes it easy for me to drop into whatever emotion or vibe I want the song to have. We did a lot of toplining—melodies first, lyrics after. I usually write lyrics first, so switching that order really opened up strong, unexpected melodic moments across the project. That was really fun for me as an artist to explore different ways to create and how it can completely change the trajectory of the song. I think it immediately let us access hookier melodies, which was really cool.

“Phantom Limb” is the most laid-back track on the EP, though it still has movement. What emotional story supports this song, and what role does it play within the project’s overall journey?

I love “Phantom Limb.” It’s about being years removed from a relationship and suddenly thinking, Why do I still think about you? while also trying to convince yourself you don’t. It’s the quiet, human moment on the EP - the listener’s peek into the sad side of Too Sexy to Be Sad. The other tracks feel more confident, and this one shows the underbelly.

You’ve mentioned that vulnerability doesn’t weaken you; it connects you. What do you hope people who listen to this EP will feel, learn, or recognize in themselves through these songs?

This project was truly the alchemy of going from being in a swag-less era to getting my swag back. I hope anyone listening feels a burst of energy - even for just three minutes - to dance in their kitchen or hype themselves up getting ready for a night out. I wrote it while pulling myself out of a period of doubt and low self-belief. I literally had to look in the mirror and say, Wait…I’m way too sexy to be this sad. I want anyone in the trenches to feel joy, confidence, or even just a small step forward. Your sadness isn’t weakness - it’s your superpower. When you wrestle it and turn it into power, that’s where things get interesting.

Looking ahead after this artistic rebirth, what do you dream of for this new phase of your career? What limits or “boxes” would you like to keep breaking in your music and in your personal path?

I’ve never been so excited for what’s ahead. I want to keep breaking down genre, gender, and emotional walls. I just built a playlist of inspiration for my debut album, and it has everything - rock, pop, R&B, folk, rap. Some days I want to dress like Adam Sandler; other days I’m hyper-feminine. One day, I feel unstoppable, the next I’m full of fear. I want to keep diving into those dualities and remind people that this is what makes us unique and powerful. There’s so much pressure to have one consistent brand or be one thing all the time, but your power lies in your duality. You can be all of these things and still be one person. Your brand is your soul. I hope my music keeps encouraging people to be vulnerable in a world that’s feeling more disconnected by the day.

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