Q&A: Celebrating The End Of An Era With Limbo
In the most full circle way, Limbo and The Luna Collective meet again to celebrate the conclusion of this chapter for the musical artist. The melodic and playful yet dream pop sweetness that lingers throughout Limbo’s mix of hip hop with lo-fi has brought happiness and favorite tunes to many people, and is the kind of music you play when you want to start a day off with playful energy or bring a little upbeat optimistic energy into your day.
Listening to “Airplane Mode” brings a lot of exciting nostalgic memories from those first few notes immediately. If you haven’t heard “Airplane Mode,” I promise you that you already have. The viral song not only spread but inspired an era of music that is still being progressed now. Looking back at 2018 when lo-fi indie with hints of hip hop beats coming to a rise, Limbo had already been ahead of the game with previous releases like “Tired,” a more slow yet sweet R&B indie track. And that sound is definitely still being made and worked on, but nothing beats Limbo’s tracks.
After being in one of our first issues, Limbo has since produced and released to her heart’s content and now is retiring the Limbo project. She’s made music since 2013 and creating is truly part of her, and it won’t ever stop. Moving forward the creative has other plans in the works and won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Her relationship and bond with her listeners won’t ever change, and she’s excited to bring them with her on the next journey.
Check out our playlist curated by Jess and read down below to read about some of Limbo’s favorite moments, what’s next for her and what she hopes to see in the future.
LUNA: Your time putting music out as Limbo has been filled with many releases, events and memories - I’m sure it’s bittersweet to close this chapter. What did you like most about performing under this alternate identity of sorts?
LIMBO: Looking back at everything I've put in and out as Limbo has definitely opened my eyes to how many years of blood sweat and tears has gone into it all. This moment alone is definitely one of the biggest moments of my entire life and it feels very bittersweet because of all that I'll miss, but all that's cherished at the same time. I don't know if I could put my finger on just one thing I've loved most about it all, but I'd say some of the biggest highlights were being able to meet so many incredible people along the way, and to learn that my music could help heal others in the process. Music is the number one way I heal my inner self and I really feel like I was put on this planet to help people in some way or another so in the almost 8 years of doing this I was able to do both?? It's a win on all sides and my heart can rest happy.
LUNA: Looking back, is there a concert or live performance that stands out the most to you?
LIMBO: Each show I've played has such special meaning to me but the top three goes a little something like this:
0. One of my biggest shows when I was just starting out was at a place called Milk Bar in San Francisco. It was a pay to play so I was asking all my friends, family, and strangers on the street to come to the show and have a good time. I sold enough tickets to make probably $10 from the cut but I was just excited to play more than anything. As soon as I was about to go on I noticed no one I had invited showed up except for my parents and my friend Matt and his ladyfriend. I made some sort of remark before starting like "thank you to the three people I know here for showing up, it means the world to me..and for the rest of you guys, thanks for being here and supporting independent artists who just want to play some tunes. Here we go!" and then started playing, dancing around the stage, and acting a fool in my cat mask. This was the first show I tried singing IN the mask and realized 'yeah, no, that's not gonna work'. I had such an incredible time, I even remember what I wore; a homemade white limbo shirt, white pants, and lightup knock-off yeezys. After the set, I got to talk to Matt and express how bummed I was that no one showed up. He encouraged me that night to never give up no matter who does or doesn't show up, and that music is a part of my soul that I can't abandon. His words meant more than most and I carried that all throughout my endeavors because Matt was the wisest soul I had ever met - period! 2 years ago Matt passed away from cancer but I feel him around me sometimes and have strived to continue to make the dude proud. I promise, Matt!! I'm not giving up! Just growin' up :)
1. New York at the Mercury Lounge: it was my first tour ever that I booked entirely myself and this show was so insanely memorable because of the line of people out front (never EVER thought i would see that in my life and genuinely thought they were in line for some other show that might have been happening?? idk??) and on top of that I was able to book my friends to open for me which was also ridiculously fun and cool to play a show with the people who have inspired and supported me all these years. Another reason it was amazing was that everyone there was SO present and (i hate to sound so corny but) the energy was indescribably perfect. People singing along, journalists from blogs there to do post-show write ups, a&r's from major labels even showed up to watch me strut my stuff. I remember feeling on top of the world, that was a stage, and soaking it all in. Pretty sure I almost cried during the set but held back til the airport ride to the next location
1.5 Chewing Foil. I won't go on & on about this one but it was hands down one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of. Was my first ever hosted show and it was f*cking amazing and if you were there to showcase your art, play a set, or just be there to experience the whole thing, thank you for being there - you know how wild it was and the legend of CF will live on forever. To the guys of that blip in time: I love you and you all inspire me more than you ever could imagine and I always felt so cool hanging out with you all. Stay based.
2. Union in Los Angeles - I had just moved down to LA after a really terrible 2 years, looking for a fresh start in a familiar city. I moved into a temporary living space with my dog which was a laundromat that was somehow legally converted into an 8 "bedroom" 1 bathroom living complex. Again, I have no clue how it was legal but it definitely shouldn't have been. lol. ANYWAY! While I was living there, I drove past Union and it displayed that Ryan Hemsworth had a show coming up within the next couple weeks. I thought to myself "whaaaat cinco de mayo hemsworth show? hell yeah I'm going to that........wait...what if I could open for him? haaaa no way that's ridiculousss.....is it??? idk.......okay f*ck it I'm sending an email" so I went home, opened up the laptop, and wrote out a proposal for me to help open the show. Got an email back saying they already had openers but were willing to pay me to open-open. I was uh, as the kids say it, shook and called my friends and family because they all knew what a huge inspiration Ryan was to me in my years of learning how to make electronic music. The dude is a legend. Long story short, when I opened there were hardly any people there but I was on cloud freaking nine and afterwards got to chat with Ryan and tell him how grateful I was and was later offered to release a single on his label which to this day is one of my biggest peaks in my career. This is basically a huge shoutout to Ryan Hemsworth for being a genuine, kind, and humble human being to offer such huge things to such a tiny artist. I appreciate you for being such a great person and friend in and out of the buiz.
3. The hometown end-of-tour show in Napa, California. Although I'm not FROM from Napa, I always tell people I grew up as an adult there because I really feel like I did. I've moved to and from so many places in the Bay Area and all over California but Napa is where I call home because of how much I grew with and alongside the people and places there. I've played lots of shows there, some favorites being the house shows put on by Zak and the crew. The one that I'm mentioning here though is the last show I played on my tour in 2019. My friend Connor owned a hair salon called Vibe and since Napa is late to the nightlife game, it was the perfect spot to hopefully convert into an underground venue for a night. It was a success to say the least and by far one of my favorite shows of my life because all my friends were there, people who listened to my music who were from other cities had drove out, my parents were there, and we had turned the entire place into a neo-Tokyo themed space, including a make-your-own-mask station, and a video game corner where people could play old PlayStation games if they wanted. It was a complete dream come true and could not have been possible if it weren't for my close friends and family there. I love you guys so much - really more than you'll ever understand and I'm so grateful for your endless support and kindness throughout the years of knowing you. Thank you for being some of the coolest people I've ever met in my life.
LUNA: What are the top three lessons you’ve learned during your time as Limbo?
LIMBO:
Believe in yourself, even if you feel like no one else does. Keep going.
Run the industry, don't let the industry run you.
Creating your own "brand" or "buiz" from scratch is hard as f*ck; but possible. The time it all feels worth it is years and years down the road. As long as you don't give up, you'll see it and be able to taste all the sweetest fruits of the trees you grew when you were just a kid. I hope that makes some sort of sense lol!
(yep I'm adding another) Sit down and be f*cking humble. Stay close to your friends and family who were there for you from the very start. Period. Stay. Grateful.
LUNA: Why is collaborating with other creatives so important to you?
LIMBO: Creating things with other artists is crucial because as much as everyone loves to do their own thing, it's important to widen the spectrum and view of what other creatives are doing out there and finding ways to work together to make each reality / vision come true. Working with others helps build a dynamic of balance and structure and can help people grow closer to one another while also boosting them in the right direction of success and support. Big ups to the people I've worked with because it has been nothing but pleasant and I am eternally grateful for all the shared experiences and songs and visuals we've created together. Keep rockin' in the free world :,)
LUNA: Which project was your most vulnerable? What lead to you releasing it?
LIMBO: Goooooooodness this is tough because I feel like everything I've put out has been pretty disgustingly vulnerable haha. I'll throw one out there and say that the album "Lonely But Never Alone" was up there for Top Vulnerable Limbo Moments. I had just gotten out of an abusive relationship that lasted way too long, and was kind of trying to get my footing back in the real world while also trying to stabilize my music and give it a good foundation. I was in a place where I had lost friends over this relationship because of how isolated I was, and ultimately I had lost complete sight of myself and self worth. Hate to go on about it but I was destroyed and really had to put myself together piece by piece. A lot of the tracks reflect what I was feeling and going through at the time; Sadness, anger, confusion, longing...I'd say the most vulnerable track on the album is "Rather" which plainly states that there's no need to say the things that I'd rather hide, no need to do things I've done I'd rather die..I remember sitting on my bed on the floor of this laundry-mat-living-space, sobbing while recording the lyrics I had just written. The first demo take of this song still leaves me in tears because of how much pain I was in. That poor girl. I still feel for her, but have grown so far past that version of myself and have lived and learned and loved hard and strong and am finally back in a good place where I love myself, love my life, and love the people who are in it.
LUNA: In addition to expressing yourself through your music, you’re extremely talented with visual arts as well. What do you like about being able to combine these interests together?
LIMBO: I really love video editing and I've always been super into film photography, I took it all four years in high school and continued to play with it once I graduated. That kinda lead into experimenting with online editing programs and making little video clips of road trips my friends and I would go on, etc. Basically making longer more intense versions of TikTok's long before TikTok had taken over the world lol. I wish I could share some of these videos but a lot of them show my face and are quite embarrassing :-) another mystery that will forever be, but anyway! I really like being able to combine visual aspects with my music because I have an intense "vision" for how I hear and see things in my mind and when I really hone in, I can knock it out and surprise myself with a final product. It's really satisfying to be able to put something out and be like "I did that! All of it!". The latest one I was and am super proud of was my song and video for Almost Human. I had written and recorded the song in a day on Instagram live, then a few days later shot and edited the video all in one morning. Stuff like that really gets my little artistic heart pumping.
LUNA: It’s a really interesting time in the music industry and I’d like to think that there’s been some positive changes for inclusivity and supporting artists. What are some changes you’d like to see in the upcoming years?
LIMBO: *big sigh* Yeah, the music world has made some major changes. Some for the absolute best, some for the absolute worst. It's a give and take kinda thing but being on the frontlines can really be an awakening to the reality of it all. As far as support and inclusivity goes between artists: AMAZING. I am forever grateful for the chances I've been given to meet and support the creative human beings I've met from the internet or shows or events. You guys are my freaking heroes because it takes a lot of guts to fight through the bull in this industry but we're all here doing it. As far as changes go, I would really love to witness the destruction of corporate status :-) period. However that may be, I think status runs almost every visible and invisible industry on the planet, but in the arts...that sh*t needs to be burned down. It's makes my stomach sick to know that some of my close friends are stuck in 6+ year contracts (AKA handcuffs) attached to label and "higher ups" who own their rights, music, and creative freedom. They quite literally sell people the dream of riches, fame, and success and then completely flip the table once the contract is signed. It's a travesty and I'm glad I was able to wake up before it was almost too late for me. I sat with almost every major label and was fed the same sh*t from the same gold plated spoon in each meeting. I had stars in my eyes before I had to snap myself out of it and remember the reason I create music and art - for just that. The music, and the art. Beyond that is a corporate game and I just don't believe in it. Also..would love to see women dominate the production world sometime soon but god knows that might be a while. If you're a girl reading this and have been thinking of starting to produce; GIRL, DO IT. DON'T LET THEM SCARE YOU. YOU ARE STRONG, CAPABLE, AND ABLE. AND HOT. DO IT AND SHOW THESE GUYS WHO'S BOSS. ..... ... k thx 4 coming to my teddy talk <3 xoxo
LUNA: You’re working on creating a record label/agency etc (I can't remember the exact word you used sorry lol) to further support artists - so awesome! Can you talk a little bit more about this endeavor?
LIMBO: Yesss so this is a brand new idea and will be developing over the years for sure but the goal is to co-create a collective / label that is 100% artist friendly / non-profit. "How is that possible?" It'll basically be along the guidelines of if one eats, we all eat. I've grown really tired of watching people get screwed over by others who a) have no clue what it takes or is like to be an artist and b) want to use those artists to make some sort of profit. It's shameful and if you're reading this and are one of those people..get a job that doesn't leech off of others; you might sleep better at night. The main objective of this label will be to act like a free, supportive, school. A collective that helps each other grow and learn things you have questions about that YouTube or the internet couldn't really teach you in a day or two. Knowledge is power, and power is a great responsibility. Gotta use it wisely and for the greater good or we'll just keep perpetually going in the wrong direction. More info about the label will be pretty separate from Limbo so if you want to stay in the loop of it, sign up for the update email on my website or send a text to the number on my site.
LUNA: With the Limbo era over and some new projects on the horizon, what do you want your listeners to know about you?
LIMBO: Over the years I feel like I've really been as transparent and open as humanly possible with the people who listen to my music and support what I do. With that I feel like there's not much else to say except I do want to get the point across once and for all that I owe my entire being to those who have been here since the beginning, or even just for a few days because if it weren't for you, I would not have been able to live this life that I do and would not have even been close to who I am today. I am grateful every day - and I mean EVERY day - for anyone and everyone who has listened, tuned in, commented, liked, emailed, or worked with. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you but it sure as hell would not be as cool as it is and has been. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I promise I'll find and hug you one day. Keep following your dreams. Even if I'm not around on the internet, I'm still out here believing in you and your every move. Keep doin' good and keep on keepin' on. I've already cried while typing up this interview but this bit is one where I feel confident because of the connections I've made with people along the way. I seriously love you.
LUNA: What can you share about what’s next for you?
LIMBO: I suppose the future of me as Jess will still be kept a mystery. I really hope to separate myself from Limbo in a peaceful and respectful way so that I can cherish all that was built and created during the years, to then carry on to what's to come. If you somehow come across a project in the future that sounds a little bit like limbo...say what's up, I'll owe you a great big hug. I plan to keep making music, I couldn't stop doing that if I tried. And I mostly plan on living out my adult life how I've always imagined it. I'm almost 30 now! Which is surreal and mind-blowing for me because I still feel like I'm 21. Main goals are to focus on the future of being a homeowner, animal caretaker, future wife, future mother, and present good human being above all. I want to start volunteering more and finding ways I can help communities around me including the elderly who tend to get forgotten in our day in age. Just want to get back to the roots and find more ways to make a difference that will hopefully ripple into the universe in a bigger way. I'll be taking all the love, kindness, and inspiration I've learned along the way to fuel this energy! So thank you for being a part of it - whoever you are reading this, you have made a difference in my life. I love you! Thank you. And as always:
Peace, unity, aliens, and limbo...out ♡
CONNECT WITH LIMBO
SPOTIFY
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From Pavietra 🕊️ https://t.co/BXVgWlZud8 -
slowthai by Rosie Matheson 🤩 https://t.co/z7SDfFQ5iF
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RT @i_D: Ian Kenneth Bird photographs young punks on Polaroid: https://t.co/MKT0tMUqO9 https://t.co/a0tTl12ML5
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RT @AnOtherMagazine: #DreamHome – this isolated idyll in the mountains of Lanzarote 🌵 📸 via Nowness, photography by Clemence Blr 🔁 https://t.co/GUusdxD0cg
