After spending the past few years pursuing her acting dream and making a name for herself in the second largest film industry in the world, Nollywood, with starring roles in films such as Three Thieves (Netflix) and Dark Room, British Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress LUCIANNE (formerly known as Luci Monet) is back and excited to kick off 2022 with some new music under her own newly formed independent label RIV Records. The exciting new afro-R&B single from the East London native is titled ‘MORE’ and it is the first taste of Lucianne’s forthcoming comeback EP titled Becoming.

Written by Lucianne, produced by burgeoning Nigerian musician Majeek, ‘More’ is an infectious afrobeats-leaning R&B offering with lush pop sensibilities that sees Lucianne waxing lyrical about an online attraction that she desperately wants to take offline. The song also comes with a fitting virtual reality themed music video directed by Doyin Ajakaye for Simplicity Studios that explores the line between a fantasy online world, where Lucianne gets to be with her online attraction, and real life, where it’s all in her imagination, begging the question whether the virtual world can ever actually become our reality.

Speaking about the inspiration for ‘More’, Lucianne says, “‘More’ is inspired by something I’ve been through and an experience I think many others have as well, with so much of our lives being online. I was really into someone that I always saw online, and I just knew that if I ever had the chance to have him in my life then it’d be all good, but I only really saw him online and was always yearning to take it offline. The song speaks about loving on someone from a distance for such a long time, that you now need more than that. It is one of my favourite songs and I hope it gives us all the courage to go for what we want”.

Lucianne sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I was about 8 years old and I actually thought everyone could sing, I didn’t know that I had a special talent until we went to a family friends house and she started singing. Everyone there was like “oh wow you can really sing, your’e voice is so amazing” and in my head I was like ‘but wait, I can do that too’. Then I sang and they were like “oh wow your so good too” lol. That’s how I found out that what I had was actually a gift and not everyone has it. That was all I needed to start pursuing music, just that knowledge of having a gift that other people did not have was what sparked my love and interest for music.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

Definitely Beyonce, she has set such a huge standard that I can’t help but be driven by. I’d love to work with BUJU and also Wizkid, I absolutely love Normani and would love to do something with her too.

3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the corona virus pandemic?

Luckily for me, I was still on my break from music during the pandemic. I was pregnant with my son so I wasn’t really performing or releasing music at the time thank God. But I do know a lot of other artists who really struggled during that period with not being able to access studio or live performances etc.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Universal. My roots are RnB and even though I sing afrobeats it is fully laced with RnB riffs and harmonies and tones. I have been able to create my own universal afro-RnB sound.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Winning Best afrobeats act at the RBE music awards and also when I was in one of my previous music groups, we tried out for The X Factor. After our performance, Simon Cowell pointed straight at me and said “You, I want you”. I went hot immediately, and I could feel my group members eyes burning into my face. I can imagine they must have been thinking “Girl you better not ditch us” lol. We had always said as a group no one would separate us, so I ended up saying that I wanted to stay in the group. They ended up putting us through to the next stage, but we didn’t make the round after that. That experience gave me the confidence I needed to know that I was just as good if not better as a solo artist.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Stay consistent and strategise. Success doesn’t happen by chance, you have to work and plan for it. Figure out your end goal and then figure out the steps that you need to take to get there. Is it a music video? A debut single? Ask yourself what results do you want from it and then do what it takes to get there. Research, strategise and plan, never leave anything to chance.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Yes, Fireboy DML. I am really loving his direction. He is in his own lane and I love that, especially his track ‘Tattoo’.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Mine lol I am listening to my own unreleased work at the moment and working on improving it every day.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I love acting, I am actually part of Ashley Walter’s drama school, ‘Kingdom Drama’ and when I’m not doing music, I’m either spending quality time with my husband & son or working on my acting craft.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

1. Internet connection -  I have so many melody and references in my mind and sometimes I need to hear where it came from and without internet connection it’s a problem.

2. Water.

3. Personal songbook.