Meet lina sounds, an indie pop loving R&B artist who’s a core member of UD’s Flames Collective. Having wowed audiences, performing alongside the likes of RAYE, Sasha Keable, Cian Ducrot, James Vickery, Hillari and more, in our new series, we go behind the scenes to get to know the Flames Collective members that make up the coolest vocal ensemble in the UK…
Who are you? hiii, i’m lina sounds pleasure to meet you. I’m a 19-year-old indie/pop/R&B artist from east London!
What do you do? I’m a full time uni student at King’s College London studying Religious Studies, Philosphy and Ethics (a mouthful I know) and when I’m not doing that I’m looking after children or singing with Flames or making my own music and releasing it.
When did you join Flames Collective? I joined in 2022 so before all the big gigs. I just wanted to find a nice neighbourhood choir to sing with as I’d recently joined a selective sixth form with very few music opportunities and that was not going to cut it at all.
Where did your journey with music start? I know it’s a generic phrase but I’ve genuinely been singing for the better part of my whole life. My earliest memory is singing those good morning songs at the beginning of class in Year 4 and I’ve just decided to develop the talent since. The past year is when I’ve decided to take it seriously after being motivated and inspired by my peers who took the same jump.
“As of right now, I’m very much pop centred… but in a groovy way. Imagine pop with an edge of black spice or I guess good rhythm? But every now and again, I like to dip into my indie core just to pay respects to my Disney roots. To say I’m at the medium between pop and R&B also wouldn’t be false.”
lina
Are you releasing music? If yes, tell us about your experiences so far.
OOO LOVE THIS QUESTION! Yes absolutely… My first EP ‘pink summers’ is out now (if you’re feeling extra kind maybe give some songs a listen I promise there’s a 96% chance you will like at least one song).
My experience… gosh golly that was hard and excruciating! Who told me to release a whole EP with no plan (no management, no label and no money AKA the big three) on the basis of a whim? But we’re here now and I can definitely say it’s been the biggest learning curve… And to see people support you, despite how bad you think you’re doing is so heartwarming and rewarding. Being able to say I released an EP without the big three at nineteen is extra cool and I can’t wait to turn 25 and think… wow I did that.
Who are your musical influences?
My love is loud for Amie Blu, Leonie Blu, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Malcolm Todd, Rio Rainz, Della XOZ, Billie Eilish. Not to mention on the R&B side we’ve got Kehlani, Sasha Keable, Odeal. I mean the list goes on…
Where do you find your inspiration?
In terms of songwriting, I write like I’m narrating my streams of consciousness which are probably meant for journals and such but I like transparency for as long as I delude myself into thinking that no one is actually listening, like right now as I type this.
In terms of melodies and crafting beats with producers, I bring up tracks usually from my musical influences on the indie side and see if the vibe of the tune can be captured through the beat. The vocals I add bring the R&B aspect to it sometimes purely because of the music and the people I grew up around, but it all depends on the beat. A key thing however is actually just living life. Can’t really write about anything if you’re not outsideeeee!
Biggest lesson you’ve learnt while navigating the industry?
Everyone says they don’t know what they’re doing… BUT IT’S A SPECTRUM and I’m tired of people claiming the extreme end of it. There I said it. A key unpopular opinion that I’ve been holding in for quite some time. So, if you’re an artist with artist friends that you ask for advice and they tell you they don’t know what they’re doing, meanwhile they have over 1,000 monthly listeners and songs successfully pitched to Spotify or lots of radio play (especially on BBC Introducing)… My friend, I have something to tell you. With that being said, I’m not on the extreme end of the spectrum as I can confirm I know the basics after a crash course summer with this EP release BUT I’ve definitely still got loads more to learn.
Can you give us a personal highlight from your experiences with Flames Collective?
Wow, where on earth do I start? Here goes another stream of consciousness: Royal Albert Hall, the BRITs, All Points East, Reading & Leeds festival, MTV EMA’s, the O2 all with RAYE not to mention other amazing artists. HOW GREEDY! Even besides the glam of it all, words are not enough to describe that feeling of awe you get when you sing beautifully with a vocal powerhouse like Flames. It makes you forget everything mundane about life, leaving only the moment of pure harmonic bliss. Just going to pat myself on the back for that line, my eng lit A Level is finally useful.
Favourite thing about UD/ Talent House?
A community dedicated to creating a space for the empowerment of black music? I mean I’ve been signed up!
“Without UD, my EP ‘pink summers’ or my first single ‘who i wanna be’ would cease to exist because who actually has money for studio time these days. The answer is not me… naturally.”
lina sounds
Tell us something random about you – a hobby, secret or something we might be surprised by?
I’m ridiculously transparent so this is hard… I have a deep love for clubbing but only with the right people and the right music (aka afrobeats, amapiano, UK/US Rap and the odd pop song). I also don’t drink just for fun mostly. I just want to see how many years I can go without conforming to the culture. Also recently discovered I have two learning difficulties so ‘hey’ neurodivergent gang hope you’re having a great day! Hopefully at least one of those things is new information for you. If you knew all of them, cash in your free hug from lina sounds by the end of this year.
Is there a dream event or stage you’d like to perform on?
Dreams… Such a fickle thing. I’m a realist (borderline pessimist but we’re working on it) so I’ll start with the near possibilities. Any stage hosted by BBC Introducing would be extra cool, maybe even The Great Escape since it seems like an indie pop hotspot. On the more idealistic front, Ally Pally would be really cool since that was the first concert I’d been to where I was in the crowd. But hey who knows what will happen?
@linasounds_ can guarantee it’s a good song to listen to x #whatareyoulisteningto #streetinterview #fyp #newmusic #pop ♬ original sound – lina sounds ????
How do you define success as an artist?
The moment I’m able to live comfortably with an abundance of savings and investments in global shares as a result of numerous bangers is a key moment of success. In other words, the day I can stop deluding myself into thinking I’m built for a 9-5 job for the rest of my time on Earth is the first step. Currently, the Hannah Montana lifestyle is not at all sustainable despite how glamorous it is so if that moment of success could arrive in the next 10 or so years that would be great.
Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?
Preparing for the last year of suffering at uni. Music wise, the answer is always going to be more songs but separately more solo gigs since it’s something I’m still becoming familiar with.
“This is a personal message for BBC Introducing please stop reading: BBC Intro please notice me x I know I live in London (the most oversaturated city ever) but I promise my music is actually kinda good, you know it… I know it… let’s stop playing with each other. Thank you.”
lina sounds
What’s next for you?
A needed holiday after the release of an EP I didn’t plan ahead for. Obviously more wonderful music, perhaps leaning more into the R&B side who knows? I’ve got quite a few songs in the locker so maybe I’ll have a vote for the next release after a well deserved break
Where can we follow you?
If you’ve read the long-winded ADHD type answers and you’ve for some reason decided to follow me, I’m pretty much lina sounds everywhere (the lowercase is important for graphic reasons if anyone was wondering). Instagram is my home and my handle is lina.sounds.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Help a girl escape the 9 to 5 route and maybe stream her music (pretty please?) promise it’s good (I’m biased) Also do that task you’ve been avoiding for days! And no I’m not a hypocrite, just an amazing artist actually.
@linasounds_ ‘nineteen’ ???????? written and performed by me <3 https://on.soundcloud.com/B3nGmvZ83FNuKyF17 creds: guitarist – @Jai video editor – doesn’t have TikTok ???? but their IG is bowicat lyricist/vocalist – it’s me haha ???? Thank you so much for the love on all the covers but I decided to finally put out smth original that tells you more about me in a nutshell while we wait for the debut single. I’m so excited for this journey I’ve deluded myself into taking ???? I hope you guys enjoy it! Even if it goes nowhere I’m just so glad I have something to show for my passion. I decided to make this mini interlude about having no clue what I’m doing especially during this tough period of adolescence but I’ve realised that people should just start doing the things they wanna do instead of being paralysed by the horrors of the unknown. So what if I have no idea how to be a ‘real artist’? I’m literally only nineteen I have so much time to figure it out ???? This is just the beginning… debut single in June stay ready ???????? #ComingOfAge #lina #independentartists #acoustic #indie #friends #singersongwriter ♬ original sound – lina sounds ????
Words: Interview co-ordinated by Orobosa Okundia-Best on behalf of Flames Collective. Find out more about Flames on their official website HERE. Want to see Flames LIVE this Christmas? Buy a ticket here today!
