Photographer Credit: Fraser Chatham
February 24, 2023 – Today, New Zealand-based indie pop singer/songwriter Lontalius (a.k.a Eddie Johnston) releases new single “I Want, I Want, I Want” via Kartel Music Group. Produced by Jeff Kleinman (Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs), the track is a frenetic expression of queer desire built around a glitchy drum loop and Lontalius’ yearning vocals. Yesterday, the song debuted at FLOOD Magazine who said it “wears its heart on its sleeve, swept along by fuzzy melodies and an electronic drum loop that’s every bit as insistent as Johnston’s declarations of longing, his pleas tempered by indecision.”
Stream “I Want, I Want, I Want”
Watch the “I Want, I Want, I Want” lyric video
“The song is an expression of frustration and angst towards pretty much everything in life, and the feeling that the person you’re dancing beside might solve everything,” Lontalius shares. “It’s not a rational feeling and I’m sure all that angst is just projection, but I think I needed to say it out loud. I usually express myself in a more downtempo energy but it felt right to let this one go off the rails.”
Lontalius’ first release since last year’s deluxe edition of the 2021 LP Someone Will Be There For You, “I Want, I Want, I Want” is a dramatic departure from the soft lo-fi guitar-forward music he has primarily released prior. Citing influences from Jeremih and Kehlani to Elliott Smith and Wilco, the single merges Lontalius’ alt-indie style with Kleinman’s background in R&B/hip-hop production.
With over 110 million streams and 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Lontalius has carved a spot for himself in the alt-pop space, releasing his first LP in 2016 at the age of 18. To date, he’s released four EPs and three albums, plus more EPs and many remixes as his electronic producer alter-ego Race Banyon. He’s earned fans across the world with his deeply relatable lyricism that combines his experience as a young queer person with the universal experience of growing up.
The new track comes fresh off the heels of Lontalius’ run supporting nothing,nowhere through Australia, and next month, he will make his way to Austin for his SXSW debut. Showcase details to be announced.
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