LP Giobbi

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LP Giobbi- ’Piano House Queen

Interview conducted on October 30, 2020

By Dan Locke

LP Giobbi is the forward-thinking, boundary-breaking artist disrupting dance music today. Widely known for her bass-rattling house beats and electrifying live performances, the Oregon-born, Los Angeles-based legend in the making is a “creative multi-hyphenate” (Billboard): an inspirational producer, DJ, label owner, curator, music director, feminist, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed Piano House Queen. Since first breaking into the scene in 2018, she’s become one of the fastest-rising artists in dance music, with both Billboard Dance and Your EDM anointing her as an emerging artist to watch.

How did you discover music?

I was raised by deadheads so music has always been a part of my life. I have vivid memories of gathering around my dad’s record player on Sundays while we listened to the Grateful Dead or any record from their massive record collection (my mom used to manage a record store in her 20’s so their collection is huge and priceless.) My mom took me to many concerts in the womb so it was really part of my life since inception 😉

What was your first performance like?

I started piano lessons in 2nd grade so my first performance was a piano recital where I hacked out twinkle twinkle little star or something.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

Under the Covers. I wrote it in college (lyrics and piano) and it felt like it came out of somewhere other than me. it was wild. I ended up recording that song with the first band I was in but it never got released.

You study at U Berkeley; how did you get the idea of mixing dance music with your classical jazz piano?

I really went super far away from Jazz when I first discovered dance music. But while touring with Sofi Tukker, Tucker suggested I add a piano into my set to jam over some of the dance tunes. So that is when I started slowly combining the two. Now most of my tacks have piano and I use a lot of my jazz music theory to come up with the chords that make up my piano loops.

How often do you play piano while on stage?

Pretty much every time. If I have a gig in a club then I may not bring the piano, but if touring with a live act who plays on a stage then I definitely bring it!

How did you get together with SOFI TUKKER to create FEMME HOUSE? And why did you decide to do it as an educational project?

Soph and Tuck have always supported and encouraged me to empower women however I can through music. I co-founded Femme House though with a longtime friend Lauren Spalding (I started a publishing company, record label and touring party called Animal Talk with Sofi Tukker.) It wasn’t until I heard Grimes produced her own records that I even thought I could have the role of the producer. It’s hard to become what you don’t see so I knew I wanted to create a supportive environment for other women to learn and empower themselves

How was it to have your single “Meet Again Ft. Little Boots” named Today’s Dance Anthem on BBC1 Radio by Mistajam?

Mind blowing.

Tell me about your newest single “Take Me Higher”

Hermixalot gave me that vocals years ago and I have been trying to make a track good enough for it ever since. It finally came together this year after making one high energy, more proper piano house version (Scuff Your Soul) and then a more melodic, journey of a version in Take Me Higher

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

Touch of Grey by the Grateful Dead. I never got to see them live yet that song makes me feel nostalgic for something I never experienced.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine? Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

I have found myself musically. Before the pandemic i thought I had to make big energy tracks. But when the pandemic hit it felt weird to make bangers. So i leaned into my jazz piano side and worked on finding beautiful chord structures and more meaningful song structures that have more of a journey to it. The music I’m making now finally feels like me.

One of the things you’ve been doing during this time is creating a thing called LP Giobbi’s House Hymns live DJ sets every Saturday, where you play positive, joyous, uplifting house music. How did you go about starting this?

When the pandemic hit, I was feeling pretty lost and confused and scared (I lost 52 shows in a few months.) So, my partner reminded me that every Sunday I used to listen to music with my family growing up instead of going to church. He said “those are always your favorite memories to share with me.” so I thought I would continue the tradition to help heal myself and was hoping others would feel the same way.

How is your parents shuffle dancing coming along?