5 minute read
RADMILA LOLLY
When did you start singing?
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When I was growing up, I always heard my mother singing songs she composed herself around the house, which sparked my own interest in music. However, her style of voice and mine were very different, and I wasn’t comfortable to just improvise like she was. That led me to begin my formal vocal training at age 14.
And designing clothes?
Since I was little, I was always very picky about what I was going to wear; even at a very young age I made it very clear to my mom what I was going to wear and what I wasn’t! I liked to take my mom’s scarves and tie and pin them on myself like fancy dresses. I also always wanted to be dressed similarly to her; whenever she would wear pink, so would I. When it comes to my design skills, I learned to sketch outfits from observing my mom working as a visual artist; she is a painter. Her mother (my grandmother) was a seamstress by trade and the skill was passed down through the family to me, which allowed me to create the designs I was sketching.
Had you ever seen anyone combining their music with their fashion designs in the same show?
I personally have not attended or heard of one.
What is the most important thing for you regarding any clothing?
Accessorizing and matching styles and colors. I approach my music and fashion in a similar way; to me, an outfit is like a score of music. It needs to have an overall aesthetic, theme(s), and motifs. For example, if I am wearing pointed toe shoes with stiletto heels that are very angular, then I will continue that geometric idea by pairing them with a similarly angular purse, instead of a round one. To me this is like a repeating motif in a piece of music.
What fashion advice would you give to women?
I would like to tell women to not be afraid to be unique and express themselves through their clothing. Clothing is like a language, it gives you an opportunity to connect with people who find what you’re wearing is interesting, or have similar style and interests to you. At the end of the day, people will always be judging us no matter what we do or wear, so you should wear something that shows who you are truthfully. If I had only $100, and walked into Forever 21, I wouldn’t just buy basic items to mix and match; I would buy items that catch my eye and are unique, that show who I am as a person.
You only design high end very dressy clothes. Would you ever consider designing casual clothing?
I actually don’t just design my couture line; I dress a lot of pop/hip-hop musicians for performances in casual avant-garde clothing. I also design all of my own clothes, not just the gowns. I will create casual looks for my clients if requested; however, even when an outfit is more “casual”, I put my own spin on it. If I design a pair of jeans, they’re not just basic denim; they will have aspects such as cut-outs, zippers, or embellishments that make them unique and true to my style as a designer.
What celebrity would you like seeing wearing your clothes?
The type of person I envision wearing my clothing is somebody who is a leader, who is bold, and who appreciates fashion as an art form. I love dressing artists of all kinds, including musicians, visual artists, and actors. I am especially interested in costume design for movies, and would love to do more work with that.
Where and when was your first concert?
My first performance was a private recital in London when I was 16 years old. That was my first experience performing for an audience, and it was very difficult for me to get up on stage because I was so worried about everything that could go wrong, everything from “what if I forget the words to the song?” to “What if I slip and fall on my face in front of everyone?”. Now I understand that there’s so many aspects to a live performance that you have absolutely no control over, so there is no point in worrying about them. All you can do is be as personally prepared as possible, and go up on stage and enjoy yourself. The real skill to performing is making it past any mishaps without the audience even noticing!
If you had to choose between being a designer or a singer, what would you choose?
I will never make a choice between the two because they are both interconnected art forms.
Are you working on your next album? When is it gonna come out?
The composition of the album is complete, along with the instrumental recordings. The recording of the piano and my vocals is in the works. The approximate release date for my new album, book, and corresponding fashion collection is May 10.
You recently released your album “Wonderland” at Carnegie Hall. Are you planning on giving more concerts?
Yes, I have a few planned this fall in Miami and LA; I’ll be performing songs from Wonderland as well as previewing a few from my upcoming album. After the release of my upcoming album, I will be performing it in large release shows in Miami and LA as well.
What are your 5- and 10-year goals?
I am actually already at the five-year point in my plan; I have been writing my book for the past five years, and it will be released along with the accompanying album and fashion collection in May 2020. Then my ten-year goal (the next five years) is to have my book turned into a movie that I will star in, that my music is the soundtrack for, and that I do the costuming for.
What do you think are the most important traits for a person to have?
I believe kindness is the most important, as well as being forgiving and understanding, because not everyone is at the same place in life. To understand that, and be accepting and not hold grudges shows a level of maturity I think.
What is your biggest goal? What is your plan on reaching it?
My biggest goal is to open an education and performance space for kids where they can create freely. I will give them all the resources and educational tools they need, but won’t limit their creativity, which I think can happen in a traditional school setting too often.
