Luna Li
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Luna Li
| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| birth_name = Hannah Bussiere Kim
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1996|10|03}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/lunaliband/status/1312477606965510145?lang=en|title=Luna Li (@lunaliband) -Twitter|work=Twitter|date=October 3, 2020|access-date=2021-03-22|quote=✨24 today!!✨this past year has been so amazing and i’ve been learning and growing every single day💕🦋so grateful that i spent 23 surrounded by music and the people i love🍒❤️|language=en-US}}
| image = Luna Li 01.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Luna Li in October 2022
| genre = {{hlist|Bedroom pop|dream pop|chamber pop|indie pop|indie rock}}
| years_active = {{start date|2015}}–present
| label = {{hlist|AWAL Recordings|In Real Life Music}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.lunali.ca/}}
}}
Hannah Bussiere Kim (born October 3, 1996), better known by her stage name Luna Li, is a Toronto-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. During the early months of the COVID pandemic, Kim rose to prominence after a series of videos of her home-performed multi-instrumental jam sessions, featuring her playing the harp, keyboard, guitar, and violin, became viral on social media.{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=May 22, 2020 |title=Toronto's Luna Li Is the Breakout Star of Physical Distancing |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/toronto_luna_li_is_the_breakout_star_of_physical_distancing |access-date=March 22, 2022 |publisher=Exclaim! |language=en-ca}}{{Cite web |last=Wang |first=Steffanee |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Luna Li On Her Viral Jam Videos, Niche Music Memes & More |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/luna-li-jams-ep-nylon-nineteen |access-date=March 22, 2022 |website=Nylon |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Kelati |first=Haben |date=March 23, 2022 |title=4 concerts to catch in D.C. over the next several days |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/03/23/concerts-dc-snoh-aalegra-mindchatter-luna-li-kennyhoopla/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post}}
Kim began writing music as "Veins", and released the record Moon Garden in 2015. As "Luna Li", she self-released her debut extended play Opal Angel in 2017. After signing to AWAL Recordings and In Real Life, she released the jams extended play, a compilation of the viral jam sessions she composed during the pandemic, in 2021. Her debut record as Luna Li, Duality, was released on AWAL (Canada) and In Real Life (in the rest of the world) in 2022. She released her second album in 2024: When a Thought Grows Wings.
Early life
Kim was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario.{{Cite web |title=Luna Li - Paradigm Talent Agency |url=https://www.paradigmagency.com/music/luna-li/ |access-date=March 22, 2022 |website=www.paradigmagency.com}} She is of Korean-Canadian heritage and cites her background as a major influence on her songwriting.{{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=Debbie |date=March 13, 2022 |title=On her debut album 'Duality,' Luna Li finds a sense of belonging between two worlds |language=en |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086261546/on-her-debut-album-duality-luna-li-finds-a-sense-of-belonging-between-two-worlds |access-date=March 22, 2022 }}
Kim grew up with classical training in piano and violin, eventually also becoming proficient in harp, electric guitar, bass, and drums.{{Cite web |last=Mughal |first=Alisha |date=January 15, 2022 |title=Class of 2020: Luna Li Creates Magical Worlds to Inspire Real Change |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/class_of_2020_luna_li_creates_magical_worlds_to_inspire_real_change |access-date=March 22, 2022 |website=Exclaim! |language=en-ca}} She attended Classical Music Conservatory in Toronto, where her mothers are co-directors.{{Cite web |last=Taylor-Singh |first=Heather |date=March 2, 2022 |title=Luna Li Turns Viral Fame into a Blossoming Music Career |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/luna_li_duality_interview |access-date=March 22, 2022 |website=Exclaim! |language=en-ca}}{{Cite web |last=Schemmer |first=Cynthia |date=2020-11-25 |title=Top 5 Bedroom Studio Must Haves With Luna Li |url=https://sheshreds.com/top-5-luna-li/ |access-date=March 22, 2022 |website=She Shreds Media |language=en}} She originally attended McGill University in Montreal to study violin, but dropped out after a semester to pursue her own songwriting and to start her own rock band in the Toronto music scene. According to Kim, “When I was first starting out, I thought, ‘Rock and roll is cool, the violin is not.’”{{Cite web |last=Now Staff |date=January 22, 2020 |title=The sound of Toronto right now: this music is setting the tone in 2020 |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/features/toronto-music-2020-sound |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=NOW Toronto}}
Career
= 2014–2017: Veins =
In 2014, Kim started the garage rock group "Veins", the name of which came from a poem written during high school.{{Cite web |last=Stainsby |first=A.J. |date=September 15, 2016 |title=Veins |url=https://mickmagazine.com/2016/09/15/veins/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310222537/https://mickmagazine.com/2016/09/15/veins/ |archive-date=March 10, 2017 |access-date= |website=Mick Magazine}} After returning from Montreal to Toronto in 2015, she concurrently attended Seneca College's one-year Independent Music Production program, graduating in 2016. While Veins was initially conceived as a personal project, the group grew into a six-member live band that performed at local venues in Toronto and Montreal. In May 2015, the group's debut album Moon Garden was released on Bandcamp.{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2015 |title=Moon Garden, by Veins |url=https://veinsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/moon-garden |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Bandcamp |language=en}} Though they had not reached out to media, the record received a warm reception from press and reviewer outlets.{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Cody |date=August 27, 2015 |title=Veins - Moon Garden |url=http://m-dc.thedelimagazine.com/22486/veins-moon-garden |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=the deli}} In January 2017, they played their last show under the name Veins.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Taija |date=February 7, 2017 |title=[PHOTOS] CLASS OF 2017: Veins, PARTNER + MORE |url=https://jesusssister.com/2017/02/07/photos-class-of-2017-veins-partner-more/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Jesus’ Sister}} According to Kim, the group had intended to change their name since 2016, partly since “everyone thought Veins would be like a metal or a dark hard rock band, which it wasn't.” She and her bandmates eventually decided on ‘Luna Li’, which fit the natural imagery and themes in her songwriting and production.{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Valerie |date=November 14, 2021 |title=Luna Li, An Artist Enchanting the Stage and Carving Her Own Path in Music |url=https://www.envimedia.co/luna-li-an-artist-enchanting-the-stage-and-carving-her-own-path-in-music/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=EnVi Media |language=en}}
= 2017–present: Luna Li =
As Luna Li, Kim self-released her first EP, Opal Angel, in 2017.{{cite web |title=New Single From Luna Li "Opal Angel" |date=25 August 2017 |url=https://imposemagazine.com/tv/new-single-from-luna-li-opal-angel |publisher=Impose |access-date=18 September 2021}} In February 2020, Kim released a new song titled "Trying".{{cite web |last1=Axeman |first1=Stephen |title=Premiere: Luna Li Shares Video for New Song "Trying" |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/premiere_luna_li_shares_video_for_new_song_trying |work=Under the Radar |access-date=18 September 2021}} Kim released another new song, "Afterglow", in August 2020.{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Francesca |title=Today's Song: The Multi-Instrumentalist Magic of Luna Li's "Afterglow" |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/lagw-luna-li-afterglow-song-review/ |access-date=18 September 2021|website=Atwood Magazine|date=August 2020 }} In February 2021, Kim released her second EP, titled "Jams EP". Kim released a new song titled "Cherry Pit" in March 2021.{{cite web |last1=Moran |first1=Justin |title=Luna Li Follows Her Dreams in 'Cherry Pit' |url=https://www.papermag.com/luna-li-cherry-pit-2650991937.html |publisher=Paper |access-date=18 September 2021}} Kim's next single, "Alone But Not Lonely", was released in May 2021.{{cite web |last1=Harmsen |first1=Natalie |title=Toronto's Luna Li Releases Dreamy Music Video for "Alone But Not Lonely" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/luna-li-releases-new-single-and-music-video-alone-but-not-lonely |publisher=Complex |access-date=18 September 2021}}
In September and October 2021, Kim embarked on a tour opening for Japanese Breakfast.{{cite web |last1=Mahale |first1=Jenna |title=Toronto's Luna Li makes psychedelic music to celebrate time spent alone |url=https://i-d.co/article/luna-li-music-interview-alone-but-not-lonely/ |publisher=i-D |access-date=18 September 2021}} In May 2022, Luna Li appeared on Saturday Night Live as a violinist for Japanese Breakfast.
Kim released her debut album Duality, in 2022 to positive reviews.{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Stuart |title=Luna Li: Duality |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/luna-li-duality/ |publisher=Pitchfork |access-date=29 April 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Cortassa |first1=Guia |title=Luna Li: Duality |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/luna-li-duality/ |publisher=Loud and Quiet |access-date=29 April 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Nguyen |first1=Alex |title=Album Review: Luna Li – Duality |date=9 March 2022 |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-luna-li-duality/ |publisher=Beats Per Minute |access-date=29 April 2022}} She followed it up later in the year with the EP Jams 2.{{Cite news |last=Renshaw |first=David |date=September 21, 2022 |title=Luna Li shares Jams 2 EP, announces North American tour |work=The Fader |url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/09/21/luna-li-jams-2-ep-north-american-tour |access-date=January 26, 2023}}
She toured with Wolf Alice, opening for them in fall 2022, before embarking on a headline tour.
On May 15, 2024, Kim announced her second album, When a Thought Grows Wings, with release set for August 23 by In Real Life and AWAL.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Tyler Damara |date=May 15, 2024 |title=Luna Li details forthcoming album, When a Thought Grows Wings |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/luna-li-details-forthcoming-album-when-a-thought-grows-wings |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=The Line of Best Fit}}
Awards
In 2017, Luna Li won the SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Canadian Songwriters with her single Star Stuff, from the Opal Angel EP.{{cite web | url=https://www.wavelengthmusic.ca/artist/luna-li/#:~:text=In%202017%2C%20Luna%20won%20the,with%20her%20single%20Star%20Stuff. | title=Luna Li – Wavelength Music – Toronto's Curated Concert Series }}
Luna Li's debut album, Duality, was nominated for a Juno Award under the Alternative Album of the Year category in 2023.https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/here-are-all-the-2023-juno-nominees-1.6724343 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
One of the songs from Duality, Silver Into Rain (Ft Beabadoobee), earned Luna Li the 2023 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.{{cite web | url=https://www.socanmagazine.ca/socan-tv-2/video-interview-luna-li-winner-of-2023-socan-songwriting-prize/ | title=Video Interview: Luna Li, winner of 2023 SOCAN Songwriting Prize | date=May 2024 }}
Discography
= Albums =
- Duality (2022)
- When a Thought Grows Wings (2024)
= EPs =
==''Opal Angel'' (2017)==
{{Track listing|
| all_writing = Luna Li
| title1 = Opal Angel
| length1 = 2:34
| title2 = Need A Lil' Love
| length2 = 3:10
| title3 = Star Stuff
| length3 = 2:57
| title4 = Ghosting
| length4 = 2:37
| total_length = 11:18
}}
==''Jams'' EP (2021)==
{{Track listing|
| all_writing = Luna Li
| title1 = Cloud Castle
| length1 = 1:03
| title2 = Flower
| length2 = 0:48
| title3 = Baby Shred
| length3 = 1:49
| title4 = Float
| length4 = 1:01
| title5 = Harp Jam
| length5 = 0:58
| title6 = 2516
| length6 = 1:08
| title7 = Staying In
| length7 = 0:42
| title8 = Mirror
| length8 = 1:00
| title9 = Kount Challenge
| length9 = 0:46
| title10 = Fairy
| length10 = 0:54
| total_length = 10:09
}}
==''Jams 2'' EP (2022)==
{{Track listing|
| all_writing = Luna Li
| title1 = Daydream
| length1 = 1:09
| title2 = Borders (Ft Aaron Paris)
| length2 = 0:44
| title3 = Periwinkle
| length3 = 0:54
| title4 = Butterflies (Ft Amaria)
| length4 = 0:58
| title5 = Omnichord Jam
| length5 = 0:41
| title6 = Skiptracing Lullaby
| length6 = 1:02
| total_length = 5:28
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lunali.ca Official website]
- [https://lunali.bandcamp.com/ Luna Li] at Bandcamp
- [https://veinsmusic.bandcamp.com Veins] at Bandcamp
- {{YouTube |SVpLsz1z-O4 |Luna Li - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)}} – published by KEXP
{{SOCAN Songwriting Prize}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Luna}}
Category:Canadian people of Korean descent
Category:Canadian indie pop musicians
Category:21st-century Canadian women singers