Track by Track: Lionel Boy

Photography by Basil Vargas. Interview by Heather Hawke.

Oahu-bred, Long Beach-based singer-songwriter Lionel Boy (real name: Lionel Deguzman) gave us a breakdown of his diaphanous self-titled debut LP which was released via Innovative Leisure on May 14.

Sometimes described as “slacker pop” and other times hailed as “liquor store pop”: Lionel Boy’s sound is a perfect soundscape for weekend getaways, low key hangs or to simply daydreaming away. It’s euphonious without being tame.

After first teaming up together for Lionel Boy’s Who Is Dovey? EP (released in June 2020 via Innovative Leisure), Lionel once again partnered up with celebrated producer Jonny Bell for his debut LP. The main difference between the two releases: Lionel Boy was recorded during the pandemic. Lionel and Bell would visit each other several times a week, slowly shaping up Lionel’s homemade demos, aided by a cohort of highly gifted virtuosos (Fred Garbutt, synthesizers; Bell, Nic Gonzales, Andrew Pham and Sam Wilkes, bass; Brett Kramer, drums; Sarah Hinesly, keys, and Andres Renteria on percussion). The result? A debut album that’s smothered in airy reverb-drenched synth textures, muffled bass, and dense beats that are prone to sprinkle in some impromptu breakbeats here and there. 

Lionel Boy’s web/socials: Website – Bandcamp – Facebook– Instagram – Twitter

Lionel Boy artwork — Photography: Basil Vargas / Vinyl Packaging&Design:  Christian “BadBoyPapi” Gonzalez

“So Early”

Originally, I had planned to change the title of this song before it was recorded. Then, I said I’d change it after it got mastered. Finally, in true Lionel Boy fashion, I just never got around to it. Like many things in my life, I decided to let it be, and to believe that there was a divine reason I never got around to it. The opening lines “Common doesn’t come up, but I’m sliding through like visa…” is an attempt to summarize how I sometimes feel about my life here. Like, who the hell am I? I don’t even know what I’m doing most of the time when it comes to music, and yet, by the grace of God, here I am. 

“Flower Girl”

I’ve been with my partner for 12 years now. The heartache, tribulations, celebrations, disappointments… this shit adds up. But she never ceases to amaze me. I’ve watched her rise from the dirt more times than I can count. It’s a privilege to witness the one you are rooting for become who they are meant to be. 

“I’m Not Afraid”

This track was birthed a few years ago from a Splice sample, that led to a bass line, which inspired some funky guitar and the rest fell into place. It was funny recording this during quarantine and singing lyrics like “contact, I’m not afraid..” – I was definitely not referring to social distancing, haha. 

“2020”

I had this song that I couldn’t figure out what to do with. It was cool, but no matter what I sang/played over it, I just wasn’t getting what I wanted. I was scrolling through Instagram one day and came across an interview of !llmind, the producer, and he was telling a story about a conversation he had with Timbaland a while back. Timbaland had suggested to !llmind to take old beats that he wasn’t feeling and try speeding up the BPM’s. I immediately went into Logic, and instead of speeding my beat up, I just reversed it, and it was an entirely new song! The rest was simply big magic. 

“Tides”

Sometimes, I don’t know if I’m singing to the listener or myself, but I do know that I have the ability to choose how I perceive the world around me. “You could be happy, you could be satisfied, you could be losing it, baby thats called a life…” – and to me, hearing something like that is gospel. 

“Plumeria”

I actually tried to pull this song from the record at the last minute. Guess I was just feeling a little off about it but I’m okay with it now. I grew up with plumerias everywhere. They’re these beautiful flowers with yellow tints radiating from the center; it kind of looks like they’re glowing from the inside-out. “Only one I know that darkens up the room behind you leaving…” and my girl does just that. 

“Molting”

I think my spiritual beliefs have made death something I mull over frequently. I don’t mean I think about physically dying all the time, or that I’m afraid and forever cautious. More so that it is close to me, and in various degrees, happening around me all the time. I imagine when I do pass from this life to the other side, it’ll feel like molting. 

“Fall”

The only track that was made start to finish in the studio. I had finished a small case of White Claws, along with a bottle of Jameson, and proceeded to yell into the mic for what I thought was a few minutes, but was actually a half-hour… This is when working with your friends is a huge plus. Thank god I sobered up, and wrote the “Fall” that I have now. 

“Kam Highway”

I’m a big R&B and Hip-Hop fan; it’s what I listen to the most. After watching that scene for so long, I wanted to participate. This was my first attempt at that. I’ve since then made many more like it, and I’m excited to continue to explore that sound. 

“Puddle”

I lost a good friend a few years back. We moved to California together, just two young island boys chasing what seemed like pipe dreams at the time. It hurts that he’s not around to see me finally accomplishing mine and that I’m not able to witness him doing the same. I didn’t write this song for/about him, but he does come to mind each listen. “You will find yourself when you lose someone..” that’s true for me at least. 

“Mango Michelada”

I have to thank my good friend Jacqueline Chou for this one. If it wasn’t for us goofing around so often, this song never would’ve happened. The opening line, “Mango Michelada with Clamato…” was literally her reading off the can she was drinking. This was meant to be a bonus track but somehow ended up becoming a single off the record.