True to the motto "March 8 is every day", we want to introduce you to FLINTA* from Berlin and their work in this format.

Drum roll for artist Lara Hulo! She has been living in Berlin for almost 1.5 years and works as a musician and songwriter.

Dear Lara, thank you for your time! Why did you choose an S-Bahn stop as the meeting point?

Because I simply record an incredible number of promo videos on commuter trains. But that actually started earlier. I used to travel to Hamburg quite often during my school years and made street music with a friend, which we then presented on the train. I still kind of like the location, as you can see on my Insta (laughs).

How did you get into music?

I grew up in a musical household and have been making music for as long as I can remember. When I was 17, a producer discovered me and signed me. From then on, I went from contract to contract and often let myself be dazzled in that context. Looking back, I would like to know where I would be today if I had listened to what I actually wanted earlier. I then completed my Master's degree in teaching two years ago for security reasons. At some point during my studies, although it was my childhood dream, I thought that I would have to give up my music career. And that's exactly when it started and now I'm here and I'm super grateful for it!

What is your favorite part of your job?

Playing live in front of an audience and writing lyrics. I love the fact that you work with lots of people and process your emotions together. I always try to take the emotion with me into the studio and let it flow into the song. At the end of the day, when a song has been created, it's been a really good day and I often think to myself, 'Wow, this is your job now' - I'm so grateful for that!

How can we imagine your everyday life?

No two days are the same. We've just shot a music video, before that I was in the studio in Hamburg for a few days, before that I was at a songwriting camp, then I was in Leipzig for pre-production for my tour, now it's campaign planning, today I have two interviews. On the one hand, it's really nice and on the other hand, I realize that it sometimes makes it difficult to plan my private life.

Your latest single "FRAU" came out yesterday and you're going on a HEARTFiX tour soon. What's happening with your music - and what kind of live experience do you want to create with it?

What makes me most emotional and what I find most beautiful about making music is when people come up to me after a concert and say 'Your music got me through a difficult phase' or 'Wow, I feel the same! I'm often unsure whether I can write it like that and then I get feedback like that and we both feel less alone with it. I experienced bullying at school, for example, and I try to lead the way as a role model and give people strength. It's such an indescribably wonderful feeling when you can have the positive impact on other people with your own music that other people's music has had on my life. What I want to achieve on tour is to encourage young people, especially FLINTA* people, to go their own way.

How do you perceive mutual support in your industry?

I always miss support from each other here and there. I always have to remind myself to look around for other people I can support. Especially as a woman, you're used to having to fight hard for your place, so it's easy to forget to look out for others and I don't want to become like some music industry dude who doesn't look left and right.

What do you wish for FLINTA* people in the music industry?

My feeling is that FLINTA* people are strongly represented in the music industry, especially behind the scenes, but far too rarely in decision-making positions. That pisses me off, I would like to see a lot of changes and more visibility. I'm also trying to start with myself, because I noticed that I started out working with the people who were there. Which was mainly men. And now I'm trying to pay more attention to that. I want to do my bit and get more FLINTA* people involved.

What does the feminist day of struggle represent for you?

The term already shows that we still have to fight for something that white CIS men don't have to fight for. Which is sad on the one hand, but important on the other, because that's the only way things will change. And it's important that we fight this fight for improvement and equality now, so that hopefully our daughters won't have to.

What would you like to say to your younger "self"?

Hey, you can trust who you are. You can trust that you can do something. You're not dependent on other people to get you somewhere, you can get yourself there. Be confident, say what you think. Don't let anyone talk you down. Trust your gut feeling.

Advantages and disadvantages with regard to the Berlin location?

There's always something going on, you can always do something. On the other hand, I sometimes feel lonely and lost here because I haven't been able to build up a circle of friends like I did in Hamburg. Berlin also offers me many more opportunities in a work context, but I'm glad that I didn't move here earlier, but was able to become more stable within myself and with my professional environment.

What has changed over the years?

I'm starting to feel more at home in Berlin and I'm really looking forward to the summer after experiencing the first long winter here.

What is Berlin missing?

Affordable living space. Especially in a city as turbulent as Berlin, I wish everyone a cozy, feel-good retreat.

Thank you Lara <3

You can find the video of the interview here ✨

This content has been machine translated.