As loome steps into a bold new chapter with the release of “The Shakedown,” the artist is embracing a creative era defined by instinct, honesty, and momentum. Serving as the first taste of the upcoming album YOUFORIA, the track strips away hesitation and leans fully into emotional clarity, capturing the push and pull between ambition and self-doubt that so often defines the human experience. It is immediate, confident, and deeply personal, signaling an artist who knows exactly where he is headed.
In this interview, loome opens up about the making of “The Shakedown,” his evolving approach to songwriting and production, and the freedom that comes from creating entirely on his own terms. From fast-paced studio sessions to the philosophy underpinning YOUFORIA as a whole, he reflects on growth, vulnerability, and the importance of backing yourself, even when uncertainty lingers. What follows is an honest conversation with an artist learning to trust his instincts and inviting listeners along for the ride.
“The Shakedown” arrives as the latest glimpse into your upcoming album YOUFORIA. What made this track the right one to introduce the next chapter of the record?
Sometime you make songs that are executed perfectly and captured the emotion with which they were imagined… that’s the shakedown. Non of the niceties but all of the grit from the first second.
You’ve described the song as a battle with yourself, ambition versus apathy, confidence versus self-sabotage. How did those internal conflicts shape the writing process?
On this one, all the good parts won out. But that isn’t always the case and that battle is what it is to be human.
Sonically, “The Shakedown” feels like some of your most complete and radio-ready work to date. How has your approach to production evolved since ASTROHEARTS?
Fast and Furious: I wrote and produced the song in a week. No agonising over the small stuff, no perfectionism, no insecurities.
You worked alongside Jason La Rocca on this track, whose background spans film, television, and gaming. What did his perspective bring to the song?
Jason has a beautiful way of doing very little but at the same time SO MUCH. He turned up the emotion, put it on bigger speakers and sat you in the front fucking row.
Your music blends indie and alternative pop in a way that feels instantly recognisable. How do you balance accessibility with experimentation in your sound?
Honestly, I’m a huge fan of music so I think accessibility is natural for me, experimentation is a rollercoaster of an experience – Not always comfortable but always fun.
Since the release of ASTROHEARTS, your career has accelerated quickly, from BBC Radio 1 plays to festival appearances. How have you stayed grounded through that growth?
Knowing what you want to do with you life is a blessing, being able to do it is a privilege but it’s all in the hands of the fans. When they decide I’m ready, I’ll be there.
You write, perform, and engineer your music from a one-room home studio. How does working independently shape your creative freedom and discipline?
It means the songs I release are exactly as I imagined them… maybe even better.
YOUFORIA suggests a heightened emotional or sonic state. What themes or feelings tie the album together as a whole?
The album is a reminder to be your own biggest fan. Believing in yourself isn’t delusion it’s a symptom of how you view the world. I try to be as vulnerable, open and kind as I can. As much as I try to turn down my insecurities, ego and indifference. Every song on this album centres around one of those emotions.
Your fanbase now stretches far beyond the UK. How does it feel knowing your music is connecting with listeners globally, particularly in Asia?
Amazing, but pretty weird – someone once sent me a video of my song playing in a Lululemon in China (the yoga girls know) while an American sent me a spicy bedroom playlist they named after a song of mine.
Looking ahead to the album’s release, what do you hope listeners take away from YOUFORIA and from “The Shakedown” specifically?
Payday x some hot has a crush on you x you get a compliments your new outfit – so confidence with a hint of gratitude
