The Emmys love the songs ofEuphoriaas much as we do.
But he entered a new era of his career whenSam Levinsonasked him to work on the hit HBO drama.
What’s come from it has been extraordinary.
Singer/rapper/songwriter/producer Labrinth at the London premiere of ‘Elvis.'.Lia Toby/Getty Images
That’s more than you’re able to ask for," he shares.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What stands out to you when you reflect on creating “I’m Tired”?
They’ve very windy, and I love doing that on a record.
Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Labrinth, Alexa Demie, and Sam Levinson at HBO’s Official 2019 Emmy After Party.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
What aboutElliot’s Song?
First, I love how people received it on the show.
We didn’t take it too seriously; you’ve got to learn to laugh at yourself sometimes.
It feels successful to me because we wrote to our brief and delivered it.
Now it’s nominated, which is crazy.
What was it like to work with Zendaya in creating those songs?
ForAll Of Us, we were across the pond.
It was very much more of a family collaboration.
To sit in a room, we saw that our chemistry works in the room and across the pond.
What was it like the first time you heard the songs edited into the scenes?
That’s typically how viewers first hear the songs.
I do hear from mates who come to me about [the music onEuphoria].
It was fun to see that record bring that moment to life.
It’s exciting, so I like to see it add more color to the music.
The scenes bring it alive.
Are there any behind-the-scenes stories from creating those two tracks?
We wrote [“I’m Tired”] two days before I performed it, which is crazy.
I don’t even know how we got it done.
Zendaya originally sang it, and then we both thought I should do it for the scene.
She was going to do the whole record.
We gotta hear her sing more.
She’s such a great singer.
I love hearing her sing.
You also appear in the episode when we hear “I’m Tired” how was that experience?
It was super fun.
Between me, Sam, and Zendaya, we all have a synergy or chemistry creatively.
It felt emotional and spiritual when we were in the room.
How is writing songs for the show different from anything you’ve done for yourself?
I’m playing behind the band and trying to help enhance what the lead singer is saying.
That puts me in a position where I can just go, especially since film is a different world.
You’re not trying to make a record that people will sing along to.
You’ve recently released a new single,Lift Off, and have a new LP coming.
Has the work you’ve done onEuphoriahad an impact on your own music?
It made me want to sing more songs because my last record was wacky as hell.
I remember listening back and [thinking], “What the hell was I doing?”
But I love it because I am one of those artists; I do what I want to do.
I’m just free.
It has broadened my palate, so people should listen out for the things I’m going to drop.
Not just this album, but the albums preceding all of this.
