Biography
‘I’m not anywhere,’ sings Lo on softly heartbreaking debut single, ‘Floating.’ It’s a taste of the songwriter’s unbridled honesty, her constant introspection in the face of uncertainty. A voice that soothes and seduces over smooth and subtle instrumentation, Lo blends her indie sensibility with a darker sense of longing; a unique expression of love, lust and fear with a touch of nostalgia so sweet that it’s impossible not to feel everything that Lo has to offer. Words that echo our own thoughts and insecurities, Lo’s music is more than simply relatable. It’s our youth meeting our future, our emo roots intertwining with our fledgling maturity.
‘Artfool’ is the brainchild of Lo O’Hara, formerly known as ‘Lo’, an Australian sad-girl music artist.
Growing up in a household where Bon Iver and Elliot Smith blasted through stereo speakers on a weekend, Lo has always been drawn to darker themes, sentimental energy and sad songs with a hint of hope. “The first time I heard ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’, I felt it all over me, throughout my body. I didn’t understand how music could affect someone physically like that, but it inspired me to create that feeling for others.”
Her debut EP at Debaser studio, working closely with engineer Andrew Lawson (Noah Dillon, Death By Denim, Riley Pearce), producing what was initially a passion project, free from expectation. ‘Plan For An Independent Future’ was released in 2020 and was quick to grab attention, landing multiple Spotify Editorial Playlists and gaining over a million streams. ‘Floating’ had airplay on various radio stations in Australia, the US, Europe and the UK, including Australia’s triple j and UK’s BBC Radio 1. Pockets of fans from all over the world have reached out to express how deeply they connected with Lo and her lyricism.
Shortly after the release of her EP, Lo was added to The Harbour Agency’s artist roster, playing an assortment of Perth shows with local acts like Coterie, Dulcie and Great Gable. She also supported national treasure Ian Moss and French royalty Lou Doillon as well as selling out multiple headline shows in her hometown.
In 2021, Phoebe Bridgers referred to Lo’s buoyant single ‘Disconnect’ as “…something I’d see at a festival while walking by and I’d stop because I think it’s cool” during a triple J interview, while Sydney publication Temporary Dreamer praised “…Lo is powerful in her every move. Her words are strong, and her sound exclusively hers” and Australian music media outlet Pilerats noted “…Lo is quickly building a profile as a newfound star in powerful, emotive indie”.
2022 kicked off with Lo announcing label partnership with emerging tastemaker record label SameSame Records (ADA/Warner) and upcoming sophomore EP ‘Shy Panic’. Inspired by Haim, MUNA and Ethan Gruska, the EP plays on themes of regret, abandonment and dread, while sonically whimsical. First single, ‘Giver, Lover, Pet’ reached #2 on the AMRAP metro charts along with an artist spotlight from triple j Unearthed. Second and third singles, ‘tapped out’ and ‘GTY’ both landed on Spotify editorial playlists, as well as worldwide airplay.
Shy Panic gained Lo an ‘Artist Spotlight’ position on triple j Unearthed, just before setting out for a national tour, playing shows in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. On their return, Lo won ‘Best Alternative/Indie Act’ at the 2022 West Australian Music Awards.
Since the change of name, Artfool is currently and working on a debut lo-fi album.
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhe3hw5NLW8