LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Amid a creative spiral, Orion Sun found comfort among the words of essay 鈥淧oetry is not a luxury.鈥� The poet鈥檚 writing provided a mental redirection for the musician while working on her 鈥淥谤颈辞苍.鈥�
Lorde wrote that poetry is a pathway for women to process long-forgotten feelings and ideas, and use the art form as a tool for revolutionary change. 鈥淪he wrote that for me,鈥� says the recording artist and producer. 鈥淏ut she never knew me. She doesn鈥檛 know all of the people that she鈥檚 helped. And I swear she left like guidebooks.鈥�
For Orion, poets like Lorde, and 鈥渦nderstand life in the way that she wants to understand.鈥� She admires the duality they tapped into as they acknowledge the weight of the world while pushing themselves to find joy and create works not only for themselves but also for others 鈥� a lesson that Orion has embraced within her own creative process.
鈥淭hat alone made me be like, 鈥極kay, no matter what, I鈥檓 releasing my music,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care what anyone says. If this helps someone understand something about themselves, like poetry does for me, that鈥檚 my job. That鈥檚 success to me.鈥�
She quickly established her name among indie music lovers in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with popular indie soul and alternative R&B singles like 鈥淒irty Dancer,鈥� 鈥淐oncrete,鈥� 鈥淎necdote鈥� and more. She opened for on his Superpowers World Tour in 2023, has written for artists like Bryson Tiller and was featured on tracks with Fred Again.. and Serpentwithfeet.
鈥淥rion鈥� was released on Sept. 20, created as the Los Angeles-based artist poured over journals and began to reflect on the last two years of her life during studio sessions.
鈥淚 am just writing to stay sane,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 a journal entry; sometimes it鈥檚 me walking down the street, and I鈥檓 eavesdropping.鈥�
Orion says she purposefully self-titled the album as it鈥檚 an intimate look into who she is.
鈥淭he album is called 鈥極rion,鈥� even though my name is Orion Sun but I become Orion Sun when you make it to the end of the album,鈥� she said.
The album also pays homage to the resilient women who raised her, including her grandmother, who has her own dedicated song, 鈥淕annie.鈥�
鈥淲hen I can鈥檛 do it for myself. I do it for my family. 鈥楪annie鈥� represents my family and my friends. And that鈥檚 the sun in my life.鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think a lot of people in my life are the sun, and I feel more like the moon because I鈥檓 just reflecting all the love that I get.鈥�
While exploring the duality of love and pain, Orion continuously found her focus in poetry and nature.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important to just not forget that Earth is a resource for us,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t always brings me back to just being grateful for the day whenever I鈥檓 outside, or I get to see the sunset. Being able to even notice those differences are really important for me and help me stay grounded. ... Earth is the greatest muse. Earth is the most inspirational; Earth is my home.鈥�
To celebrate the release of her album, Orion is embarking on a North American headlining tour Oct. 20 through the end of November, providing what she hopes will be a sacred space for her audience.
鈥淲hen you come through the doors of the venue, anything that you鈥檙e going through, you left it out there, whether you knew it or not," she said. 鈥淏ecause when you鈥檙e in here, we deserve at least an hour or two of just joy, laughter, tears.鈥�
Leslie Ambriz, The Associated Press
