INTERVIEW: Ernesto Lune breaks down his influences alongside new single ‘Not For Now’

Back with his first release in over a year, Canadian-born, Barcelona-based artist Ernesto Lune returns to the fold with ‘Not For Now’, a fuzzed-out, emotionally charged indie-pop anthem that signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Blending lo-fi textures, explosive melodies, and a touch of raw vulnerability, the single places Ernesto firmly in the growing wave of bedroom pop auteurs redefining alt-pop from the ground up.

Written in the wake of a brief but impactful relationship, ‘Not For Now’ captures that strange, liberating feeling that often follows heartbreak; when the pressure to “make it work” disappears, and clarity replaces confusion. It’s this nuanced emotional shift that Ernesto distills so effortlessly into his music, using distorted toplines and tight drum machines to build sonic tension, only to release it with tender, carefully delivered vocals.

Since debuting in 2021 with his EP some good air (in search of,), Ernesto has quietly built a soundworld all his own, one crafted within the walls of his Barcelona apartment, where every beat, chord, and lyric emerges from a deeply personal space. With ‘Not For Now’ laying the groundwork for a larger project on the horizon, we sat down with Ernesto to talk about his origins and influences over the years.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

My Dad always played Tool and Korn and those types of bands in the car when I was a really young kid and I remember being down with that kind of aggressive sound they had. But, I think the first rock artist to really open my ears up to something else was Led Zeppelin. A friend of mine lent me Led Zeppelin 1 and 2 on CD when I was in grade 7 or 8 and I listened to them on this CD player-alarm clock I had. It might seem obvious but up until that age I had never listened to a lot of classic rock like that. 

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

The things that influence me are constantly changing but I’ve always been a fan of Bob Dylan, Pavement, The Pixies. Some more recent influences would be Show Me The Body, Cindy Lee, Crumb, King Krule, Julie. I also really like the great American songbook and its many variations, which involve a lot of artists. 

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

I listen to a lot of rap, jazz, classic Brazilian stuff, chanson type singers. I recently went through a phase of listening to a lot of older Mexican boleros. I listen to all sorts of stuff. 

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

It depends, but normally it comes from a place of storytelling and nice sounding chords. 

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

Performing live is cool because it’s a moment that can’t be repeated or edited, or at least that’s my goal with the whole thing. I like to try and do different renditions of songs so that the live bit has its own touch to it. 

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

Advancing and improving constantly is important to me. Some days that step is smaller or bigger than others but I feel like I’m getting a little better with every song or project I do, which is a nice feeling to have. 

How would you define success as a musician?

Just being happy with what I’m doing and putting out and constantly improving. Being able to live off of this full-time and dedicate myself completely would be enough for me.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

Just to keep doing it

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Listen to Ernesto Lune’s new single ‘Not For Now’ below.