In anticipation of GIRLSCHOOL's second annual festival in Los Angeles, we got the chance to chat with headlining artist Luna Shadows. The New York born singer/songwriter/producer has been making some serious waves in the indie pop scene with her latest EP, Summertime. A total D.I.Y. kind of girl, Luna both writes and produces her own music, including her dreamy singles “Cry Wolf” and “Hallelujah California”.

Check out what the rising pop star has to say in our exclusive interview below:

This is your first-ever festival appearance/performance, has this been a goal of yours?

Yes! I attended GIRLSCHOOL last year as an audience member, and I was so blown away by the talent, organization, energy, and message. Can’t imagine a better festival debut fit for me.

Do you hope to see yourself within the festival circuit in the future? Where else?

Coachella has been a goal of mine since 2008 when I first attended. Not just because it’s a big festival though - as a resident of Southern California, that would really be an exciting honor for me. I’ve gone almost every year since 2008, and every year I say to myself, “you’re not allowed to go back until you’re invited to play.” Of course, I cave in at the last minute and show up anyway. It would be quite sentimental to attend as an artist.

Many describe your sound as “dream pop”—do you feel this is accurate? Were you aiming for it or did it naturally happen?

Both! My aim for this project was to create a sound with the catchiness of pop and the thoughtfulness of alternative music. The terms “dreaminess” “melancholy” “hopeful” & “dark” are often thrown around in my studio when referring to my soundscape, so I would say fans have made an astute observation.

Your Summertime EP did so well. Can fans look forward to new music from you this year?

Thank you! Yes. I try to be one step ahead. I have more tricks up my sleeve. You can’t tell over the internet, but I just winked.

Do you have any specific role models who’ve influenced the way you approach your music?

I think the most inspiring people to me in music right now are my friends & peers. It’s exciting to pick them up for tacos and hear their new demos in my car. Some of my favorite musical acts right now are just girls that I know or have met around the LA music scene, - like Maddie North of So Below, Chelsea Jade, Alisa Xayalith from The Naked & Famous, Chloe Chaidez from Kitten and Phoebe Bridgers (from GIRLSCHOOL last year), to name a few of many.

Have there been any pivotal moments in your career (people you’ve met, a situation you’ve faced, etc.) that made you realize you needed to take action as a woman in the industry?

I didn’t even realize being a “woman in music” was a thing until I started taking industry meetings several years ago, and I noticed a pattern where people were constantly shocked & in disbelief that I had a self-sufficient plan and skill set. It’s a regular occurrence to be met with skepticism when I say I know how to use ProTools, or that I know how to run my live set-up, or that I organize my own release plans. I think things changed for me when I started considering what I had to offer the music industry, instead of relying on the reverse.

What about being a woman in the industry empowers you?

The honest answer is I think it’s very hard to feel empowered as a musician most days, as a female, male, or anyone in between - period. It is a path that is filled with self-doubt and confusion. Not a career for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, I don’t think this is an industry whose personnel on a whole regularly makes women feel empowered, but I think that I personally find empowerment from my supporters, who take the time to let me know what my music has meant to them, and my peers, who are ever inspiring to see on stage. I find power in doing my own work entirely on my own sometimes - recording my own vocals, creating my own visuals, etc. I would also say the people I work with, both men & women, help me to feel empowered with their constant encouragement.

What are you hoping to change for young women growing up and wanting to get into music?

I hope they are taken seriously by their peers and teachers when they say the are interested in becoming engineers, producers, and songwriters, in addition to being singers. While I was funding my EP, I was working as a contemporary music teacher. Some of the most rewarding lessons for me were those where I had the privilege of teaching young girls how to use recording equipment & programs like Garageband & ProTools. Many of them were terrified of asking questions, being “wrong,” or not knowing how to set up complicated hardware as if it were intuitive. My mission was to encourage them to ask questions, take risks, and not be so afraid of pressing a “wrong button.” They were so hard on themselves and so unaware of how naturally talented they were.

In terms of daily efforts, what do you think can be done/what would you recommend to keep the GIRLSCHOOL movement in forward motion?

Whenever possible, be inclusive, be a good listener, & make the effort to promote the music/art of your peers who you believe in.

_How has the playing field changed since you first started working in the industry? _ You can do so much on your own now. All of my music was recorded in Echo Park & Highland Park, in bedrooms and closets. All you need is a good microphone, a quiet space, and some decent recording equipment. All of my videos, photoshoots, and recordings were done on extremely small budgets. I think that if you have a vision, some organizational skills, the motivation, and a few people that you can convince to come along for the ride, you can achieve a lot with very little. That’s been a central mission of this project.

What do you feel is the most productive way to incite change and give attention to issues that affect women in the industry?

Lead by example. Show up, be competitive, be kind, speak up, speak clearly. Be assertive and compassionate when discussing what is important to the cause.

Is there anyone specific who you look at and say, “Yes! She’s got it. This is how we should be asserting ourselves.”

Hayley Williams of Paramore is the queen of this to me. Not only is she one of the best singers out there, but she uses her platform to promote other artists and important messages. Her platform is one of inclusivity, and I admire her for that. In an industry where it is so easy to be cut-throat competitive, she demonstrates how you can be both a go-getter and a supporter of your peers simultaneously. I’ve found tons of new music from her twitter to her band’s opening acts over the years.

I’m sure you’re excited to perform at this festival—who are you excited to watch perform?

So many! I’m really excited for TRACE - I found her on Spotify this year, and when I found out we were playing the festival together I had a fan girl moment. Also looking forward to the bird + the bee, and Francisca Valenzuela, who I met at our Nasty Gal photoshoot (she was just RADIANT).

What about this particular festival means the most to you?

I love that the proceeds will be going directly to musical education & experiences for young women.

What is your advice for young women wanting to play music or work in music in general?

Assert yourself. Resist the urge to apologize for your tastes or opinions. Read up, make sure you know your stuff, keep your eye on the ball because you’re going to have to swing twice as hard. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be ashamed if there’s something you don’t know. Learn by doing and failing and trying something else. Show up, everyday. Know your music and also your music technology. Press wrong buttons. Accidentally corrupt that important ProTools Sessions and google like your life depends on it. Back up your hard drives (guilty). Don’t make excuses for yourself. If you want something, do it yourself or build a team that you trust, but don’t wait for anything to change or anyone to show up with the answers. Know who you are and what you want, do not surrender it for any record deal or manager or producer. Pay attention to your intuition. Know when to talk and know when to listen. Work hard, twice as hard. Say thank you. Take the word "just" out of every e-mail you send from now on. Show up and let them know you’re not leaving.

Luna Shadows will be one of many performers on the 100% female-fronted lineup at GIRLSCHOOL. GIRLSCHOOL Collective is an organization spearheaded by founder and musician Anna Bulbrook to "celebrate and connect female-identified artists, leaders and voices. But GIRLSCHOOL is not just for girls: all are welcome.” Their second annual festival will be held this weekend from January 27-29 at The Bootleg Theater. All proceeds will benefit Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls, an organization dedicated to empower girls through music education and self-expression.