Meet Lana Fleischli | Writer, promoter, and DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lana Fleischli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, it didn’t start as much. I wanted a portfolio of my writing. Then as people read it, I realized I could do more. I began to utilize my brand as a creative space for myself and my peers. Over time, Desperately Seeking Serious provided me many more opportunities like working for It’s a School Night, writing for Flood Magazine, and now promoting my own concerts. I began to turn a profit and also add DJing (which I’ve done since I was 13) to the mix by putting playlists online and DJing my own events.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The thing that sets me apart is my unique perspective. I began writing about music when I was 14. Now I am 17 and have progressed a lot. I am really proud of the reviews I have done, and the shows I have either in the works or have put on. I don’t think it was easy, but I am definitely privileged to have a lot of contacts in the music field. However, I am confident that whatever I do, regardless of my contacts, I put my all into it and I think that is the main thing. I have been hired based on my skills. I would hope that people aren’t offering me anything based on my mom, etc… I earn it. I have learned that getting feedback is important, but also to trust your gut and mostly to take care of your mental health (which I am constantly working on). I want people to know that I am a passionate teenage girl who is kind of just starting out and eager to learn, but I am also filled with experience. While my brand is about music and art, my main goal is to make people happy even if that just means a little smile when they read my article or listen to something that I recommend. That is the most fulfilling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would want to take them to some shows around LA. Maybe at Teragram or something like that to see some indie bands. I would probably take them to In N Out for fast food, because they don’t have that in many places. I would also take them to a diner because diners are so cute. I might take them to West Hollywood to see the Grove because there are really good pancakes there and it’s a classic tourist spot. As well as the beach because who doesn’t love a beach day?! For some more culture, I would want to take them to the Broad. Then honestly, I would just go to my house or my friend’s house, cook some food and chill because I feel like that is the best way to bond with people.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mom and dad 100%! They are the biggest influences to me when it comes to music. My dad has been ill with M.S. since I was a baby and doesn’t remember much even though music was one of the most important things to him. So during lockdown, I began to listen to his and my mom’s favorite albums; then bands I like. Thus began the website. I also would say that Kathleen Hanna and Tavi Gevinson are big inspirations. I saw Bikini Kill with my friend Sadie in 8th grade and we started a zine after that, I built off of those core ideas with DSS. When it comes to Tavi, Rookie has been such an inspiration to me since 5th grade. I love to collaborative and communal feel it has. Not to mention that both Kathleen Hanna and Tavi Gevinson exude immense feminism which is incredible,

Website: https://www.desperatelyseekingserious.com/

Instagram: @desperatelyseekingserious

Youtube: desperatelyseekingserious

Image Credits
Dahlia Kim-Levy