Lennikim has released his new single ‘Homesick’.
The new single is paving the way for Lennikim’s upcoming EP due for release later this year marking his first independently released project and his first EP to be written and sung in English.
Speaking of the single, he explained: “I wrote this song in 2021, after living for almost four years in Paris. The pandemic forced me to return to Canada after being away for so long to pursue my career. Emotionally drained, I realised I had spent years in ‘presentation’ mode, performing for others while still so young, struggling to find myself and understand my queer identity.
“This song is an ode to my teenage self, who often felt lost in the industry, craving stability and surrounded by all the wrong people. I was yearning for a sense of home that seemed to grow more distant and harder to reach.
“I’m at a totally different place today than when I wrote Homesick. I now have an amazing circle of people who truly match my energy and vibe—people I respect and admire. You really have to get yourself out there to find the right people and get rid of the bad apples, it makes all the difference.”
To celebrate his poignant release, Lenni Kim shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Homesick’.
St. Vincent – New York
This song was the primary inspiration for ‘Homesick’ from the very start. I first discovered it through a friend who introduced me to St. Vincent’s music while I was living in Paris in my teen years. I immediately became a huge fan of her work. From that moment, this song became one of my all-time favourites and it always lingered in the back of my mind. The strings in ‘New York’ were especially influential and played a big role in shaping ‘Homesick’. That song has this incredible momentum, like a train on tracks, constantly moving forward and picking up speed. I wanted to capture that same energy for ‘Homesick’.
Billie Eillish – I Love You
When working on a song, I often find myself thinking like a producer. I’m meticulous about the sounds I gravitate toward. This song became a significant inspiration when I first started working on the ‘Homesick’ demo nearly four years ago. I was drawn to its minimalist production and the raw vulnerability in Billie’s vocals, which immediately made it a key reference. She has this “less is more” approach to her music that not only enhances the lyrics but also creates space for them to resonate deeply—something that made perfect sense for ‘Homesick’.
FKA Twigs – Cellophane
‘Cellophane’ became a reference later in the production process. Toward the end, I felt the song was missing something—a subtle touch of electronic music. Twigs does that so well in her ballads, and as a longtime fan of hers, incorporating that influence felt natural. After pulling up that reference in one of the later sessions, Philippe, one of the producers of ‘Homesick’, experimented and discovered this electronic arpeggio sound that fit perfectly. It added a haunting, nostalgic quality that complemented the song beautifully.
David Bowie – Fame
David Bowie has had a profound influence on me. The way he expanded the possibilities of pop culture, redefining what a man could look like in music, was truly revolutionary. While he wasn’t the first to challenge these norms, the scale of his impact—reaching so many people—was, in my opinion, unprecedented. For a long time, I didn’t have a reference point for men in music who embraced their physical appearance with the same creativity and playfulness that women often do in music. Discovering Bowie—and around the same time, Prince—during my early teenage years was a revelation. It made me think, “Oh! Okay. That’s my tribe.” All of this has undoubtedly shaped my art today and will continue to in the future for sure.
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
I think my favourite group of all time has to be Fleetwood Mac. The relationship I have with their music feels very similar to the bond you share with an old friend—one you don’t see often anymore but, whenever you do, they bring such an overwhelming sense of comfort and home. That’s exactly how Fleetwood Mac makes me feel. Especially the song ‘Dreams’. This group is such a strong part of my DNA (having listened to their music excessively in my early teen years) I’m convinced they provided me with a sense of safety and comfort that shaped my creative process while writing ‘Homesick’. On some unconscious level, their influence quietly guided me for sure even if you can’t hear it in the song.
Listen to Lennikim ‘Homesick’ via Spotify:
Discover Lennikim’s music influences: