Lyon Amor Brave, or simply LAB to her growing legion of followers, is a force of nature that refuses to be categorised. An independent NYC powerhouse, her sound is a blistering fusion of lyrical hip-hop, spoken word, and club-ready EDM, all held together by a grit that can only be forged in the streets of the Big Apple. Whether she’s dropping motivational anthems like ‘Believe in Yourself’ or calling for global compassion in ‘Operation Unity’, LAB’s music is less of a performance and more of a survival manual. It is raw, disciplined, and entirely unapologetic.
Her journey is as cinematic as her sound: a brilliant educator who once commanded massive university halls in China, only to have the pandemic strip everything away. Returning to a fractured New York, she transitioned from teacher to street preacher warrior, living from her car and turning the systemic injustices she witnessed into sonic weapons. Today, she isn't just surviving the chaos; she is narrating it with a level of "masterful heat" that demands your attention. With her latest single, ‘New York City’, claiming its stake as the definitive anthem for the modern hustle, Lyon Amor Brave is proof that brilliance cannot be suppressed.
We sat down with the "unbreakable" artist to discuss her transition from the classroom to the studio, the scientific approach she takes to her production, and why "sinning ain’t winning" in the city that never sleeps.
First of all, thank you so much for joining us, Lyon! It’s an honour to have you here. When did you first find your spark for music, and what were the early experiences that shaped your sound?
“I first started making music as a kid, when I discovered the joy of rhyming simple words like “cat” with “hat” and felt that spark—like, “Whoa, this is my thing.” That little moment made me realize music was my game, even if it was just playful freestyling back then. It all began from a place of limited access and deep hunger for it. Growing up poor in foster care, I didn’t have my own piano or easy opportunities, so I’d sneak into churches just to play whenever I could—those stolen moments at the keys were my escape and my lifeline.”
“The real breakthrough came later when I went to China. My boss there saw my passion and bought me a piano, which finally gave me the freedom and tool to create openly without sneaking around. That changed everything and helped turn those early inspirations into actual songs and recordings. From consuming stories and music to process life (influences ranging from Whitney Houston to Led Zeppelin), I eventually started writing, freestyling, and blending genres like pop, soul, hip-hop, and EDM—often raw and improvised, like late-night sessions that became tracks such as ‘New York City’. It’s been an evolving journey of turning hardship into expression, and I’m still building on that foundation today.”
Your latest single ‘New York City’ has a real edge to it. What can you tell us about the vibe of the track and what it represents for you as an artist?
“Let’s talk ‘New York City’. This track dropped in March 2025, and its straight fire from the gut. It’s a raw, no-filter anthem about grinding in the city that never sleeps... but also never lets you forget you’re human. The vibe is edgy hip-hop with soulful layers, a pulsing EDM undercurrent that keeps it moving, and my spoken-word delivery over gritty, cinematic beats. It’s that late-night subway energy—neon lights, hustle, temptation, regret, all mixed into one punch.”
“To me, it means survival with integrity. I’m trying to win in NYC, but “sinning ain’t winning”—that’s the core confession. This song is me staring down the city that raised me, broke me, and keeps pulling me back. It’s personal as hell, a love-hate letter to the place that shaped LAB (that’s me—Leona Amor Brave, the eternal lab rat). I’m not just dropping music; I’m experimenting with life, tech, science, and sound. That’s why the sound feels unique—human mess meets digital edge. If you’re out here chasing dreams in chaos, this one’s for you.”
Were there any specific moments or cultural influences that bled into the writing of this release?
“The biggest influence? NYC itself—walking those streets at 3 AM, soaking in the energy of dreamers, hustlers, survivors, and the ones who almost made it. Musically, it’s early Lauryn Hill rawness for the lyricism, mixed with modern EDM drops and the spoken-word fire I grew up loving. No single artist handed me the blueprint; it’s the underground scene here, plus my own late-night experiments. Surviving post-pandemic burnout, watching friends chase the bag while dodging collapse—that poured straight in. Moments of temptation vs. staying true? Yeah, those hit hard and made it onto the track.”
What does the LAB songwriting process look like? How do these tracks actually come to life?
“Messy, fast, and pure improv—that’s the LAB way. Started with beats I was tinkering with on my laptop (tech geek mode activated), then hit record on a voice memo during a late-night Manhattan walk. Layered in synths I tweaked myself, freestyled the verses until they locked, and the hook just... landed like truth serum. No overproduced plan—just capture the feeling before it fades. That’s how my best stuff happens: experiment, feel it, refine it. The whole thing came together in one intense session, like the city wouldn’t let me sleep until it was done.”
How would you describe the evolution of your sound from your early days to this current cinematic style?
“The sound is hybrid fire: gritty hip-hop storytelling with soulful hooks, EDM pulse to keep the energy high, and my raw, conversational delivery that cuts through. It’s cinematic but intimate—like a movie soundtrack for real life. Evolution? Hell yeah. Early stuff was more straight pop/EDM vibes, but now it’s edgier, more experimental. I’m blending tech tools into production, drawing from neuroplasticity ideas, biohacks, AI-assisted tweaks—making music that’s as much science as art. The sound keeps evolving because I do. I’m always in the lab, pushing boundaries.”
If there is one central message you want listeners to take away from ‘New York City’, what would it be?
“Central theme: Ambition vs. integrity in a city that rewards both but destroys hesitation. You’re grinding to win, but shortcuts tempt you—sinning ain’t winning. The moment that nails it? That line in the chorus: “I’m trying to win... and sinning ain’t winning.” It’s the flip from celebration to confession, the raw truth drop that makes the whole track hit different. It’s me saying: chase the dream, but don’t lose your soul along the way.”
Where are you heading next, both personally and musically, over the next few years?
“Musically, deeper into hybrid worlds—AI-assisted production meeting live instrumentation, more releases that fuse sound with real talk on tech, mental rewiring, and owning your edge. Personally? Staying rooted in NYC’s chaos while building something bigger: a community of misfits who get it. People who vibe with the music because it’s a signal—you’re not alone in the experiment. In a few years? Expanding the LAB ethos globally—helping folks hack their lives through creativity, science, unfiltered truth. More collabs, more drops, more real conversations. And yeah, that cult-like following of people who experiment like I do? It’s already brewing. If you’re wired that way... you’ll know.”
Are there more releases or live dates we should be marking in our calendars?
“Keeping the momentum—more singles cooking, blending the edgy sound with even wilder experiments. Shows? NYC underground spots for sure, maybe some pop-ups where music meets real talk. And yeah, teasing bigger things: potential collabs, live sets that feel like lab sessions. Stay tuned—I’m always dropping something unexpected.”
Q: How has the feedback been so far? Have there been any standout moments since the release?
“Reception’s been real and raw—folks saying it captures NYC perfectly, that “mad jams” energy with an “extraordinary vibe.” Streams are climbing, comments hit deep. Memorable? Messages from listeners who felt seen in the struggle—one person said it reminded them why they keep pushing in this city. That kind of connection? That’s the win. Not numbers—impact.”
Q: Finally, do you have a message for the fans and people discovering your music for the first time?
“If this resonates—if you’re tired of surface-level noise and want something that challenges, moves, maybe even rewires you—stick around. Stream ‘New York City’ everywhere (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music), share it if it hits your soul, follow me @LyonBrave on YouTube (hit that sub), SoundCloud, wherever. DM your stories—the real ones fuel the next drop. And if you’re the type who experiments with life, tech, science, and sound like I do... well, you know where the lab is. We’re building something unstoppable. Much love. Let’s keep winning—the right way.”
Lyon Amor Brave is clearly just getting started. Her blend of street-smart lyricism and high-concept production marks her as one of the most exciting independent artists coming out of New York today. In a world of over-polished pop, LAB is the raw, necessary antidote we’ve been waiting for.
You can dive into the new single above, and for more, be sure to follow Lyon Amor Brave on Instagram and X.
