IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCKY LOVE

interview by MARIE-PAULINE CESARI

Numéro Netherlands Digital is thrilled to present Lucky Love as our Cover Star of the day, captured in Paris by Coralie Waterlot. With a unique ability to blend genres and emotions, Lucky Love’s music resonates deeply with millions of fans worldwide and has earned praise from icons like Lana Del Rey and Sam Smith. A year after the success of his EP Tendresse and the powerful single Masculinity, the French performer and songwriter embarks on a new chapter with the release of his highly anticipated debut album—a luminous and deeply personal journey through love, faith, and humanity.

full look ACNE STUDIOS

Let’s start at the very beginning! What was the moment or memory that first sparked your love for music? Was there a specific sound, artist, or feeling that lit the fire?

My first memory of music is tied to my family—those Sundays dancing at home while my mom, aunties, and grandma cleaned the house, listening to Egyptian music like Umm Kulthum. There’s something incredibly blissful and happy about that memory; it definitely brought us together as a family.

You’ve dabbled in so many creative realms—dance, film, visual arts... What made music feel like the medium where you could tell your story most freely?

I’ve always been a translator of other people’s words, choreography, or creations of any kind. Music is the only art form where I can completely defend my ideas and use everything I’ve learned in the past to create something that is 100% mine—something that comes straight from my heart and represents what I stand for. Music is the most global and complete form of art I’ve ever worked with.

coat, pants & bag MARINE SERRE
shirt  CASABLANCA
shoes KENZO

Your debut album I Don’t Care if it Burns is a luminous, emotional journey. What did you want listeners to feel or understand about love through this record?

I think love is the foundation of everything, especially faith, which is why I truly believe in humanity and its beauty. The album advocates for all forms of love and emphasizes that we are not a community because we look alike or come from the same place, but because there is only one community—humanity. I believe in its holiness. We have to cherish this humanity and focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.

“Skid Row” feels raw and universal. Can you tell us more about the moment that inspired this track?

I was recording my album in Los Angeles, driving around with my producer Paco, and we got lost downtown near Skid Row. That’s when it hit me—I wondered why people in Skid Row wandered the streets, looking like they had no place to go, no goals, no way out. When we got back home, I researched everything I could about Skid Row. It made me feel so sad. I felt deeply connected to those people because of my past struggles with addiction. I realized that if I had been born and raised in LA, I could have been one of them. I felt incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to recover, evolve, and get sober, all thanks to the love and support of those around me. Since music also has the mission of representing those who are cast aside, I felt compelled to write about them and give them a song.

full look VALENTINO

You've been praised by icons like Lana Del Rey and Sam Smith and have played a key role in major fashion shows like Gucci and Margiela. How do you stay grounded amidst this fast rise and recognition?

The day I received a message from Sam Smith saying, “YOU ARE AMAZING” in capital letters, I couldn’t believe it. To me, he is one of the biggest icons, and I’m such a fan of his work. The same goes for Lana—when I realized she was following me and showing me so much love and strength, I felt incredibly blessed. But I also knew I had to stay grounded. I’ve never sought validation because what matters most to me is meeting creative people, exchanging artistic visions, and expanding them together. Working with John Galliano or Sabato De Sarno gave me the opportunity to express myself through music in a different form, and that humbled me even more. In the end, I don’t feel like a superstar just because I’ve worked with such great creative minds—I feel like I have to earn the attention of these people and honor the spotlight that comes with it.

Fashion seems to play a huge part in your life! How does personal style help you express the emotions or themes in your music? Are there any designers you feel especially connected to?

Fashion was my first form of communication—the way I presente myself to the world as I want to be perceived. So many times, I’ve been stared at while walking down the street—because of my body, my arm, or because I seemed too feminine. Fashion gave me the opportunity to be myself. It allowed me to become the person I wanted to be instead of simply being someone. I feel particularly connected to John Galliano. As a teenager, I looked up to him and found his shows so inspiring, so to work with him years later and experience his admiration for my music was a blessing. I love that John had to reinvent himself to get closer to his deeper self. He worked so hard to show the world his genius, and there’s so much redemption in his work. That makes me incredibly proud to have collaborated with him.

full look DIESEL

Let’s talk about our cover shoot. How was it working with Coralie in Fifou’s studio? Was there a moment during the shoot that felt particularly special or powerful?

I’m always happy to shoot in Fifou’s studio because he shot my first EP artwork. It brings a sense of nostalgia and pride—I can look back and see the progress I’ve made, the journey of becoming Lucky Love. I also knew I was going to have a great time because Coralie is such a sweetheart but also super efficient. I love her working process and how she collaborates with the stylist—working side by side strengthens their vision and delivers a more powerful message.

Do you have a favorite outfit or styling moment from the day?

I’m crazy about my Willy Chavarria look—everything he does, really. He invited me to walk in his show in New York five years ago, and I’ve believed in his work ever since. I think he’s a genius. His designs make me feel comfortable yet sexy. He has a way of redefining masculinity that I find both interesting and fun.

Your music blends genres—gospel, club beats, synth-pop—with elegance and sometimes chaos! Is that fusion something you carefully construct, or does it happen instinctively?

To me, pop music is the most interesting genre because it blends all types of music. That’s the power of music—it brings people together by merging ideas and emotions. It’s important for the audience to feel the variety of influences that have shaped me as an artist. I’ve been inspired by gospel choirs and soul music, by artists like Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and James Blake, and I also developed a love for rave music in Belgium. I wanted my music to reflect who I am. A friend of mine once said it would be amazing to create a museum of our imagination, and that’s exactly how I see my music—a space for my imagination to unravel, free from any specific genre.

full look DIOR

From Tendresse to Masculinity to this new album, there’s a clear thread of courage and emotional honesty. What’s next for Lucky Love? What kind of stories are you still burning to tell?

I’m burning to tell the truth! I’m gravitating more towards soul music and gospel choirs because I want to return to the essence of music—something pure and brutally honest. That’s what I’m working on right now, and I know I’ll never stop making music because of this emotional honesty. It’s important for me to reflect on everything I’ve been through in becoming Lucky Love and to capture the world we live in. Being an artist means being a witness to our time, and I want to be a mirror of today. I’m burning to share peace, to share my love for humanity, and to show the beauty of its complexity.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent LUCKY LOVE
DA / photographer CORALIE WATERLOT
stylist AMBRE A. VANCAMP
mua LORÉLEN CORITON
hair ALEXIS MERCIER
light assistant YOEL REBOH
styling assistants JULIETTE THUONG & NATACHA BORIĆ
bts video DALIA CAMILIA
production ISSUE AGENCY
production assistant DAHLIA KOUM SAM
studio LE SALON STUDIO
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director JANA LETONJA
interview MARIE-PAULINE CESARI
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
Thank you to FIFOU and the team at LE SALON STUDIO!