Sunny Lukas has never been an artist content with staying in one lane. Born in Hong Kong and educated at Berklee College of Music, he has always had a globally minded career. Whether moving between English, Spanish, or now French, his work shows a genuine fascination with language and culture.

His latest single, Laissez-Moi Faire, is perhaps his most adventurous stop yet. Combining rich R&B melodies, Latin grooves, and the warmth of live Spanish guitar, the track brings up the charm of modern-day Paris. Sunny captures a snapshot of romance, bringing the city’s atmosphere to life through sound and storytelling.

Working closely with French producer Adile, Sunny explored multiple musical directions before discovering the track’s final identity. Along the way, they bonded over an appreciation for French culture, food, music, and wine, leading to, I dare to say, one of the most distinctive releases of his career.

As his recent performances in Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, and New York have shown, Sunny’s artistic world continues to expand. Inspired by everything from accordion players in the Paris Metro to conversations with fans across the globe, he is entering a new sonic chapter.

We recently caught up with Sunny to discuss Laissez-Moi Faire, creative risks, multilingual songwriting, and why the best music often begins with stepping outside your comfort zone.

View of the Arts: What inspired you to choose a French title, Laissez-Moi Faire, for the track, and what did that phrase mean to you creatively and emotionally?

Sunny Lukas: The title was inspired by working with my producer, Adile, who is from France. I’ve always wanted to challenge myself and create a French-inspired song, and I’m so glad my producer helped bring it to life, guiding me with the pronunciation and lyrics. He taught me the phrase “laissez-faire,” which boosts my confidence and reflects how much of a planner and gentleman I am.

VOA: You co-wrote and co-composed Laissez-Moi Faire with Antoine Abdel Aboulkassimi. What was the creative chemistry between the two of you like, and how did that collaboration influence the final sound of the song?

SL: It was quite a journey to get to this song. It wasn’t a first attempt, either. If anything, we experimented with a Chinese-Brazilian phonk track before exploring more afro influences, before eventually arriving at a French-inspired direction. So it took a month or so to fully settle on the idea of making something smooth and French-inspired like Laissez-Moi Faire. However, it was a very fun journey. Through this, I got to learn more about my producer, and we shared a love for French food, wine, music, and culture.

VOA: When you collaborate with other writers and producers, how do you make sure the music still feels personal and authentic to your own story and emotions?

SL: Obviously, when it comes to working with such talented writers and producers, they are always the best at helping artists like me bring a vision to life.

Adile was super helpful during the making of the song and definitely inspired me a lot. The whole process was outside of what I normally do, and it challenged my songwriting and pronunciation for sure. I even asked a Korean guitarist to come into the session to record acoustic guitars live. The most interesting part of the song’s creation was the two female vocal ad-libs, “J’adore” and “viens chez moi,” which were recorded with the help of Caroline Koja and MIO.

There are a lot of interesting elements in the song, all of which were very intentional, which is why the process of making the song was unlike any other.

VOA: The official visualiser for Laizzes-Moi Faire has a simple aesthetic. What was your vision behind the visuals, and how important is visual storytelling to the way you release music today?

SL: Honestly, I just wanted something easy to digest and easy for viewers to watch. I focused more on natural surroundings in Seoul, along with the burgundy leather shirt and navy leather pants. The styling was definitely more French-inspired than the background, but everything paired very well, and I was really glad the visuals came out well. I think visuals and music are like pairing wine and food – they should complement one another, but the music is still the most important.

VOA: Earlier this year, you released Dios Mio, combining both Spanish and English in the song. What draws you to experimenting with multiple languages in your music, and how does language influence the emotion of a song for you?

SL: I’m quite a wordy person and always curious to learn about new cultures and languages. I’m also very blessed to have fans all around the world, so I would love to speak their native languages. From the beginning, I’ve always wanted to make songs in different languages; it’s just a matter of time and not forcing it. I’m happy with how this song turned out.

VOA: The music video for Dios Mio is visually really good. How closely did you work with your creative team to bring your vision to life?

SL: The videographer, Rarelast, has been working with me ever since the promotional videos for Deja Vu. So this wasn’t the first time we’ve worked together; we have great chemistry, and he is known for his color grading.

VOA: You recently spent time performing in Paris and Milan – two cities with such rich artistic and musical cultures. What was that experience like for you personally and creatively, and did those cities inspire you in any new ways

SL: Paris and Milan were simply stunning. The food, fashion, culture, and music were all phenomenal and one of a kind. In Paris, I heard a local French man playing the accordion in the metro from Bagnolet to Saint-Germain. It was such an inspiring moment and a unique experience. In Milan, the show was very fun. Italian people are fun to be around, and I learned a lot about the language.

VOA: Between Dios Mio and now Laissez-Moi Faire, it feels like you’re exploring different cultures, sounds, and languages more confidently. Do you feel you’re entering a new artistic era in your music?

SL: For sure, I’m entering a world breaking all the language barriers and trying to work with more artists from different parts of the world. 

VOA: You also performed in LA and New York. Tell us more about that, which must have been different from the shows in Europe.

SL: LA and New York feel like coming back home. I used to go there a lot during high school, so returning and performing in front of so many familiar faces and new audiences has been really fun, and I really enjoyed the weather. Everybody brought great energy, and the fans were all so kind and special. It was different this time because my mom came to all my shows, so I was very grateful, and I’m glad I can make her proud.

VOA: What’s next for you? Will we see you in Europe again?

SL: Of course! See you in Mainz, Germany, on August 29 and 30 this year for Asian Revolution!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Sunny Lukas

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}