Meet Elsian Atienza

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Elsian Atienza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Elsian below.

Hi Elsian, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from my upbringing and the challenges I’ve faced along the way. Growing up in Oak Harbor, a small town on an island, opportunities felt limited, especially when it came to becoming an artist. I found ways to make myself heard, posting YouTube covers, performing at local events, and seeking out any platform I could find. There were moments when I questioned if I was reaching anyone at all, but I knew to keep going. Through it all, my mom was my biggest source of strength and is where I get my resilience from. She is the strongest person I know, and watching her handle life’s challenges with grace taught me how to approach my own setbacks. Whenever I faced rejection or felt stuck, she reminded me that resilience isn’t just about pushing through, but also believing in yourself even when no one else does.

After graduating high school in 2021 and starting college, I became more focused on school and took a break from pursuing music. In 2022, I hit a low point and felt completely unmotivated, unsure of what direction I was headed in. I was then reminded that music has always been a part of me, and realized that I could use music to process what I was going through. Writing songs became my way of expressing emotions I couldn’t put into words, so I started creating music in my bedroom, just me, my mic, and my laptop. I started posting song clips online, and to my surprise, people resonated with them, which gave me a push to keep going. In 2023, I released my first song on Spotify, and it caught people’s attention. That same year, I got the opportunity to open for Jimmy Brown on his North American tour, and from there, everything started falling into place.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Elsian and I go by the artist name “LCN!”. I am a Filipino singer / songwriter based in Seattle, Washington. My music blends indie pop, R&B, and electronic influences, and is deeply inspired by life experiences including growing up, relationships, and the ongoing journey of self discovery. I also take pride in my Filipino roots, so cultural influence is something I carry with me in every song I write. One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is performing on stage. There is no feeling like hearing a crowd sing my lyrics back to me. It’s a reminder that the emotions and stories I pour into my music are connecting with others. I have also had the privilege of performing at incredible events like Seattle Pride and the Capitol Hill Block Party, and I love the energy of those spaces, where I get to connect with both local artists and artists from around the world.
I began my musical career in 2023 and since then, have had the honor of opening for incredible artists like Jimmy Brown, Car, the Garden, and Janine on their North American tours. I was also signed to the record label 88rising in 2024 and recently sold out my first headline show at Barboza in Seattle. Currently, I am working on an EP and I am excited to release more new music while performing more shows this year. I’ve been experimenting with different sounds, exploring electronic music alongside my indie roots, and pushing myself to grow as an artist. Each step in my career feels like a new chapter, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect with my audience and continue sharing my music.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, 3 qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey were resilience, adaptability, and authenticity.

Resilience has been key because there were times when I felt like giving up, whether it was self doubt or feeling stuck. But pushing through those moments and continuing to create, even when no one was watching, helped me grow.

Adaptability has also been crucial. The music industry is always changing, and so is my sound. I started with indie music but have been exploring electronic elements, and I’ve learned that being open to evolving as an artist is just as important as staying true to my core.

Authenticity is what keeps people connected. I’ve realized that the more honest I am in my music, whether it’s about relationships, self, discovery, or personal struggles, the more people resonate with it. Staying true to my voice and experiences is what makes my music meaningful.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is to keep going, stay open to learning, and never lose sight of who you are. Keep creating, even when it feels like no one is listening. Experiment with your craft, take risks, and don’t be afraid to evolve. And most importantly, be real. People connect with authenticity more than anything else.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

My biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been learning how to balance being a full time student while also being an artist with deadlines for shows, brand collaborations, and music releases. Juggling coursework, studying, and attending classes while also preparing for performances, meeting industry deadlines, and staying consistent has been challenging, but it’s taught me time management, discipline, and resilience.

I’ve learned how to stay organized, set priorities, and make the most of my time. Whether it’s finishing an assignment before a studio session or studying for exams in between rehearsals, I’ve had to find ways to make it all work. Pushing through has helped me grow. not just as an artist, but as a person.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoislcn
• Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ZJgVLQXKogqP64D9c7ULt?si=030RwIQfR8K9Zes6HuClXQ
  Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lcn/1676205709
  TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@lcn.music

Image Credits

Casiano Atienza