“There is no failure in creativity”—LNA Does Audio Stuff on fearless music-making

Who is LNA Does Audio Stuff? What inspired you to pursue a music career, and how has your musical style changed over time?

I’m Liina, also known as LNA, and I’m an artist, producer, author, sound designer, and educator. I started out playing classical violin and piano as a child, then fell in love with electronic music when I realized I could create entire things on my own terms, without the rules of classical music I grew up knowing. As my whole family are musicians and artists, it was the kind of life I knew growing up, but I never thought I would become a musician. My aim was to become an actress. However, after traveling and moving to Glasgow, Scotland, I rediscovered music from a different perspective. That discovery led me into music production, sound design, and eventually, even writing a book about creative confidence and music production. And as a musician and YouTuber performing still stayed a big part of my life.

A couple of years ago I started to systematically find my own artistic sound as a musician, which I felt had been lost for so many years. My style has evolved into this blend of chill and progressive house, combining ethereal vocals and classical elements with electronic sound, with a touch of Nordic melancholy. It’s music that feels good to make but also connects with people on an emotional level.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action” — What does this  mean to you, and how do you embody this theme in your work and career?

For me, “Accelerate Action” means removing unnecessary barriers and just going for it, especially in creative spaces where we’re often made to feel like we need permission to belong. So many people, especially women and underrepresented artists, wait until they feel “ready” before putting themselves out there. But the truth is, you’ll never feel 100% ready. The best way to learn, grow, and build confidence is by doing.

I try to embody this in everything I do, whether it's releasing a track every month, performing live even when it feels terrifying, creating educational content that makes music production more accessible, or designing interactive sound for dancers with disabilities. It’s all about making things happen instead of waiting for the "right" moment. My book “Creative Confidence and Music Production: Overcome Your Insecurities” is very much exactly about this topic.

Your YouTube channel, "LNA Does Audio Stuff," features tutorials, reviews, and audio challenges. How does engaging with a broad audience through educational content influence your own artistic growth and creativity?

Honestly, teaching forces me to be a better artist. Explaining something makes you understand it on a deeper level, so every time I break down a technique for a tutorial, I find myself applying it in my own productions in new ways. It also keeps me open to experimenting, because when you’re making content regularly, you can’t just stick to the same workflow over and over again.
Beyond that, my audience constantly challenges me. People ask questions I never even thought about, and that curiosity pushes me to learn more, try new approaches, and stay connected to different perspectives in music production. Plus, there’s something about seeing someone get excited about a concept that reminds me why I love this work in the first place.