Why Start With a 30-Year-Old Song?
"I think it's important to have a good hard-headed, down-to-earth, business-like side to things... but you've got to have something to sell. And that's the creative side."
— Ray Davies
The Strategy Behind the 'Ludup' Launch.
By now, you may have heard "The Goddess of Love," the first single under my artist name, Ludup. You've probably also read the story: it’s an authentic track I wrote and recorded in 1995, then left on a DAT tape for three decades.
The response has been amazing. But it’s also raised a very fair and obvious question: "Lee, if you're serious about a comeback and have a hard drive full of brand-new songs, why on earth would you launch your career with a 30-year-old track?"
It’s a great question, and the answer gets to the very heart of what this whole project is about. The decision was not a nostalgic whim; it was the only way this story could have started.
The Strongest Story
As an entrepreneur, I know that marketing is everything. In a crowded world, you don't lead with your "second-best" story. I have new songs I’m incredibly proud of—tracks like "Rise," which is anthemic, and "Plastic Spoons," which is catchy and (I hope) important.
But starting with one of them? It just wouldn't have been as captivating.
The story of a "lost" 30-year-old tape—an authentic time capsule—is the single strongest, most unique story I have. It’s the "why" that gets people to listen to the "what." In a business sense, I had to lead with my most powerful marketing message, and "The Goddess of Love" provides that in abundance.
The "Bridge" to My Past
I didn't just want to release music; I had to "bring the artist in myself back to life." To do that, I had to go back to the beginning.
It is imperative that my listeners connect with my "earlier self" as well as the more mature artist I feel I've become. I want to put my authentic soul out there, not just the modern, polished version.
My single biggest influence is George Michael. His music is my "bridge"; I write personal songs about my experiences, not just catchy tunes to make a buck. But to understand George Michael, you have to understand Wham! and songs like "Wham Rap." In the same way, to understand me, you can't just have the new songs. You have to have "The Goddess of Love."
A Deliberate "Anti-AI" Statement
We live in a world where music is increasingly generated by AI. My launch is a deliberate statement against that. How more authentic can you be than by releasing a song that was physically recorded onto digital tape in 1995?
This isn't just about my song; it's about honoring the work. It was a professional recording from a hit-making studio, with a real engineer, and real passion from a 22-year-old with raw ambition. It's a "pure time capsule," and in an age of algorithms, I believe that kind of human artifact has real worth.
This Is Only the Prologue
I'm not ashamed of the song's 90s-era naivety. I’m proud of it. But this release is not a one-off "nostalgia act." It is the prologue to a much bigger story.
My release schedule is deliberately built to take you on this journey.
December: "The Goddess of Love" (an original '95 recording).
January: "Shine" (another '95 song, but a brand-new 2026 recording).
February: "Rise" (a brand-new, modern pop/dance anthem).
After that, we're going back to 1988 with "From the Sky." Listeners are effectively getting my "first album" in small, captivating doses. "The Goddess of Love" was just the only place to start. It was the key that unlocked the whole vault.
Thank you for being here for the real story. The best is yet to come.
