Lucas Berman knew he wanted to write songs ever since he heard “Buddy Holly” by Weezer at age five. But it wasn’t until the ripe old age of 21 that he finally picked up a guitar. Before that, he was behind the kit—playing drums at all-ages shows in once-iconic, now-crumbling Sunset Strip venues and later pounding it out in New York punk bands chasing chaos and catharsis. When the noise settled, Lucas started writing for himself—melodic, sardonic songs that blurred the line between pop and disillusionment. That became Make Believe Love: a project shaped by the fuzzy charm of Pavement, the layered harmonies of the Beach Boys, the heartbreak of the Ronettes, and the uncompromising bite of NWA. With production by Louie Diller (HOLYCHILD) and a rotating cast of session players, the sound is both sweet and scathing, catchy and cracked at the edges. Make Believe Love is what happens when someone takes too long to give up—and ends up making something honest instead.
