Lu’Ami [Interview]
With 2000 Trees 2015 almost upon us, it’s time to draw your attention to an artist who really sticks out from the rest of Trees’ beyond-epic lineup. Loopist extraordinaire Lu’Ami is due to bring a massive array of gear to the stage, and through it fill your ears with a brilliantly quirky and frankly uncategorizable sound. Think a chilled female Beardyman, and you’re at least in approximately the right ballpark. Kind of.
TMMP got in touch with Lu’Ami to talk 2000 Trees, creativity, and looping a cheering audience…
Your music is really intriguing. How would you describe your sound?
Well first of all, thank you kindly! I’ve had this conversation with so many people – everybody thinks differently!
To be quite honest I couldn’t decide on one genre. The way I see it, the vocals are percussive soul, most of the song structures are pop and the music is experimental, with a bit of electronic thrown in because of the sounds and equipment used. But I’ve just got back from playing at Fete de la Musique in Berlin and they described me as “synth pop”, so it’s definitely open to interpretation.
I’d like to think I’d created a new genre, but I guess all artists have their own little genre depending on where the influences come from.
You’re set to play a set at 2000 Trees 2015. How’re you feeling about it?
Im super excited, to say the least! Festivals are my favourite kind of gigs. I basically dress like I’m at a festival most of the time anyway, so I feel at home in a place where people have a ‘who gives a flying monkey’-type mentality.
I played 2000 Trees last year on a beautiful stage in the shape of a house in the trees, with hammocks and lanterns – it was really chilled. I met loads of great people, so looking forward to reliving the experience.
I’m headlining Friday eve at 12.30am if people want to come check it out!
Your latest live setup looks pretty complicated. Are you going to bring the whole thing to 2000 Trees? What are all of its working parts?
Yes and yes [laughs]. It is pretty complicated; I managed to hide away from the world for a month and a half to work out how to incorporate my new friends in with my old friends, it seems to have been a success – so far!
I have an RC505 Loop Station, an APC40 mk2 with Abelton, a Novation keyboard and lots of mega fun percussion! I’ve actually managed to limit it all into three cases, so its not an absolute nightmare to carry.
What’s your creative process like?
Its all about mindfulness for me, just letting myself be totally open to new possibilities and making mistakes. I have found being very judgemental of myself has stopped my creativity so I tend to go with my first instinct, listen with my ears, and use absolutely no theory! Everyone is different, but that works for me.
Now that I produce my own music, I usually start with the music, electronic, live percussion or flute, and add lyrics and melody together. If I’m really feeling a song, words will just pop into my head, even if I don’t know what they mean and I’ll look them up and strangely enough they make perfect sense with the song. I love that – just letting the subconscious take over.
What first sparked the idea of using live loopers and other techy gizmos?
I originally got together a band for my own songs, but it always felt like something was stopping me from progressing. That typical feeling in your twenties of knowing you want more but not knowing what, so I ended the band. I found that I was determined to work at a fast pace and explore my own creativity, and therefore preferred being independent.
I tried learning guitar, which didn’t really fit with me. I bought a keyboard and found it to be easier but was impatient in learning from scratch – maybe I’m scarred from my regimented flute exams! I was always interested in percussive vocal sounds, since being obsessed with Imogen Heap, and saw KT Tunstalls’ Jools Holland perfomance where she played on her own with a looper, but I thought those were just for guitarists.
I started producing my own vocal music, and the reaction from people was extremely positive. I randomly saw a showcase with Dub FX and a tabletop looper for beatboxers, saved up and preordered one! I used it as my backing instrument to layer strange mouth sounds and harmonies. After gigging my first set for 6 months I found it slightly limiting in how I wanted to arrange my tracks, so I bought Ableton and the rest.
I’m actually a bit of a technophobe but live by the rule that you can do anything if you try hard enough, and I really love seeing/feeling the progression, so I enjoy the challenge!
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened during one of your sets?
The first time I performed my set at a venue called The Haunt in Brighton, with an audience about 350, I walked on stage and started playing keys and no sound came out. I knew I had set everything up properly beforehand and couldn’t work out what had gone wrong, so I just stood there going bright red, flapping my arms around like a chicken looking like an idiot.
About 5 minutes later I realised my volume wasn’t turned up. When I finally got it working, the audience cheered when I was looping and the cheer was heard in my song on loop for 4 minutes! It was actually in time though so it sounded pretty cool [laughs]. I must’ve looked like a twat, but I thought it was hilarious. Heyhey, on with the show!
Beyond 2000 Trees, what does the future hold?
For this summer, I’m also playing Shambala Festival, and another to be confirmed! I am currently planning my trip back to Berlin for September, doing a couple of gigs there. In between those times, writing some more to expand my new set.
I am currently waiting on a mix/master for my song Better, which will be released online very soon. After that, I have big plans for an EP and a launch involving a lot of artistry/fashion, which is my other huge passion. There’s just so many ideas floating around in my head, I can’t wait for them to be reality! I’m now just in the process of meeting the right people to add to the creative journey.
Links / Video
Lu’ami on Facebook and Twitter.
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