Offbeat New York rapper, producer and dancer Le1f is currently in Australia, set to wow audiences with some taboo-breaking hip-hop productions. Performing at Subsonic Music Festival this weekend and at Sydney's ARQ Nightclub next Thursday (tickets below), we fired some questions his way. Here's way came back.
Pulse: How did growing up in New York affect your musical career? Was your particular production and rapping style appreciated and recognised in a city that’s already full of musical talent? Le1f: New York was the most perfect place to grow as a musician. As a teenager returning home from prep school during vacations, with few friends in the city, I was befriended and mentored by such an eclectic group of musicians, from Light Asylum and Telepathe to Drop The Lime and Spank Rock. Amongst other things, what I learned from all them is that having a unique sound is such an important aspect of having a gratifying success in music. I paid my dues to the electronic music community for many years here before I attempted to put myself in the limelight.
As a child and teen how did you get introduced to music and who were the artists you had on repeat? I owned CDs even before I can remember, apparently. I always thought my first album was Aaliyah's first album, but according to my Mom, I already toted a Kenny G record pre-preschool.
You studied dance whilst becoming a producer and rapper, do you think this helped you become a better performer? Do you choreograph any of your own or other artist’s music videos and performances? I studied dance for 18 years, yet none of my videos for mixtape singles have had dance routines. All the movement in the videos to date have been structured improvisations. I'm just surrounded by cool people who know how to work a camera, still or moving.
Your music talks about sexuality and being gay, was it ever a struggle to get your music circulated by the traditional hip-hop outlets in the US because of this? My music hasn't often talked about sexuality or being gay, actually.
Is there a particular demographic that you see yourself making music for? Humans, especially ones who understand English.
What acts have you been listening to recently? DonChristian, Ian Isiah, Kelela, Banks, Junglepussy, Incubus.
You produced the Das Racists’ track ‘Combination Pizza hut and Taco Bell’, amongst other tunes. Do you still work with the group and which rappers have you been producing for recently? Das Racist isn't a group anymore, they've continued their careers as solo artists. I produced a couple songs for Spank Rock's last record, and a few that might land on his next one.
Tell us about your recent mixtape, ‘Tree House’. What was the idea behind it? I wanted to knock out a sex songs mixtape. Just for practice.
What is Camp & Street? What has been happening there of late? Camp & Street is my crew, my mates; DonChristian, Boody, Rahel, Cybergiga, Maxwell Velocity & Norrit.
[Le1f plays Subsonic Music Festival this weekend and the House Of Mince/FBi Radio gig in Sydney on Thursday 12th December - buy tickets here]