Hailing from Johannesburg, L E F is bringing a new vibe to the beat scene. “Music should be a reflection of one's experience” – and this is exactly what he does on the 7-track-EP. We had the chance to ask him some questions regarding
his first release on Melting Pot Music.
How did you first get into music and start making your own?
My journey with music has always been very spiritual in many respects. My earliest memories of my love of music came from listening to my mother's music, a lot of 70s soul such as Teddy Pendagras, Dionne Warwick, Barry White. I would say that was my introduction to what "good/soulful music" sounded and felt like. My older sister introduced me to a lot songs and albums that attached my musical pallette to pop culture. We had jam sessions to a lot of hip-hop artists like Eminem, JAY-Z and Kanye West. Kanye's album 'Late Registration' was so hypnotizing and brilliant that I would find myself dissecting each element on all the songs which in turn led me to start producing at the age of 13.
What inspired you to create your debut EP?
I had come to realization that a lot of the music we hear these days can sometimes sound like they've been created using a template and in a lot respects very limiting with regards to the creative aspect. I had found that a lot music I heard in my childhood had a very spiritual and healing aura about them so I took it upon myself to create my own version of that, which in turn happened to be my healing process hence the project being named 'Antidote'
Can you tell us a little bit about the creative process for the EP?
Contrary to how the process of making music is presented to be I decided to take a very different approach considering what this piece of work means to me. Being that it was a spiritual/healing process I decided to take up a bit meditation so I could be completely aligned with the process so I could ensure that I was completely in the space to create the sonics I needed to. It is known that anxiety is a very prevalent state that in my case sometimes can become very crippling, so being spiritually aligned was a very important aspect of creating this project amd having that translate to the audience.
What do you want listeners to take away from the EP?
If anything I want my listeners to I understand that I've created this body of work to help not only them but also myself in this process called life that can take many twists and turns but to also realize that the EP can also be a semblance of peace and hope when times are getting tough and to remember that you are not alone in this journey.
How do you think this release represents where you are as an artist at this point in your career?
Working on this project has taught me many things about myself. Firstly knowing that process of creating art must come from within and not with the motivation of wanting to acquire materialistic possessions, with that being said it has pushed me to grow in a more holistic sense being my spiritual, mental and emotional journey and recognizing that all these aspects factor into the best product being presented to the audience.
Are there any standout tracks on the EP that you'd like to highlight?
To be quite honest I can't really highlight any tracks because the whole project is so interconnected that each track seamlessly flows into the next, so needless to say it's a packaged deal.
Is there anything else you'd like to add about your debut EP or your upcoming plans?
I really hope every listener when interacting with my music firstly enjoys it, finds and reconnects with their higher-selves. I have more music on the way this year and we continue with our journey. For more information you may keep up to date with my Instagram @itsrealchilli
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