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I was exposed to a lot of music when I was younger. My particular influences though I'd say were people like Aphex Twin, Dorine Muraille, Prefuse 73 and all the old 90's hip hop outfits. I can remember going into the local library and renting about 15 CD's a week just randomly going on things that looked strange and out there. I'd get home and be immersed in all these new sounds. That was my favourite thing to do as a kid. I try to find more obscure stuff nower days to keep my inspiration flowing. I still listen to the old stuff though.
How did you come by your current name — Lapalux? By the way, do you know that the Russian meaning of the word ‘lapa’ is ‘paw’. So while listening to your music there are additional associations with something soft and sweet, such as a kitten paws... Or 'luxurious kitten paws'. Have you heard more about any unusual associations connected with the name 'Lapalux'?
HAHA! That is great. I'd love to know what it meant in other languages. It means 'Lap of luxury'. There is a saying over here that people use to explain feeling comfortable in their surroundings like you are in the lap of the gods. 'I love this place, feels like I'm in the lap of luxury'. I was really high once and accidentally said im in the 'Lapalux' instead of actually saying 'I'm in the lap of luxury'. Ever since then its just stuck and it kinda summed up my sound in one word.
I would like to imagine just how your usual creative process looks like... How does it always happen? Is there any particular scheme of creative process or everything happens spontaneously?
I was really high once and accidentally said im in the 'Lapalux' instead of actually saying 'I'm in the lap of luxury'.
I've been asked this question a few times. It is really hard to pin point how the process starts. I'd say most of the time it is completely spontaneous. I get bored quickly so I like to experiment a lot with different techniques and different ways of approaching song writing so it stays fresh and I continue to enjoy it. I hate sticking to rules in music and I always wanna push what is sonically accepted.
What is the role of collaborations in your creative process?
When I collaborate I like to take a back seat and let the vocalist do their thing and write what they want. I like the challenge of getting the vocals to sit in the mix properly and drive the song forward. It sometimes works and it sometimes doesn't.
Who would you like to collaborate with?
I'd love to work with more people, more rappers I guess. Would love to work with Danny Brown amongst others. I'm making stuff as a side project at the moment and sending it about a bit so hopefully you'll see some stuff surface soon.
Talking about your forthcoming release on Brainfeeder, how does it feel to work with such a label? Do you feel any pressure or stress, knowing that your debut album will be released exactly on this label? Or the whole thing is extremely comfortable?
It's extremely comfortable. They're all so laid back at the label and on point with everything that it's hard to feel stressed at all. I feel like a life goal has already been completed being signed to Brainfeeder because I've always wanted to be involved with them and another life goal of having a debut album out is completed too, so yeah, I feel pretty damn good about it all to be honest.
As I know you will have quite a tight tour schedule since March. What impressions do you expect from your upcoming tour?
It is gonna be nice to get out and about and play around the world a bit more. I've got a live visuals show now too so that'll be really fun too. Plus all the cocaine and bitches. Hahaha!
It is interesting to know how you perceived the music business when you first became involved and how your perception of it has changed over time. Has the reality of the music business lead you to become disillusioned in any way?
I'd rather have a part of something that a whole lot of nothing.
I don't really think my perception has changed much really. I've studied music and business so I already know what goes on inside the business. You have to give quite a bit of yourself away and it becomes more of a team thing once you get more and more established. You have a lot of people doing work for and with you which can be good but also bad in some respects. But I'd rather have a part of something that a whole lot of nothing.
What is your attitude to music in the movie? Is there any movie in which music has made a strong impression on you?
I think the actual lack of music is more interesting to me than the impression I get from songs in film. Watching films with no music really gets me thinking. I find it inspiring to try fill in the gaps with my own ideas of what i think would fit in there.
Do you have experience in writing music for film or commercial. If so - tell me about the experience. If not - are you interested in it?
Yeah I have a pretty good experience in writing for film and tv, game music, commercial stuff. I've studied a lot of that kinda thing at uni and done bits here and there outside of education. It is interesting and I like doing it but working to a brief that someone has written who has no clue about making music or really any knowledge in it can be really frustrating. A lot of sync work at the moment is people just wanting straight rips of other peoples songs with minor changes here and there. It is the recession though and slowly I think a lot of sync work will be faded out sadly.
How do you see yourself in the future? Which prospects of your own development are the most interesting for you?
Well we just finished shooting a music video for a track off the album which was the most interesting experience ever. I've always been massively interested in film and it was a huge eye opener into the workings of it all. I'm already kind of working on new stuff for the next LP. I wanna switch things up again. I think my production has come along recently and I’ve become really focused on what I want to do so I guess it’s just working on new shit really.
How do you relax? Any hobbies? Perhaps a hobby-projects not related to music?
I like to mess about with video and photography. I like to experiment with VHS and just generally mess about with film etc. I watch A LOT of documentaries about all sorts most of the time. Mostly about criminal behaviour and the justice system. I've always kind of had a fascination with that kind of thing. I think if I wasn't making music I'd be a successful hit man or serial killer. Hahaha!
What gigs do you like to visit as a listener?
I like to go to places with intimate settings like jazz bars etc but I do like going out to a packed club and getting fucked up now and again. It is always messy and you gotta do it now and again.
Lapalux exclusively musicserf.com
by Anna Maslennikova
Lapalux - NOSTALCHIC LP (2013) (BRAINFEEDER)
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