LACKHATE
Are your ideas really your own. What makes a person themselves intrinsically underneath their clothing, when they detach from their formative identity.
There is symbolism within sound that resonates to an innate feeling, whether that be black, white or greyscale. Synths find purpose, basses curate a darkened or lightened perspective, different frequencies master levels of static.
identity crisis’ form from a machine in a bedroom; visuals become sonic.
interview
What do you attach your identity to?
J:
I'd say my identity lies between the constant push and pull of my formative years and the person i imagine myself to be in the future. I feel like during the entirety of my adolescence i attached my identity to my interests but the outside world is constantly changing and so am i. It can be an unstable foundation to build your identity on, making you pose the question,
“If everything i liked was taken away tomorrow, what makes me, me?
How do you dress yourself in your persona in the morning?
J:
I have a small wardrobe of curated items, my outfits stay more or less the same so it really comes down to the mood of the day.
What does music help you to escape from?
J:
Music has always been my favourite way to regulate my emotions, whether that be through self motivation or escapism. Music has the ability to communicate feelings without compressing them into words, some things cannot be said. That exact sensibility informs the direction of my own music.
How do you feel in a big room?
J:
I don't necessarily hate being in big rooms but when I'm in them I prefer to observe, being young in a city like London, it's almost necessary to be in rooms packed to the brim with people. In that case, you can find me in the corner.
How does your music persona reflect your personal life?
J:
My music persona links to a genuine desire for escapism. I like making music that feels alien or foreign but close enough to home to feel comforting and recognisable. Its almost like seeing an old friend in a new unfamiliar place. I draw on references from different parts of my life, whether that be one of my sisters showing me music, to the gigs and raves i attend now.
Would you ever put a hex on someone
J:
I don't think I would hex a person. I personally believe that spirituality and belief in general should always be used to elevate ourselves and others up. If someone does me dirty, karma can do the work, i can only pray that they learn their lesson, difficult or easy. I do catch myself hoping for the former though.
Tell us more about the polarity in your music, the contrast between the light and dark
J:
The polarity between light and darkness is a huge theme, not just in my music but life in general. It literally reflects the world we live in. When i was a kid i was always drawn to the ying yang symbol. At the same time, I was terrified of the dark. Until age 11, i had to sleep with a nightlight just to put my mind at ease. Music itself really proves that balance is necessary, the highs, mids and lows working together to create a complete sound. You can really hear that contrast in my song “Faith,” produced by Mach5. All those emotional and sonic layers truly came together.
Do your visuals come out the way that you envision them as a concept
J:
ive been working on visuals and music videos for about 7 years and they almost never turn out the way I envision them to be. I've been learning to love the process of creating without expectation, sometimes it can be better or worse than what i have envisioned. Hopefully as I continue to refine my tastes and ability, I can eventually reach a point where I can materialise ideas more accurately.
What guides you when you create
J:
my ideas always start with a spark of stimuli, either a certain sound in a song or a frame from a video, will trigger an idea or feeling that i can build off. I’m very interested in the subversion and collision of genres.
Fuck marry kill, london venue addition
J:
kill fire Vauxhall, Marry the archives, fuck Venue MOT
Whats your favourite object and why
J:
my incense holder, its made of a dark metal and has an intricate celtic design with the tree of life symbol as its base, which i resonate with deeply. I bought it for 3 pounds off ebay and it’ll last forever; top tier investment.
Are you a sun or moon type of person
J:
the sun is my best friend
How do you think dmt would affect your career
J:
i think dmt could provide more inspiration and insight into my work. I would love to meet some 5th dimensional elves, i’m sure they’d have something important to say!
