(Photo Credit - Jule @mh.jule)
We had an opportunity to speak with rising star L'aupaire for an Artist Spotlight Feature. Over his last two records, he has received comparisons to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits. We feel he's on his way to big things. You can check out his music here. But first, check out what he had to say in our interview!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I officially started my “career“ as a songwriter and producer back in 2013, playing as many shows as possible to learn and grow. I have no professional musicians in my family so I it was a real trial and error path. For me, the creation of a song is the biggest magic I know - once I found out about it I never really looked back."
2. Can you tell us about the writing and recording process for your new single “When I Fall”?
"In winter 2019/2020 I struggled with myself and was full of fear and anxiety, I really had to face some issues I couldn’t ignore anymore. I took some time off from everything. Afterwards there was a lot of space for new things I guess, which lead to a mind-blowing creative phase just before my second daughter was born back in March 2020 (pre- pandemic)."
"I wrote one or two songs a day for a month, “When I Fall” was one of these songs which came really easy and gentle to me. It’s a bit of the soundtrack of that whole winter. I produced it in my home studio. Pedal steel, mandolins, drums where remotely recorded by friends sending them over to my studio. Before the mastering we run the whole track through a Studer 800 tape machine."
3. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"Whenever I have time - I write. Now being a father of two kids I don’t have same amount I used to have. So I have to be twice as fast which can be inspiring (often) and annoying (sometimes). I use a phone, a computer and a sheet of paper and switch it around. For me, it’s really important to be really flexible. Always change something around and don’t repeat yourself all the time. Trying to be constant every day. There is soo much to learn. I also love to collaborate with other artists."
4. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"One of the greats for me is Leslie Feist. I watched a documentary called ‘Look At What The Light Did Now’ where you can see her team and everything behind the scenes and how she collaborates with amazing people. It told me a music carrier is not a one (wo-)man show. It’s a team effort. It’s about collaborating and creating things together."
5. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"The most valuable instrument I own is an upright piano which I bought back in 2017 from a piano vintage restoration shop here in Berlin. It’s over a hundred years old. It’s a love at first sight story - after the first note played I knew I needed to take it home. It’s the centre of my studio."
6. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"I try to play a really dynamic show and I love messing around with the dynamics as well. I also like to do things spontaneously and challenge the band and myself. Every time we play will be really different - that’s a promise."
"For a good show everything has to be in perfect balance. Sound on stage. Sound of the room / festival stage. People behind it. My fav thing is playing during sunset ending with encores when it’s dark. I love it when people dance and are really in the moment and forget about everything else."
7. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
“The public“ should come to a live show sometime in the future - it will blow their mind ;-)"
8. What’s next for you?
"We have a lot of new songs coming up and eventually a new album in spring 2022 I’m really proud of."
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