Drum & Lace just dropped Lichen, a synth arpeggio masterclass packed with retro mid bass sounds and intricate IDM grooves. Check out our full interview with the artist below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Cinematic Ambient Techno
Tell us a few things about Lichen. What is the main idea idea behind it?
A few years ago, I became completely obsessed and fascinated with mosses and lichen- in particular the fact that lichen are a lifeform that are a hybrid of algae and fungi, and a living example of symbiosis in nature. This concept of symbiosis led me to think about how symbiosis presents itself emotionally in my life and in humans – what relationships have I had where there is a mutually beneficial relationship that works, until it doesn’t and becomes parasitic (much in the same way as in lichen). If you listen carefully, you’ll hear the words ‘stai con me’ / stay with me in Italian – it’s what I can imagine these two organisms whispering to one another, as well as what I’ve found myself clinging on to in past relationships. Hopefully folks can hear this push & pull in the music!
Your music often features field recordings. Do you approach a new composition with a specific recording in mind, or do you go “hunting” for sounds once a melody starts to form?
It really varies! Often times, the field recording will be the starting point and the whole track/piece will be inspired by that field recording, or a manipulation of it. Other times, I’ll start with a rhythmic or melodic part and then go hunting in my field recording folders for something for feels complementary. It’s nice that there’s flexibility with how I decide to use them.
There is a beautiful tension between “lush layers of synths” and “natural sounds” in your work. In an increasingly digital world, why is it important for you to keep your music rooted in the organic environment?
I’m a big supporter of natural environments and nature conservation, and feel like this love seeps into my everyday life. I also really love electronic music, but often find that it’s lacking something that ties it into the world that we inhabit. Using my voice and field recordings in my own electronic music is a way for me to express myself while still rooting and connecting myself to the world, and I think people resonate with organic elements in a innate way that draws them into music.
What made you gravitate towards electronika?
I think the fact that any sound can become music. I’ve also always been drawn to rhythm and feel like it’s the best way to express the way that I feel internally. Especially juxtaposing longer melodic elements over faster beats. Discovering club culture when I was a young teenager completely unleashed this in me.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
So many! Obviously, some of the biggest musical influences for me are Autechre, Orbital, Bjork, Aphex Twin and Radiohead. But under the surface, I’ve also been really influenced by more pop-leaning artists such as No Doubt, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Enya and Imogen Heap.
Having moved to London, what is the place to be on a Friday night? Any hidden gem?
Honestly there’s so much going on that I feel like I’m never in the same place for long enough! One weekend it’ll be an experimental dance night in Dalston, another a more warehouse-y party in Hackney Wick, or a more highbrow performance at the Barbican. There are so many clubs and venues that put on so many amazing evenings – I’m also a huge fan of The Old Church in Stoke Newington where you can expect to see so many different types of concerts, including the series I curate called Solstice Solidarity Synthesis. What I really need to do more of is spend more time south of the river as there seems to be a lot going on in Peckham at the moment.
What is the story behind your name?
It’s pretty random to be honest – when I was trying to come up with a name for a new music project, I made list after list of (bad) name choices, and got to the point where I was just scribbling down names that were ‘train of thought’ and the moment I wrote down Drum & Lace, an obvious reference to Drum & Bass, it sort of just stuck? Some days I am very over it, but I do find it helps people remember the name since it’s a play on words.
Thank you!
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