[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: L E M F R E C K

Following the release of his album ‘Blood, Sweat & Fears’ in August, Welsh Hip Hop/R&B artist LEMFRECK, tells us about his musical journey so far…

What five words define your sound?
Black Recollection Dressed In Feeling

Tell me something unique about your creative process

I’m not sure it’s unique but I consume all the Arts I possibly can. Music, Film or Art I make a conscious effort to stay inspired no matter what. Way before I pick up a pen. 

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
This one is hard I genuinely don’t have a favourite. ‘That Guy’ or ‘Sad Boys Club’ maybe.

What inspired you to make that song?
[Laughs] Good question, I think I was going through a lot. One day I thought I was the boy and the next I couldn’t be further away. 

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
The day I uploaded that first track to SoundCloud, I’m not sure you can make art without being vulnerable. I think that’s the trade off if you want to do this. If you want it to be good or resonate you need to be vulnerable somewhere.

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage? 

The worst is no one turning up! That’s the only thing that hurts me, when you step out and there’s no one there – to me that means you’re essentially giving your music to no one. Best is having people in the crowd sing my lyrics back to me. There’s nothing that compares to that; honestly bliss.

What is your favourite song to perform?
‘Foreign’ for me. ‘Lo & Behold’ for the crowd.

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
Watching Stevie Wonder live made me want to be a musician. The EP ‘Dual’ by Sampha, that was the day I actually started making music to be released.

What’s the meaning behind your name?
It’s a school yard nickname that I just ended up keeping. All the boys in ends called me it and my aunty bought me a custom New Era cap with it on; so it wasn’t really my choice. There’s another name floating around SoundCloud somewhere but I forgot the username and login so that’s lost now.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?

I wouldn’t be around, I really do need it more than it needs me.

What’s success to you?

I thought about this a lot recently. It has to be a better life for my community but that comes in multiple forms. I want people to find solace in my work. I want my work to build opportunity for my people and essentially make something that out lives me.

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Losing far more people to death than any person should.

Where can people keep in touch with you?
LEMFRECK everywhere all at once. (Come to a live show you might feel something I dunno).

Photo by Eskofet x Noctown Collective