W: Laurence Halls

The time had come, it was another classic sweaty Rock n Roll evening with Wolfie's Whisky. These nights are becoming more sexy, loud and explosive . We were treated to a performance that reiterated that Rock n Roll will never die from Lydia Lutudi. After that massive collective adereline rush, ASBO was lucky enough to ask her a few questions on the comedown.

1.  For anyone discovering you through ASBO, how would you describe yourself and your music without using genre labels?

I'd describe myself as passionate, theatrical, curious and a bit intense! I'm constantly taking things in like people, fashion, philosophy and it all somehow finds its way into my music. There's an openness to what I create too; I want everyone to feel welcome exactly as they are.

My music is a bit like a portal or a form of time travel. I'm world-building more than just writing songs, and I call that world Lutudi Land: a place where judgement, fear, shame and hopelessness don't exist. For those few minutes, I want you to feel completely free, completely alive and maybe meet a version of yourself you didn't know was there.

2.  Outside of music, what are you obsessing over at the moment? Books, films, fashion, photography. Anything

My obsessions are always a bit random! Right now it’s an incredible peacock feathered, emerald green vintage turban I found on Vinted, my new crystals from a recent trip to the Astrology Shop in Covent Garden, 70s cinematography, vintage car shows and a good car boot. I’m also reading Dana Gillespie’s Weren’t Born a Man -I got my copy signed by her when I went to see her play, which makes it even more special. And I’m currently trying to perfect my homemade cinnamon rolls; cooking is genuinely therapy for me. I just love beautiful and unusual things, and somehow they always find their way into my music or what I wear on stage.

3. What's something people often misunderstand about you as an artist?

I think people assume all the bold self-expression comes effortlessly to me, but it doesn’t always! I’m actually quite introverted, so it takes a lot of vulnerability to put that much of myself out there. There’s also a lot going on beneath the music too. I can spend hours researching history, politics and human behaviour for a song. You can absolutely just enjoy it for what it is, but if you dig deeper, there’s always another layer.

4. Who was the first person who genuinely made you believe you could pursue music seriously?

Definitely my parents. My mum always told me, “the world will tell you what you’re good at, so look out for the signs.” When I was busking around Leicester, strangers would stop to ask for CDs and pictures, or tell me I shouldn’t be singing on the streets. The more it happened, the more I thought, if people are responding like this now, imagine what could happen if I really took music seriously. I’ve tried many things in life, but music is where the world seems to respond to me the most so I guess that's what my mum meant!

5. When you're writing, do you chase a specific feeling, or do you let the songs reveal themselves naturally?

It really changes from song to song. I’ve had songs spill out of me in 30 minutes where I’m almost scrambling to write everything down, and others where I’ve had a voice note with a melody and three lyrics sitting on my phone for three years, then suddenly heard a beat or watched something that brought me straight back to it and finished the song. I do tend to have bigger themes I’m exploring though. With my debut EP Psychedelic Millennial, I knew I wanted it to feel like sonic freedom: boldness, expression and power. There’s no real formula for me, and I think that’s what makes creating music feel a bit like magic

6. Has London shaped your creativity, or do you find yourself looking elsewhere for inspiration?

Being here has made my dreams feel tangible and shown me just how many ways there are to bring them to life. I also love that you can find inspiration pretty much every day here. It could be a meal, an exhibition, walking through an area I’ve never been to before, the people, the clothes, even a certain smell in the air that takes me somewhere. London just has this buzz that I haven’t really found anywhere else.

At the same time, the initial spark for my music is usually quite personal. London can be overstimulating, so sometimes I need some quiet or to travel somewhere else to work out what I genuinely want to say. I think London gives me so much to take in, and then the quieter moments help me make sense of it all.

7. What's one venue you dream of playing that isn't necessarily the biggest?

Dingwalls. I love venues that have a bit of history and character to them, and knowing artists like Blondie played there adds a sprinkle of magic for me. I also love that it still feels intimate enough to really connect with the audience.

8. What's your advice for the youth of today?

Build a solid relationship with yourself and your intuition so you learn to trust it. Stay curious about the world that existed before you too- watch documentaries, speak to your elders, ask them what life was like, what the music felt like, what they believed in. There’s so much perspective to gain from understanding where we’ve come from. And most importantly, remember that being yourself and going after the life you want is your birthright.