W: Yvonne Samuels

Despite the dark themes, Brett is a man of boundless, fun-loving energy. LXWLESS isn't just a band; it’s a high-voltage creative ensemble producing world-class visuals and tracks that demand your attention. With headline gigs nearly selling out, it’s clear that the hustle is paying off.

This isn't just music; it’s an exorcism of the past. Raw, stand-out talent at its best.

In the heart of Birmingham, the air feels a little heavier, the energy a little sharper. Across the table sits Brett Lawless—a name that feels less like a coincidence and more like a manifesto for a man currently dismantling the boundaries of modern music. As the lead vocalist of LXWLESS, Brett has become the face of Trap Metal: a visceral, dark fusion that marries the rhythmic grit of Rap with the raw, bleeding-heart intensity of Emo and Heavy Metal.

Brett’s presence is immediately striking. His facial tattoos, inspired by the late Lil Peep, serve as a visual map of his journey. But to truly understand the "Lawless" sound, one must understand the specific constraints he spent his life escaping.

Growing up within the strict confines of a Jehovah’s Witness household, Brett’s teenage years were defined by more than typical angst; they were a matter of survival. Describing his upbringing as "almost cult-like," Brett eventually rebelled, leaving home at an early age. That resentment toward forced dogma and a religion that failed to resonate with his soul became the high-octane fuel for his creative fire.

While his peers followed traditional scripts, Brett found solace in the dark, melodic beats of artists like Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and the British powerhouse Scarlxrd. He didn’t just hear the music; he felt the message.

The transition from a restricted life to a creative one reached a turning point during his academic years. It was there that Brett met brothers Ross and Connor. The chemistry was instant, and the vision was shared. Recognizing the need for total control over his artistic destiny, Brett made the bold choice to drop out of his studies and commit to LXWLESS full-time.

In the wake of the tragic passing of genre icons like Lil Peep, Brett saw more than just a void in the charts—he saw a mantle that needed to be claimed to keep the movement alive.

Despite the intensity of the genre, Brett’s songwriting isn’t a simple glorification of the "rockstar" lifestyle. He describes his approach as hedonistic, yet viewed through a cautionary lens. Instead of praising substance use, he draws from his own subjective experiences to offer a darker, more realistic perspective on the human condition.

"Connecting with the audience through the music is a large part of evolution as an artist," Brett explains. "And everyone is going through a lot right now."

This connection is forged through a fascination with the world's "underbelly." Brett intentionally leans into the shock factor to break the lingering psychological constraints of his upbringing. In his track Vampire, he explores the parallels between the lust for a person and a predator’s thirst for blood. His latest album, Devilicious, continues this deep dive into the soul, peppered with hidden biblical references in every track—a subtle, ironic nod to his past.

However, the path of the independent artist is paved with grit. Brett is candid about the financial hurdles, from studio time to venue hires, which require him to work part-time and pour every spare penny back into the craft. Beyond the financial, there is the lingering "personal challenge" of the quiet estrangement from his roots; the somber realization that his parents may never fully approve of the path he has carved for himself.

Yet, for Brett Lawless, the price of authenticity is one he is more than willing to pay.