Interview: Lebeaux from SPECTRUM

In anticipation of this months upcoming edition of SPECTRUM, Brighton Dome sits down with Lebeaux, one of the unique acts featuring in the February Showcase.

When did you start writing music?

For as long as I can remember! The earliest memory I have is with me and my Monsters Inc. notepad. I used to write tune after tune in various gel pens. It was a wide range of songs; from songs about stars to sonic the hedgehog. My mother used to write a lot of songs in my presence, so I also think that’s where my passion for songwriting came from. With the band, we started writing together in February 2013 - it's been a dream since then.

How did you meet?

We all met at university! I was looking for some musicians to work with. Everybody was getting into bands at the time, so I just felt influenced to do the same. We all liked the idea of it - so we made it happen.

What track are you most proud of? 

The track that we're most proud of is probably the one we've just finished producing. It's called Gold Man and we're planning on making it our debut single. We put a lot of time, money and energy into making it sound the way we envisioned; and with the help of our very talented producer, we've achieved our goal. It's due to be released in spring.

How would you describe your music?

I'd say our music is quite versatile. We all are into different genres, so our songs are often influenced from an amalgamation of that. We can go from flamboyant, light-hearted, energetic catchy songs to heartfelt and mellow ballads. Even all of these adjectives do not encapsulate what our sound is about. You'd have to watch one of our gigs to fully understand.

What are the main influences on your sound? 

There's quite a few influences for all of us. When it comes to musicality, I'd say, collectively, we are influenced by Janet Jackson, Heatwave and D'Angelo. Lyrically, we are influenced by songwriters like Frank Ocean, Ester Dean, Kendrick and Jill Scott. Vocally, Johnnie Wilder Jr, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey influence me the most.

What are you listening to at the moment? 

I've been listening to a lot of a Kelela recently. She mixes simplicity and complexity in all the right ways for me. I think she's beautiful and her voice is soars so elegantly.

Currently listening to her latest single, Blue Light.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to release more and more music online! Last year was about gigging as much as I could, but this year, it's time to fill that content gap. Singles...EP's...maybe even an album! I aim to do it all.

*Please note: this event has changed venue and is now taking place at Fabric (previously advertised as taking place at The Basement)*

Supported by GM Building and The Pebble Trust