Get Familiar: Lamsi
Today we would like you to get familiar with an incredibly talented and versatile artist who is taking the world by storm. Meet Lamsi, a young and promising talent whose name has been rapidly ascending through the ranks of the electronic music scene in Amsterdam. With just a handful of releases under his belt, Lamsi has already left an indelible mark on the industry, defying all boundaries of genre and scene. His dynamic sound knows no limits, effortlessly transcending categorization and captivating listeners with each and every beat. Having recently shared the stage with notable artists like Unknown T at the illustrious Unknown T & Friends x Boiler Room event, Lamsi has proven that he's not only skilled in the studio but also a force to be reckoned with in live performances. His ability to connect with audiences and create an electrifying atmosphere has garnered him widespread recognition and acclaim.
Fresh off the release of "Slip Slide," a groundbreaking collaboration with Bambii and Ragz Originale, Lamsi continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. And that's not all - brace yourselves for his next musical venture, a UK grime anthem titled "Hollaback," featuring the incredibly talented Bambii and BXKS, set to drop in early August following his Boiler Room appearance. As we eagerly anticipate the release of "Hollaback," Lamsi has even more in store for us. A highly anticipated EP, slated for release in September, will showcase collaborations with an array of remarkable artists, including Cyra Gwynth, BXKS, Meah The Plutonian, and many more yet to be unveiled.
Lamsi's artistic journey doesn't end with his music. As a proud Surinamese artist, he brings his cultural heritage to the forefront, infusing his productions with a rich and diverse tapestry of influences. Furthermore, Lamsi's association with Jarreau Vandal’s Vandalized posse has further enriched his artistic endeavors, offering him a supportive community of like-minded individuals and fostering growth in his craft.So, get ready to delve into the world of Lamsi, an extraordinary talent with an insatiable appetite for breaking barriers and pushing the envelope. We'll uncover the secrets behind his creative process, delve into the inspirations that fuel his ever-evolving sound, and explore his exciting collaborations and upcoming projects.
Can you tell us about your journey as a producer/DJ and how you got started in the Amsterdam club scene?
I started my journey as a producer at Club Jaco. It was a producer workshop every week, and artists like LYZZA, for example, got their start there. The guy who was teaching during the workshops is Evander de Koning, who I still work with closely. From there, he introduced me to the experimental Amsterdam club scene, put me in a position to play a few events, and really explained to me how to be a unique, cutting-edge producer by constantly looking at the past and what has been done before to keep innovating. After a couple of years, the workshop ended, and I started to produce a lot for artists. I eventually thought it was time to release some music on my own because I wanted to experiment and have more freedom/control over my own career.
Your music seems to defy categorization into a specific genre or scene. Can you elaborate on your creative process and how you develop your unique sound?
I started my journey with the love I have for 2000’s Hip-hop/R&B. Artists/producers like Timbaland & Pharrell really inspired me. I found out very quickly that these producers look at other genres for inspiration, take this and make them fit into their own musical styles. They also look at genres that were very popular at one point but no one looks to anymore for inspiration currently. This is something I always tried and still try to apply to this day. This is the reason why I look at stuff like Grime, Afro-diasporic electronica & deconstructed breaks.
You've had the opportunity to work with artists like Unknown T and perform at Unknown T & Friends x Boiler Room. How did these collaborations come about, and what was the experience like?
I made a UK grime song with an artist called 'Cyra Gwynth' called 'Give It 2 Me Now'. I heard the lines of the chorus in my head of the Ludacris song 'What's your Fantasy' on it and recorded her. I had this idea for a couple of months and decided to throw it online to see what people thought about it. It blew up, and after 2 weeks I got contacted by his people to make a remix of the song with verses from him on it. To promote the song, we first teased the track together in February at the Oyster Festival in the Melkweg. In addition, they checked me to do a set at his Boiler Room on May 4th, hosted by Unknown T on the occasion of the upcoming releasee.
Your latest release, "Slip Slide," features Bambii and Ragz Originale. Can you share with us the inspiration behind this collaboration and how the creative process unfolded?
I met Bambii in December at a Jarreau Vandal party called Vandalized where we both played. I was preparing this beat pack for her around March. I was gonna meet her because she was touring Europe at the time, and we both liked each other's music a lot, so we decided that was the place to have some studio time. After letting her hear it, she loved it, took it back to Toronto to record properly and add her production to it. She immediately thought about interpolating "If I Were A Rich Man" / Gwen Stefani's ''Rich Girl''. Her and Ragz already built a relationship and were in talks about doing music together. She sent him the idea, and he instantly loved it.
We're excited to hear that your next single, "Hollaback," will be a UK grime song featuring Bambii and BXKS. What motivated you to explore the grime genre, and what can fans expect from this upcoming release?
The motivation behind the exploration of UK Grime comes from trying to break boundaries. People love grime, but not all people can relate to it or feel it the same way we do. I love experimenting and making niche genres accessible. I want people to think: 'Ok, it sounds familiar, but it's not 100% that,' which is exciting and can really make any genre interesting again! Also, back in the day, Grime rappers used to rap over Timbaland-esque beats. My love for his beats was mainly because they were at 140 BPM. After I made 'Give It 2 Me Now,' BXKS her people hit me up and were telling me about her. BXKS is an old-school grime wordsmith with a new-age flair. She loves 140 BPM as her tempo. I sent her the beat, and it just felt right!
Looking ahead, you mentioned an EP coming in September with various artists. Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from this project and any insights into the collaborations involved?
I'm currently still working on the EP. I am definitely working with Bambii as I'm going to Canada/Toronto this summer to work on music in general. My plan is to work with more producers, vocalists, and songwriters. Just to test stuff out and get a change of scenery. It's not only grime music that I'm trying to explore and experiment with. It's also other genres and other types of music such as the music from my country, Surinam.
As a Surinamese artist, how has your cultural background influenced your music, and do you incorporate any cultural elements into your productions?
As of late, I'm very inspired by my roots. I use a lot of sounds from it and mix them with electronic/club music. Another very interesting fact is that the rhythms that they use in drill or grime are very similar to Surinamese rhythms. Even the tempo of the songs is somewhat the same, and that’s how I use it to make everything come together. For instance, on the song with Jarreau Vandal on his SABISOund EP, we did this on a track called 'London Fasi'.
You've been associated with Jarreau Vandal's Vandalized posse. How has this collective impacted your career, and what have you learned from being a part of this community?
Vandalized builds bridges between sexy dancefloor-friendly music and innovative sounds that lie somewhere in the middle between electronic music, hip hop, and the music created by the African diaspora. This is exactly what I've learned to do in my sets where I give people what they want but I get to educate them at the same time. Because of Vandalized, I approach parties and events in a way that is fun and enjoyable, but I also do some serious homework. I recently also had my first sold-out event called 'The Herd' in De Schietclub. Me and my team learned a lot from Vandalized and implemented some elements from it as well.
How do you approach your live performances? Can you share any memorable moments or experiences from your recent shows?
Because I'm a producer, I try to make new stuff before every show. I just have to make sure I implement or include a new edit, remix, or song. This helps me to gauge if the song is good, where I need to tweak it, or sometimes the song is simply not a good experiment. Experiences I had with songs of mine where I know that I have to release it are with a remix I did of Skepta's shutdown. I've put vocals on it and mixed it with a bubbling sound. The crowd went absolutely crazy and these are the moments I love.
In such a competitive industry, what do you believe sets you apart from other emerging producers/DJs, and what goals do you have for your career in the near future?
In school I always was the one who persevered. I wasn't the smartest or couldn't learn the best but I just always pushed through. I take this perseverance and put it in my career. If you don't quit, you don't lose. This together with the way that I always try to approach production from a different standpoint by being interested in genres of music that aren't popular at the moment and blend them with other genres/sounds, sets me apart from a lot of other producers/DJs. The biggest goal I have for the near future is expanding my 'The Herd' events and building a solid foundation for it. I'm excited to curate more and get into collaborating more with interesting experimental producers/DJs from all over the world.
