Interview with LALKA
Speaking with an artist is always a freeing experience. You get to journey through their career and walk with them to pick their musical minds. For this text interview, I sent over a few questions to the multi-talented artist LALKA. You can find our fun Q&A below. Also, feel free to check out my review of her latest project, Willfire, here!
How did you get into being an artist? What was your brush with music that led to this becoming your passion?
Honestly, I’ve been obsessed with music for as long as I can remember! I grew up watching pop music videos, and I basically drove my parents crazy until they finally got me music lessons. Even back then, I knew performing was my calling.
Do you remember your first instrument?
Piano was my first love – I started when I was just 5 years old. Then I got the idea that I wanted to be an orchestra kid, so I added violin to the mix. But I couldn’t stop there! I’m kind of a musical magpie, so I taught myself guitar and even dabbled in cello, viola, and double bass. Classical music was my world for a while, but all the rules and restrictions started to kill my vibe. I’m not exactly known for following the rules, so I eventually found my home in electronic music where I could really let loose.
Who were some of your musical inspirations?
Oh, there are so many! Porter Robinson, Skrillex, Charli XCX, SOPHIE – they’ve all shaped my sound in different ways. But hands down, the most mind-blowing live shows I’ve ever seen were Porter Robinson’s Nurture and Madeon’s Good Faith Forever. Those productions are absolute game-changers, and they’ve definitely set the bar high for my own live sets.
As an artist, is there a motto you follow when it comes to creating?
It might sound simple, but I always ask myself: “Is this actually adding something meaningful to the project?” If it’s not serving a purpose, I ditch it. It’s all about keeping things focused and intentional.
One thing I appreciated while hearing your album was your ability to tell a story through your production. Was that intentional?
That’s awesome to hear! And yes, absolutely intentional. With Willfire, every single detail, from the sound design to the visuals, has a purpose. I always start with a vision, even if it’s a bit hazy at first. It’s like having a compass pointing me in the right direction, and I keep experimenting until I get there. That’s why I’m not too worried about AI replacing artists anytime soon – it’s that unique human vision that makes the difference.
How long does it normally take you to make a song?
It really depends on the song! Some just flow out of me, while others take years to fully realize. Actually, there’s one track on Willfire that took three years to complete, and I can’t wait to finally share it live at my Willfire Pre-Release Party.
You’re a singer as well. Is that something you had to learn?
I was a total choir nerd growing up, and yeah, I’ve always sung on my tracks. Willfire is no exception!
What is your songwriting process like?
It usually starts with a feeling – a vibe, a mood, something I want to express. From there, it’s all about experimentation. I play around with sounds and melodies until I capture that initial spark.
What’s your goal as an artist?
Oh, I have so many goals! Some of them are top secret for now. But seriously, I want to reach the top of the music world. Someone once told me I shouldn’t aim to be the “Kobe Bryant of music,” but I was like, “Why not?” I’m super ambitious, and that drive to be the best is what keeps me going.
What are you listening to these days?
When I was working on Willfire, I was deep into the underground club music scene – which probably comes through in the EP! Visually, I was really drawn to the aesthetics of Chinese martial arts films like *Hero* and *House of Flying Daggers*. Those movies remind me of my childhood, hanging out with my grandfather.
Incidentally, at the same time I was working on Willfire, I was also collaborating with this amazing South Indian artist named Naavikaran. Getting to learn about traditional South Indian music was a privilege, and I’m so grateful Naavikaran trusted me to bring their musical vision to life, especially when it’s so intertwined with their culture and heritage.
Anything you’d like to put out there or let people know?
I’m so excited to give everyone a sneak peek of Willfire (Zhì Huǒ 志火) at my Willfire Pre-Release Party on November 2nd in Melbourne! It’s going to be an epic night, with a brand new 360-degree live set, immersive visuals, and live instrumentation.
Willfire is a wild ride through the underground dance music scene, with everything from bass and trap to dubstep, techno, baile funk, hard dance, and crunk. I’ve also woven in some influences from my Chinese and Southeast Asian heritage, so there are some killer melodies and synth hooks in there too. If you’re a fan of artists like ISOxo, Syzy, and Rustie, you’re going to love it. And like I said, Nurture and Good Faith Forever set the bar for me in terms of live performance, so I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make sure what I bring is top quality.
The party’s happening at QQQ ST. PARK, which has one of the best sound systems in Melbourne, so get ready for an insane audio experience! Plus, I’ve got an amazing lineup of artists joining me: Artistique, Doda, Naavikaran, Nabii, and Prophecy Girl. It’s going to be a night to remember!
