“I think people are oblivious to the Black community and its place in Wales,” L E M F R E C K tells Wonderland. His unique blend of introspective lyrics and elegant, grime-infused beats have already gained him a Welsh Music Prize nomination and a place on BBC Introducing’s Ones to Watch 2021. However, beyond simply flexing his lyrical muscle, L E M F R E C K’s an ardent supporter of reformulating what it means to be a Black, British rapper. “I feel everything I do is to elevate and shine a light on [the Black community in Wales],” he says. “Not even for the people outside looking in but for people like me when I was young who never aspired to be anything more because they didn’t think it was an option.”
L E M F R E C K’s refreshingly raw rap performance will be on full display this summer when he plays London’s The Social on August 30th, plus in a sold-out Cardiff show on 2nd September. Both gigs serve as the live debut for upcoming album, Blood, Sweat & Fears, a maelstrom of creative excess from one of Wales’ brightest stars, set for release this Friday (18th August). His mission when he set about creating the record? Finding peace. “It sounds dumb but I just wanted peace,” he says. “I was seriously at war with everything at the time including myself and I struggled a lot. I wanted to understand why I was feeling what I felt at the time and each track reflects that.”
Listen to the latest single “After”
Read the interview…
Hey L E M F R E C K! How did you first discover your love for music?
I grew up in a very musical family, everyone played an instrument and my dad was an MD at a church growing up so I slyly had zero choice in the matter. But specifically, I was dragged to a Stevie Wonder concert for my mum’s birthday and realised there was nothing in the world I wanted to do more. I’d say that was the day. After that, I think I grew up in a time when music was available to the masses. Spotify and streaming were growing into huge things so I’ve been lucky to be able to consume everything.
Who and what influences you in your creation?
My people and our experiences. I’d like to say though we’ve made some terrible decisions, but we have really only done the best we could in those situations. As a result, we definitely lived life. How I feel, and how things made me feel also influence me heavily. I’ve always created for myself alone so I’m probably my biggest influence if we are getting all weird about it haha.
How did you first begin shaping your sound?
It almost just happened. It’s just a massive combination of everything. I think that’s what I like the most about my sound, it can’t be replicated as no one has lived my life. But from a technical sense, I made a lot of Grime instrumentals when I was young, that coupled with learning instruments in the church.
How would you define the essence of your style?
Feeling. The world is a bit dead at the moment and I think that a lot of things either lack or remove the feeling. It makes life easier right? The essence of me is to kind of restore some of that somehow.
Who from the Welsh scene should we be listening to?
Oh, this is a hard question because it’s insane at the moment. Luke RV and Juice Menace are doing big things in the UK scene, Mace the Great and Marino in their genres. Kiddus is someone who inspires me to be a better musician. Greta Issac is one of my mates and I rave about her at any opportunity I get. Special mention to Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard and Boy Azooga (Cheers for the sample Dai).
Talk us through the creative process of Blood, Sweat & Fears?
I wrote a lot! I can not stress the amount of things that didn’t make the project. I came off the back of writing for a Welsh language project called Ynys Alys, so my pen game was hot. But for the first time, I was making music every day and then writing to it straight away. I’d wake up and listen to it back and if I couldn’t find the clarity I needed I’d write again and again untill I did.
Where did the album’s title first originate?
This one is really simple. I was explaining to a mate what I was up to and said “I feel like I’m putting Blood, Sweat and Tears into this project. Blood, Sweat and Fears even. From there everything I wrote had that concept in the back of my head. The Blood signifying community. Sweat for me.
What are the main themes and concepts that you touch on across the album?
It closely follows the title. The Blood signifies community, telling stories and dreams from my people. Sweat for the endless effort to do better and Fears shining on when I can’t succeed at either.
What would you like listeners to take away from it?
Solace I think. I just want people to feel something. I’m not expecting everyone to completely understand the things I’m saying but if they learn something about themselves then I think that’s every artist’s dream no?
Where do you want to take your artistry?
Art is subjective obviously, but I’d like to be in a position where I can make great art in all forms that touch my music. Whether that’s visually or through literature I truly believe my artistry extends that far.
