LAMIA is a vocalist, producer and composer based between London and Berlin. She is a 2020 MusicBoard Berlin scholar, a competitive artist development scholarship that supports a handful of up-and-coming artists each year. LAMIA composes, records, performs and produces her own material. Her production style combines techno-influenced rhythms, rich classical style vocals and cinematic, low-fi soundscapes. Inspired by the low-fi aethereal qualities of early Clams Casino and the orchestral nature of Arca’s synthesis, LAMIA combines this with noughties film score sounds.
LAMIA’s debut EP ‘SIMULACRA’ was self-produced, written and recorded in studios at renowned Funkhaus Berlin. Mixed by James Kenosha and mastered by Enyang Urbicks (Arca, Stella Sommer). The concept was influenced by cultural theorist Jean Baudrillard’s ideas of ‘hyperreality’ and ‘simulacra’. The record is out today (02.07.21).
FACTS
1: I am 26 years old.
2: The classic Iphone text alert ‘ding’ peaks at 2.12khz, which is designed to sit in the sweet spot of human hearing of 1khz-6khz, which is fundamental for the comprehension of speech.
3: Good coffee = Good day.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Something inside that wants to become visible.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started singing western classical music at 6 years old and started writing pop songs in my teens. I was introduced to Ableton in my late teens and never looked back. I’ve been obsessed with the perfect high-hat ever since.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
In no particular order:
1. Dummy – Portishead
2. Currents – Tame Impala
3. Untrue – Burial
4. Infinity Pool – When Saints Go Machine
5. Konkylie – When Saints Go Machine
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Freedom, rawness, precariousness, openness.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Anywhere with green space.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I would start a ‘grieving musicians society’ and make collective angry poetry. I am also interested in learning coding – so I would probably take that up also.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Starz by Yung Lean.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
CATTNAPP or Clams Casino.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
I saw Lorenzo Senni at Funkhaus a few years ago – I think it was for Ableton Loop. The way the sounds of his set combined with the acoustics of the hall was insane – it was emotive and mechanical.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
1s and 0s forever.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
I have a brother and I have never asked him, although I get the impression that he is both impressed and confused.
Photo © Willie Nash | 3D Artwork: Brian Hart; Photography: Willie Nash and Kate Gollege; Edit: Miri Stevens
