I’ve been working with Rephlektor Inkorporated for a few years now. Led by Justin Kleinfeld, they send me a ton of great content to share, help coordinate interviews and are always introducing me to new talent. A couple of years ago Justin introduced me to Lawrence Lui when they launched Bampire, a full-service music company. Lui cut his teeth working at Island Records and Astralwerks Records/Capitol Records and has worked with names like Swedish House Mafia, Mat Zo, Pretty Lights, Tiësto and Porter Robinson. Lui is also a DJ and recently released an EP titled The Genius Of Time. The EP is incredible and I’ve always enjoy my conversations with Lui. It was time for me to interview him! This guy has a lot to say, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to Lawrence Lui.
You recently released The Genius Of Time EP. Tell me more about that release. I love it, by the way!
The Genius Of Time is a very deliberate progression from my last EP, Retroism. While the last one was a kind of self-conscious tribute to my musical heroes past and present (figures like Brian Eno, Suicide, Spacemen 3 and the Tresor label), this one was more of a step forward into finding my own voice. I wanted to experiment and stretch out with different genres, moods, tempos, etc. I wanted it to be song-based, yet take weird and unexpected twists and turns. Sonically, I was inspired less by dance music this time, and more by artists like G R I M E S, Kanye West and Radiohead, artists that experiment within a pop context. I’m also continuing to use children’s voices in my music, which has sort of become my signature. There is a bell-like purity and clarity to a child’s voice that is impossible to replicate or emulate using other sources.
“Cycle3” might be my favorite single on the EP. Listening to it I feel like I’m playing video games or something. Where did you come up with the idea for that single and the others on the EP?
I really threw the kitchen sick into that song: there are two distinct parts that pretty much don’t have anything to do with each other, a lot of use of amplified ambient noise, plus the lyrics depict the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, and it even contains a sort of parody of an EDM “drop.” It was fun and challenging packing all of that in three and half minutes.
As for the other songs, “Phylcolynseragenesis” (pronounced “Phil Collins Era Genesis”) is a cosmic ballad that is one my most ambitious tracks, it’s real a gonzo journey. And “The Way To The Center Is Through The Grain” is kind of percolating synth wave pastiche inspired by the films of Nicolas Winding Refn.
Why release an EP versus a full-length studio album?
I’ve always been attracted to the EP format. I’ve felt a lot of albums, even classic ones, could’ve used some trimming. Anyway, these days no one has the time or attention span to listen to full albums anymore. And an EP forces you to make every note and every minute count.
Tell me more about your company Bampire.
A little over a year ago I joined forces with the ace publicist Justin Kleinfeld to start a music marketing agency, Bampire. It’s been going great, we’ve helped Above & Beyond go to No. 3 album on the US chart (the highest charting dance album of 2018), worked on numerous successful Grammy campaigns, as well as album campaigns for some truly amazing acts like The Prodigy and Claptone.
You have a lot of experience having worked for some pretty big record labels. What was it like working with Island and Capitol Records?
I was a Director of Marketing for Astralwerks for many years and Island for a few, and was able to work on some great campaigns for artists like The Chemical Brothers, Eric Prydz, deadmau5, Hot Chip, Basement Jaxx and many more. It was a great experience and gave me the tools and knowledge to do what I love today.
There are a lot of great places to see live music in NYC. What are some of your places to visit?
Brooklyn Mirage is one of my favorite outdoor venues in New York. House of YES has a great scene as well. And the weekly Mister Sunday parties have a great summertime vibe. All those places are in Bushwick, which has sort of become the clubbing mecca of New York.
There are also a lot of great bars in the Big Apple. Where is your favorite place to grab a cocktail?
(Laughs.) I don’t really have too much time to hang out in bars.
Ultra Music Festival. Tomorrowland. Electric Zoo. Coachella. There are a lot of big music festivals out there. What are some of your favorite festivals?
I actually enjoy some of the more off-the-beaten-path events, they often have a more of a quirky, unique and colorful flavor than the big festivals. For example, I had a great time at Flow Festival in Helsinki, Finland a few years ago. There’s also a weekly outdoor party in Montreal called Picnik Electronic that’s a lot of fun. Fuse Records does a two day event in an outdoor amphitheater on the outskirts of Lisbon that’s pretty amazing. Movement in Detroit is a true mecca for technoheads. I also love Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy annual party, not to mention Gentse Feesten, an anarchic street fair that takes over the entire city of Ghent in Belgium for a whole week.
As you’ve mentioned, Bampire has an impressive list of clients. Tell me more about some of the talent you guys are working with.
Well, one of the projects we are currently working on is the reboot of the Winter Music Conference in Miami, now owned by Ultra Music Festival. The team is doing an amazing job putting together a great conference and they’ve already confirmed top-tier speakers like Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Laidback Luke, Irvine Welsh (author of “Trainspotting”), Sam Feldt, Nicole Moudaber, NGHTMRE, Erick Morillo, SLANDER and media guru Douglas Rushkoff. I’m very excited for this!
What’s next for Lawrence Lui?
I’m working on a number tracks and remixes, some in the underground techno vein, others more experimental and indie, lots of bits and bobs floating around. I’m using AI to assist me me in the writing process so hopefully that would yield some interesting results.
In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Well, all in all, it’s been a very exciting and eventful year for me on both the music-making and business fronts. It’s going to be hard to top 2018, but I’m looking forward to seeing what the next year will bring. It can get a bit crazy sometimes, juggling all these different projects, but it keeps life interesting and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Connect with Lawrence Lui:
Website: https://lawrencelui.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawrenceluimusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawrencelui
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lawrencelui
