Today, we sat down with our artist LeCadre for an interview. Here is what he had to say:
1. How has your hometown shaped who you are as a musician today?
Being from Brooklyn, NY, hip hop is the pulse of the city. It rings undeniably down blocks and avenues endlessly. In the Flatbush neighborhoods you often couple that with dancehall and roots reggae, bringing a unique twist. Also being in the birthplace of hip hop, lyrical content is king.It’s almost as if I didn’t have a choice. If I did this, I had to do it greatly or not at all.
2. If you could single out one artist or band that has influenced you, who would that be and why?
Just one artist or band… that’s truly a hard one to answer. I pull influences from so many different places. I couldn’t even say just one genre in particular that influenced me. But let’s say I was cooking up a LeCadre gumbo, the ingredients would probably be the soul of Bob Marley.The pain of Johnny Cash. The musical diversity in arrangements of Prince. The lyricism of Rakim, and the heart of Tupac.
3. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what is the first thing you would buy?
If I won the lottery tomorrow, lol thats a pretty easy one. My mother is in a tough situation inMiami, FL right now. All she wants is a home back in her country. So a house on the water in Trinidad and Tobago. Period.
4. What is your advice to fellow underground musicians in regards to remaining discipline in your craft?
Advice? The single most important piece of advice I’d give is heart. This career path is not for the faint of heart. Long nights, no sleep. Tireless and almost thankless work. You almost have to believe in something that does not exist, because if you don’t no one around you will. Sure you have all the people down for the parties, all the good times, all the accolades that come. But who’s there in the trying times? The times where you say fuck it, when you doubt yourself, when everything around you says it would be easier to just quit. Go get a day job, 401k, and call it a life. So it’s definitely heart, made of damn near an iron will!
5. Do you have any songwriting or recording tips you’d like to share?
As far as songwriting, I guess that depends on the type of artist you want to be. A serious artist, a pop star, a gimmick, flash in the pan type lol. Whatever it is, I find it more endearing to your fans and yourself when you write about things that hold some sort of emotional weight in your world. Be it something you like or something you detest. The more it pulls some sort of reaction out of you, the more intense your words will become.
6. How does your family and close friends feel about your music career? Have they always been supportive or have there been issues in the past?
Support from friends and family has always been a roller coaster for me personally. When family hears of your career choice, they are usually less than impressed. Friends are the opposite, everyone is down for the party until the party becomes the work part. This is where that heart thing becomes so important. To be honest, I spent a good amount of time early in my career just honing my craft. Not really talking about it until it was undeniable.
7. If you could open up for one famous artist or band, who would that be and why?
At the risk of sounding cliche, I think I would want to open for the late Tupac Shakur. Regardless of how you felt about him as a man, friend or foe you definitely had to respect his passion and work ethic. Knowing the artist I am, I think the energy in a show like that would be insane! Absolutely electric.
8. If you could have a dinner with one musician who is no longer living, who would that be and why?
As for a dinner with a deceased artist, I think I’d have to say Jimi Hendrix. Simply for the fact of the times of that era. The mind and confidence to be such a unique entity in a time like that was unheard of. He single handedly shook the landscape for unorthodox artists. Yeah, I’d definitely have to bottle up some of that potion. Lol.
9. In your time with LiquidSound Records, what is the number one thing you have enjoyed the most? Also, what is your advice to those artists who would be interested in joining the roster in the future?
In my time at LiquidSounds Records, I’d have to say I love the way they are so hands on and personable when it comes to my projects. Any time, day or night, seems like I can reach out like we’re old friends. Especially with Ryan (Katz), I think they work as fast as I do to bring our projects to life.
10. In ten years, where do you see your music career?
In ten years with at least ten headlining worldwide stadium tours under my belt. A publishing and entertainment company of my own doing nicely. Perhaps a few artists signed as well. I think I’d like to still be performing. For me, music isn’t something I do for a living, it’s more like something I live to do. I’d still be recording if not another soul heard another song.