Interview

Artists on Qrates

L. Dre

Built For Chill: Lofi artist and producer L.Dre takes us through his creation techniques, sampling Disneyland and the inspiration for his new record.

With lofi music, not everything has to be clean and crisp. Crackle and background noises are part of its charm with subtle beats, warm releases and bassy flows caressing the soul. It’s music to contemplate the world, music to study to, music to just relax and be. If you’re just discovering lofi, this is a pretty basic explanation but it says everything it needs to about a genre that’s exploding right now...even if the explosion is one full of calm.

Speaking of calm, we find lofi artist and producer L.Dre in a contemplative mood as we speak to him over video call. Talking from his LA-based work/chill space filled with records, plants, comfy seats and a recording station, what else would one of lofi’s growing stars need right now? L.Dre speaks in a way as serene as his music and surroundings, taking us through how it all began, reminiscing about his journey and why the music industry has always had a powerful draw for him. “I’ve always been into music as opposed to sports or whatever it may be,” says L.Dre.  “When I was younger, I always wanted to be a rapper. I was pretty much rapping for a good majority of my life, downloading beats off the internet. I then got serious about it and started making my own beats.”

His mum may have guided him towards music in his youth, enrolling him in random music classes and nurturing his talent (“Shoutout to my Mum!” exclaims L.Dre at one point), but he’s always had a drive of his own and followed his own direction. He figured out he felt more settled away from the limelight instead of front and centre as he goes on to explain. “I’ve always been an introvert. When it came to rapping, I didn’t really care for performing. Going on stage and all that kinda stuff wasn’t me. When it came to producing, I preferred being behind the scenes and just doing things on my own, making beats. That’s what got me to where I am today.”

Lofi Toons on a turntable

It’s these highly influential beats that really opened the doors for him as a producer and helped move his journey to a more lofi space. Messing around with beats in his youth and studying music production in Los Angeles led him to finding a place to share his passions on social media where things really blew up. L.Dre built up a cult following by posting regularly on Instagram and building a fanbase that grew in its thousands. 

People wanted to check out his videos of beat creation. “It all pretty much started with Instagram,” L.Dre explains. “I would just post from my phone on camera which would show me making beats. I was doing that super consistently for two years straight. This then led on to youtube and TikTok tutorials where things began to really pick up.” This not only allowed L.Dre to get his name out there in the lofi scene but also helped others understand beat creation and his passion for it.

With a few albums already under his belt receiving warm receptions from fans and critics alike, L.Dre is also no stranger to the Qrates family. Previously releasing a highly sought after vinyl release, Lofi Toons on the platform, it features lofi reworkings of music inspired by his favourite cartoons. The album offers a glimpse into his mindset against settled beats, warm flows and a nostalgia-dripped vibe that’s hard to resist. 

With tracks based around classic animation such as Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, the music can really hit you right in the feels. It’s a record L.Dre has a deep relationship with as he explains with a smile on his face. “I really love that record, honestly. All those songs are kind of like my vibes. I just love TV, I love cartoons so it all came together.”

Lofi Toons

Steven Universe

Dear Katara

L.Dre

L. Dre with his first Qrates vinyl, Lofi Toons

L. Dre with Lofi Toons vinyl

One track in particular went viral on social media, and with good reason. Married Life - which is inspired by Michael Giacchino’s score for the classic Disney movie, Up - highlights the inventiveness and passion in L.Dre’s work. He headed out to Disneyland to record sounds and samples that would eventually be used for the track, posting his efforts on social media. “That was actually crazy!” he laughs. “I’m a big Disney guy, I used to have a pass and everything! I just went there, sampled sounds, trash cans, random things, and documented the whole thing. I made a little blog-style video mixed into it that blew up. That track is definitely special to me.”

With Lofi Toons introducing vinyl fans to the world of L.Dre, he’s decided to follow it up with another vinyl release through Qrates; his new album, Birds of Paradise. The record intriguingly follows a different flow to his earlier releases with the artwork and L.Dre’s love of a specific plant inspiring the album. For all you horticulturists out there, you may have already recognised the name of the album as the special plant in question.

Birds of Paradise

Mulholland

Daily Bread

L.Dre

“That’s the plant right there” L.Dre gleams as he points behind him, “that’s the inspiration. With a plant called Birds of Paradise, how could that not be an album! I came up with the title and then I hit up Jim Spendlove, he did the artwork. I got the title and the artwork before the album was even done. I kind of worked backwards and put the record together based on those two things. Many of the songs you’re going to hear include birds and atmospheric sounds, just full-sounding stuff. When you look at the cover art it just kind of makes sense.”

Birds of Paradise features all-new material that is 100% L.Dre, but this doesn’t mean that hardcore fans won’t recognise snippets of beats and samples...they may have previously had their beginnings in L.Dre’s social media posts as he goes on to explain. “If I'm making a youtube video and I’m making a beat in a tutorial or something, you might never hear from it again, but a lot of this album is those beats fully fleshed out and finished.” It’s a concept that works well and shows the ingenuity built into this particular album.

The record is being released through streaming services and as a Qrates vinyl crowdfunding page on the same day. Fans will also get something special if they purchase the vinyl edition - two bonus tracks that will never be released digitally. L.Dre sees this as a thank you to his fans that have supported him and continue to do so. “The bonus tracks are on vinyl only. They are never going to be released on any other streaming platforms. That’s my way of rewarding my fans for being so dedicated that they actually go out of their way to purchase this vinyl release. They’re dope tracks too.”

L.Dre has a deep love of vinyl which is apparent as we look towards his vinyl setup in the background of the video call. Next to his Birds of Paradise plant is a collection of records, a clean, white turntable and speakers that are sleek but not overbearing. He goes on to discuss his love of records and why it means so much to him to have his music on vinyl. “For me, when it comes to the streaming, I just listen to music and throw songs into playlists. When it comes to vinyl, it’s the real experience of listening to an album. You put it on, you’re not going to skip it, you’re not going to fast forward or select certain songs. You just have to sit there and take it all in within a specific setting. That’s what I really like about it.”

For me, when it comes to the streaming, I just listen to music and throw songs into playlists. When it comes to vinyl, it’s the real experience of listening to an album. You put it on, you’re not going to skip it, you’re not going to fast forward or select certain songs. You just have to sit there and take it all in within a specific setting. That’s what I really like about it.

L. Dre

L. Dre with record collection

With the future of lofi only getting stronger, we’ll likely be hearing a lot more from L.Dre and perhaps more joint projects. Unlike other genres, the lofi space sees frequent appreciation and collaborations between artists within the scene. Although Birds of Paradise is all about L.Dre, he’s open to working with other lofi artists and shows love towards talent and producers in the space. “I’ve got some stuff coming up with Cookin Soul”, says L.Dre. “He’s like a legend and I’ve been talking to him for a while now. He’s been kind of a mentor to me so working with him is going to be dope. There’s a bunch of people I want to work with on the label side of things too like Lofi Girl or Chillhop. They do these collections on vinyl and it would be super cool to work with them.”

Birds of Paradise is now open for orders of the limited edition vinyl featuring two bonus tracks.

By Jamie Parmenter

August 5, 2021

NOW ON QRATES

L.Dre / Birds of Paradise is now available on Qrates.

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