Being unapologetically you is one of the most important parts of being a creator, and those are words that definitely describe electro-pop singer/songwriter Layke!
Layke grew up in a pretty conservative environment in Dallas, which often times led her to feel like an outsider. She found comfort in being able to express herself through dance, musical theater, and writing. She kept journals full of poetry and lyrics, which actually came in handy when she was singing backup for a punk rock band in high school.
Eventually, Layke moved to Los Angeles to pursue her singing/songwriting career. She released two eclectic EPs – Layke, Pt. 1 and Layke, Pt. 2, and has a new one on the way! On Friday, she also released her new single “Bad Things.” We recently got to chat about everything she’s been up to, so check that out below!
Hi Layke! How’s everything going?
Great thx so much 4 asking. Just very excited about my new music coming out :)))
Let’s kick things off with chatting about the beginning of your musical journey! You’ve always been creating some kind of art. When was the point where you realized yup, I’m going to pursue a career in music?
It was some thing that had always been inside of me and I had always wanted to scream it from the rooftops literally this is what I’m going to do but I never thought I would ever actually be able to do it or be able to take all the steps to get me to where I needed to or even where to start. And then a few years of living in Los Angeles all of a sudden I was playing gigs everywhere and I was like I’m really doing this and it just dawned on me that there wasn’t another option. This was what I was gonna do no matter what.
In high school, you were in a punk rock band. What kind of made you
gravitate over to pop?
In high school I was a total little punk rocker, which is some thing that you never really grow out of IMO 🙂 But I think the music landscape has changed and I don’t think pop music is just one sort of single solitary thing. I think now so many things fall under pop… there’s R&B and hip hop and rock and country and basically every genre now coming together so pop is a really broad term at this point. I’d say I’m just making music that makes me happy and that comes from the depths of who I am. And whatever genre that is, is really inconsequential I’m just creating.
How was it like creating your new single “Bad Things”?
My new single “Bad Things” and my upcoming EP “Frequency” were just so much fun and so amazing to make. Delving into the pop world was definitely a whole new thing for me but I really had such a great creative time and it really pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’m so happy that I went for it. I really have my producer Adrian Gurvitz to thank for that. He really pushes me as an artist and I really appreciate that so much because it takes things to another level.
You’re gearing up to release your third EP, Frequency. Can you give us a little heads up on what we can expect from it?
“Frequency” takes you on a journey. I dug really deep into who I was and tried to put parts of myself into this that I’ve never put into my music before. I talk very openly about my sexuality and how I feel about what’s going on in society. As well as there are some amazing moments of infatuation and love and also moments that’ll make you dance. Basically I set out to make people wanna feel something deeply, make them wanna do some thing about what’s going on, and make them wanna move.
As of right now you have two EPs out (Layke, Pt. 1 and Layke, Pt. 2.) How would you say your creative process has evolved over the years?
As an artist I’m always evolving. As a person I’m always evolving. I truly believe that being stagnant is the kiss of death for creativity. You must always be in forward motion so I think my creative process has just always been what it is… I just let myself do what I need to do when I need to do it, feel what I need to feel when I need to feel it, and express myself the way I need to. And then I channel that into music and with the help of amazing people like my producer I’m able to come up with things hopefully people will really love.
What is one of the coolest experiences you’ve had so far as an artist?
This is probably gonna make me sound like the biggest dork ever but I remember growing up and being a little punk rock kid going to shows in Dallas, where I’m originally from, in deep Elim and seeing amazing bands come through from California and all across the country and the world and I would know all the words to some of my favorite artists songs and I would sing along and it would be the most amazing thing. And I’ve had that happen before where I’ve had a packed crowd and people are singing every word and I personally think that there is no more amazing feeling in the world then to have that moment and that connection with the audience. It’s just incredible and I can’t wait to get on tour and have these amazing experiences again :)))
If you could turn back time to the veryyyy beginning of your career and give yourself a piece of advice, what do you think it would be?
I would say do anything and everything. When I first moved to Los Angeles I was very set in only working in the rock music world. I was very into my thing and I wasn’t very open to collaborating in other genres etc. Of course things have changed a ton since then and it’s an entirely different industry because everybody collaborates with everyone but I think I had like something to prove. I was very young and green and had a chip on my shoulder and passing up opportunities didn’t get me anywhere. So yeah I definitely would say do anything and everything and take every opportunity you can. You never know where it might take you.
Finally, if there’s one place in the world you could teleport to right now,
where would it be?
I wish I could teleport us all 20 years into the future. That way we can see all of the positive that is coming from what change is occurring in the world right now. We could see years from now how everything that we are doing now really changed the future and made it better for everybody. And hopefully if we were 20 years in the future we would see a world where people had love and compassion for each other and where there were truly equal rights for all with a place and space for everyone.
Check out “Bad Things” below, and say hi to Layke on Instagram and Twitter @LaykeOfficial!
“I think you reach a point in life where you’re trying to become something and prove yourself and then you wake up one day and realize that’s exactly who you are — and it’s exactly who you’ve always been.” –Layke
