We caught up with up-and-coming Melbourne hip hop artist L-FRESH The LION to talk about his music, speaking at TEDx, launching a clothing label (Power To The Peaceful Community), asylum and the current Australian election, his new single “One” and much more…
Tell us a bit about how you got started in music.
I started 10 years a go, when I was 14, writing, recording, producing and performing. Hip Hop appealed to me because it was raw. I connected with the emotion and the feeling in each song. I was captivated by the way in which MCs would tell stories. So I wanted to do the same. I didn’t have anyone around me making beats, so I started making beats myself too. The first song I ever wrote and recorded was called “World of Discrimination”. I wrote about my experiences facing racism and discrimination, how it made me feel and the need to educate people in order to move past it. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop. It’s been a great journey. I’ve been able to travel across Australia and connect with some amazing people and artists. I’m very thankful.
You’re originally from South West Sydney, what made you decide to move to Melbourne and how is it treating you?
Melbourne has been embracing. The artist community, in particular, has been open and welcoming. I made the move to try and push my artistry to a new level. There’s a level of comfort associated with Sydney for me. I needed to get out of my comfort zone, thrust myself into a new environment and challenge myself in different ways in order to push myself. I feel like I’m doing that. I’m learning a lot and I’m growing as a person and as an artist. It’s been a great experience. South West Sydney will always be home.
You’ve had some incredible achievements in recent times like speaking at TEDx, making an appearance on The Project – can you tell us a littler about those experiences?
TEDx was a challenging experience. It came up so quickly. There’s the initial application process, then you have a little while to think about your talk, one run through, then you’re on stage. I really enjoyed it. I got to speak about something I’m passionate about, which is Hip Hop and how that can positively affect lives, and I got to share the stage with some amazing thinkers in the local community. Opportunities like that, and like being part of a story on The Project, which touched on my work in community using Hip Hop, are nice. They are reminders that let you know you’re on the right track. They, in and of themselves though, don’t change what I’m doing. By that I mean, I don’t go out and pursue them actively. They come as a product of doing what I’m passionate about and doing what I love.
What have been some of the other highlights of the year?
Launching “One” (my first single from my upcoming debut album of the same name) was a highlight for me. I’ve been around for quite a while, just working on my skills and developing my craft. To finally begin the process of releasing my first album is really exciting. Not many people are aware of how much work goes into a project like an album or an EP. Artists pour out their hearts and souls for the love of their music. And it takes quite a long time. So to finally begin to share a song from the album has been a highlight.
I launched it with my band in Sydney and Melbourne. Both of those shows were memorable. Particularly the Sydney show. A friend of mine, and a Hip Hop legend in the Sydney scene: Rangi Harris (DJ Rangsta) passed away just before it and his funeral was on the same day as the Sydney show. We went straight from the funeral, to the memorial, and then to the show. I think he was there with us on the night. We rocked it in his name. It definitely felt special. I’ll never forget it.
What motivated you to start clothing label Power To The Peaceful Community?
I wanted to extend conversations with the people who came to my shows. A show is momentary. It’s a moment in time that stays in our memories. At our shows, I touch on a lot of ideas and topics in between songs. I felt like this idea of promoting peace within our communities demanded much more than a freestyle discussion. So I came up with the idea for a shirt and a name for it: a fist, the universal symbol of power, on top of the peace symbol with the text Power To The Peaceful written underneath it. A brother of mine, Joseph Parmanand, worked on the design. And I put it out there. People then started sending me photos of themselves wearing the shirt in spaces that were meaningful to them along with their ideas as to how they achieve peace in their lives and what they want to see in their communities. It’s since transcended to become more than just a clothing label.
With that said, I don’t think it’ll ever just be a clothing label. It’s now a passionate collective of individuals, united by the Power To The Peaceful Community concept, who motivate and inspire each other to stay active in their communities by contributing positively and voluntarily to community projects of interest. Some people are working with newly arrived migrants and refugees to help them settle in and others are working with young people who are facing hard times. It truly is developing into a Power To The Peaceful Community.
What has it been like getting the company off the ground?
It’s been interesting. I don’t think Power To The Peaceful Community is a company. My vision for it is to see it become a community led initiative that seeks to promote peace and peaceful relationships in our communities. It’s been shaped purely by the people who have shared their ideas with me. I simply create the framework. I have no idea what it will become. I think the people will decide that. But I do know that it’s having a positive impact on those who’ve participated and contributed.
Your facebook profile DP says “Seeking Asylum is a human right” – Where does the current election leave those who hold that belief?
A lot of people are frustrated. And rightfully so. In all working professions, people are held accountable for their actions and their words. Particularly if those actions and words are misleading and inaccurate. But it seems that our politicians are exempt from this level of accountability. They continue to push misleading, inaccurate and incorrect statements as a matter of fact to us so that they can secure votes. For example, our politicians have made so many people believe that seeking asylum in this country is illegal. That’s not true. And it’s misleading for them to keep pushing that idea.
Seeking asylum is a human right as defined by international law. Australia is a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, which provides this protection to people. Also, there is no offence under Australian law that makes it illegal for people to seek asylum here. People don’t have to agree with each other in relation to the asylum seeker issue, but understanding the facts is important. Politicians should be held accountable, particularly when they push misleading and inaccurate statements. They’re pretty much lying to our faces. Now, if our politicians are consciously misleading us in relation to one issue, who’s to say they aren’t doing the same with many other important issues? It’s a challenging time for Australian politics. The people are looking for honesty, integrity, and for our politicians to lead by positive example, which is not happening.
How much does the new single One reflect the general feel of the album due for release next year?
“One” is an introduction to the album. It’s an introduction into who I am as a lyricist and as a MC. It also highlights the direction we’re taking with the production on the album. I’ve been working with a good friend of mine, who also happens to be one of the most talented and hard working producers I’ve ever worked with, Michael McGlynn of Vienna People (shout out to Scotty Donnelly, who’s a part of the Vienna People team, and has been helping out with the album!). We’re working with a lot of live instrumentation whilst incorporating production techniques that are common to Hip Hop, such as sampling and drum programming. “One” is funky and it’s banging. The entire album is banging. But what drives it all home is the lyrics. I share my soul on this record. I can’t wait for you all to hear it.
For those unfamiliar with you live, what can we expect from your sets?
Fun. You can expect to have fun at one of my live shows, especially when I get together with my band. There’s 7 of us in the band. Clinton Manshanden (drums), Chris Zammit (bass), Duane Critcher (guitar), MK-1 (DJ), Mirrah (hype MC/backing vocals) and Ofisa “Tee” Togia (backing vocals, who’s currently one of the star performers on this season’s X-Factor. He’s killing it right now!). We put on a highly energetic and engaging show. The musicians and artists in my band have such diverse musical backgrounds. So when we combine it all together it’s great fun.
What have you got planned for the rest of 2013?
I’ll be releasing the second single from the album in the near future. I’m really looking forward to that. The next single shows another side of me and pays respect to where I grew up: South West Sydney. I’ll also be playing some shows with my band in November.
————–
L-FRESH‘s single “One” is out now. More details about the artist can be found via the links below:
http://www.L-FRESH.com
http://www.facebook.com/LFRESHTheLION
Tweets by LFRESHTHELION
