WEEKEND MUSIC TIP PT 102 LAVENDER

WEEKEND MUSIC TIP PT 102 LAVENDER

INTERVIEW AND WORDS BY LEONIE KAMPEN

He has quietly worked his way up through Germany’s underground rap scene, but recently made a lot of noise with headbangers such as MOSHPIT: Lavender.

After warming up the stage for Levin Liam during his tour last year and performing at festivals such as Splash this summer, the Wuppertal-born artist finally released his debut EP, “1/1.”

Lavender refuses to be confined to a single genre – nor a single artistic medium. With a background in painting and graffiti, he now almost seems to be drawing entire worlds when rapping: symbolic visuals, sharp wordplay, and poetic skill over vibrant beats.

After spending time at fashion school, he is now also active as a tattoo artist and model alongside his music career.

In conversation with Numéro Berlin, he shares more about his new EP, biting in (and outside of) graffiti, and how he is, against contrary beliefs, quite the overthinker.

Leonie Kampen: LK: Lets talk about your new album, it came out last month. How did you come up with the name 1/1?

Lavender:

1/1, one of one. I always thought it explained itself. There’s simply no comparison. That’s what I believe in and what matters to me: not being like everyone else, but doing your own shit. Doing what you feel from within. That’s what makes you your own version, your own one of one. That applies to everyone. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone else. I just stand by doing what I want to do, because that’s who I am.

LK: Is that also the message you want to send to the German rap scene?

Definitely. Right now, so much sounds the same. Someone does something, it becomes successful, and the next week ten other people are doing the same thing and succeeding with it too. Ikkimel is a perfect example – she does her thing really well. But then so many others follow. That’s not necessarily bad, it’s just a shame. You can tell people see something works and think, “Okay, I’ll do that too.” To me, that has nothing to do with art. I want to make art. I come from painting, tattooing, and graffiti. It’s always been important to me not to bite. I don’t know if you know the term – it comes from graffiti culture and means copying without permission. Back then, if you bite someone’s style while painting, you got beaten up. It’s important to do your own thing. That’s how I grew up. That’s why 1/1 felt so obvious to me.

LK: What are the main themes on the album?

L: That’s actually the funny thing. This tape doesn’t fully reflect its name. It’s only one part of it. The next tape will reveal more of what I mean and show another side of me. I don’t know what I’ll call it yet. Calling it 1/1 again would be a bit stupid, so I still have to think about that.

LK: I wondered if the title meant this would be the only album there would ever be.

L: No, definitely not. It’s the beginning of showing that I really do whatever I want. I’ve always made a lot of trap – I come from trap. That’s why I wanted my first EP to be a trap record, because that’s where I started. Since then, I’ve made a lot of other things too. The next project will be different again, to the point where people might think, “Wait, is this still him?”

LK: So you think you’ll move away from trap a bit?

L: Definitely. I’ve also been listening to Afro music and alternative stuff. There’s already a lot of alternative and pop-influenced music too. I just want to be free. Every project can be different and mix different elements. Just because I made trap and it worked doesn’t mean I’m going to do it forever. I think that’s the message.

LK: Otherwise you just end up limiting yourself.

L: Exactly. A lot of people do that.

LK: According to my research, your artist name comes from your calm personality. How do you stay grounded?

L: By sleeping a lot, good friends, good food, and living alone. Moving into my own place helped me a lot because I’m not constantly dealing with other people’s stress.

LK: Is there anything that throws you off balance?

L: Definitely. I’m an overthinker. I probably seem calmer than I actually am because people always tell me I’m calm. I think a lot, and sometimes that worries me – especially when I think about the future. But in the end I always manage to ground myself again. I remind myself that you can achieve anything as long as you keep working and don’t give up.

LK: Your music videos are full of symbolism – snakes, swords, and so on. Does everything have a meaning, or is it mostly about aesthetics?

L: Aesthetics come first. It has to look good to me. I’m always involved in directing because I know exactly how I want things to look. I like symbolism, but I’m not trying to force a deeper meaning. I want people to interpret it however they want.

LK: Where does that aesthetic come from?

L: It’s just me. It comes naturally. I don’t copy anyone – I don’t bite.

LK: Fashion is also quite present in your visuals. What role does it play for your music?

L: A huge one. Ever since elementary school, when I was first allowed to choose my own clothes, I realized how much fun it was. I remember picking these crazy slip-ons with skull graphics instead of the normal shoes. Fashion has always been a way to express myself and show that I’m on my own lane. I’ve also been modeling for a long time.

LK: What would you do if you weren’t making music?

L: Tattooing. I work as a tattoo artist.

LK: Do you still tattoo regularly?

L: A bit less lately because I’ve been focusing on music, but I finished a new flash sheet today. I love tattooing and drawing. It gives me almost as much as making music. I also love the exchange with people. My best friend, Babyrentner, is a tattoo artist too. It’s a great way to express creativity. Someone comes to you and says, “I want your art on my body.”

LK: That’s a huge commitment. People carry your art forever.

L: I actually think that’s even cooler than selling art pieces, even though I’d like to do that too.

LK: Do you still paint as well?

L: Yeah, I actually started with painting. Tattooing came later because I had to make money, and then I realized how much I enjoyed it.

LK: You live in Berlin now. Do you still feel shaped by growing up in NRW?

L: Definitely. You can hear it in the way I speak. Even if I don’t show it as much anymore, the street stays with you. I love being from NRW. I probably never would have left if it hadn’t been for label opportunities and the fact that so much creativity is concentrated in Berlin. Back home I was surrounded by people without much drive, and that wasn’t good for me. Funny enough, a lot of the motivated people I hang out with here are also from NRW. If everyone had stayed there, maybe I wouldn’t have had to move to Berlin.

LK: I get that. Creative people almost inevitably end up in Berlin, it happened to me too. Who inspires your music?

L: My friends mostly. I can’t really name one specific artist.

LK: What are you listening to at the moment?

L: I wasn’t even a huge Ken Carson fan, but his latest album is incredible. I saw he was playing Splash! and skipped the show. Two days later I heard the album and thought, “I should have gone.” I also listen to Afro artists like BiG Tinny and svn4vr. They’re really raw. Then there’s alternative stuff like Lost Coop, Yellow Days, and of course trap. Also Zackavelli.

LK: Can you tell us anything about upcoming projects or still a secret?

L: It’s not a secret – I just genuinely don’t know. I’m terrible at planning. I make music all the time and end up with too many songs. I’ve already made around a hundred songs this year. Choosing what to release is the hardest part. I usually decide at the last minute based on instinct. I do know that the next project will be less trap-focused and much freer. I want people to think, “Wait, I thought he was just a trap artist, and now he’s singing about love over an Afrobeat?” I’m looking for that “wait, what?” reaction.

LK: Are you planning shows for the tape?

L: Yeah, but for now I want to keep performing One of One. People are still in that trap mindset and expect those songs, so I want to give them that first. After that, I’ll start switching things up. I’d also love to do collaborations with people from that world, like Lewin Liam. I opened for him on tour last year, and he’s a really inspiring person.