Words by Callum MacDonald

After making a huge impression in 2019 with his debut single ‘Hey! I Don’t Want That Anyway’ AKA Lui is back with his psychedelic-pop delight ‘Pushing Me Aside’. We sat down with the artist just before the release to learn more about his musical origins, his process in the studio and the connection between his music and his hometown, Byron Bay. 

Futuremag Music: As a fresh artist in the music scene, you made a lasting impression with the first single ‘Hey! I Don’t Want That Anyway’ displaying experienced production and songwriting ability. Can you tell us more about how the AKA Lui project came to fruition and your background as a songwriter and producer? 

AKA Lui: AKA Lui was born out of a period of isolation and self-reflection. I had just finished school & I moved out of home without a clue what I was doing or where I was going. I ended up moving into a tiny caravan in the hills, where I had all the time & freedom in the world, & all I wanted to do was make music. 

Futuremag Music: Your sound is largely derivative of old-school funk, soul and disco but with a healthy balance of modern production elements. Tell us, where do you draw the majority of your sonic inspiration from and how do you find the balance between blending the old with the new? 

AKA Lui: I’m inspired by what is going on around me. Whether i’m outside in the world recording samples, playing with an old casio keyboard with half the keys missing, or listening to old records. The sense of nostalgia that is felt in my music likely comes from a mix of those things. It’s hard to know why certain sounds or experiences spark inspiration. You play a sound and you resonate with it, but it’s hard to express exactly why.

I’ve never been one to draw direct sonic inspiration from artists i’m listening to, i’m more interested in recreating how I felt when I experienced the music, & trying to emulate that feeling. I love when I’m messing around and stumble upon a new sound, or a new concept comes to me seemingly out of nowhere.

Futuremag Music: Your newest single ‘Pushing Me Aside’ explores a more psychedelic sound that ties in the heartfelt meaning of the track immensely. Was this a conscious production decision before you started working on the song or does sound design come naturally to your process? 

AKA Lui: The elements of psychedelia that you hear in the production show a glimpse of my obsession with these type of sounds, but I never set out to make a psych tune. It all came very naturally as the song unfolded. The hook came to me first, but I didn’t know what kind of production it would be until I was doing it. I let things fall into place around the melody. My process is very based on feeling, & this felt right.

Futuremag Music: When I found out you were Byron based, I instantly wondered if you’d give us an insight into the music community down there? What is it about this small town that can produce acts like The Babe Rainbow, Parcels, Tora, Parkway Drive, Skeggs and now AKA Lui…?

AKA Lui: I’m guessing the laid back lifestyle and steady pace has an influence. It certainly does for me. My environment is very inspiring for me & I can only assume it would be the same for other creatives here. I think you can feel the ‘Byron Bay’ in bands like Parcels & Tora in the best way possible, they’re just on the level.

Futuremag Music: Lastly, we’d love to know, what are three Australian artists you have been listening to recently? 

AKA Lui: Eluera’s new single ‘Moderation’ is my absolute favourite track at the moment.  Anything that includes Lazywax is a certified vibe. Also Mildlife’s new release is incredible too.