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A spiritually grounded R&B singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, LOKRE has had an exciting year so far with the release of her ambitious debut album, ELIZABETH last month. After ten years in music, it’s safe to say the album was a long time coming and worth the wait. Co-produced with Adrian X (Drake, The Weeknd, Doc McKinney), the project is a reflection on identity and a tribute to her ancestral ties, with the title serving as a nod to the name her mother gave her while showcasing a new incarnation of her artistry, paving the path to her future as an artist to watch.
With ELIZABETH now out, we caught up with LOKRE to reflect on the process of writing and recording the album, and her growth as an artist along with it. Read more and listen to the album now below.
Prelude Press: You’ve had an exciting year so far with the release of several new singles and your debut album coming soon! What has been the highlight of your year so far?
locker: I just finally got around to sharing this music with people – when I say it was years in the making…!
You just released your new album, ELIZABETH last month! What are you most excited for fans to hear on the album?
I can’t wait for people to take it in from top to bottom (real people will listen this way) – I’m excited for them to take in the story the project tells from start to finish. Every note was really meticulously crafted, so I just hope they can hear the care that went into it.
with ELIZABETH since it’s your debut album, was there anything you knew you wanted to achieve with it when you started working on it?
First of all I want to tell my story. For a long time I think I shied away from letting my background inspire my sound, maybe because I wasn’t fully aware of the richness of my own heritage, I still feel like this is just the beginning of that exploration, but it feels really empowering the most finally doing this.
You recently released your single “Finish Line” from the album! Can you tell us a bit about the track? What inspired it?
“Finish Line” is like a list of all my toxic traits (lol), but really. It is a dedication to the difficult, human and beautiful parts of this journey that I have chosen. As challenging as the ways we stumble and find a way to get back up are those moments that make the process worthwhile. The production is probably my favorite on the project – the song got to version 45 before I decided it was finally done, does anyone do that many versions anymore?
The title of the album is your name, so is it safe to say that this is a very personal release?
Certainly, the name Elizabeth carries such a specific cultural association with royalty – which indeed it does
how I feel about the legacy of my grandmother who was a famous Trinidadian dancer. She was royalty in her own right, which is why I decided to wear her jewels on the album cover…Crown Jewels, Women’s Brown Edition.
Were there any particular themes you wanted to touch on with these songs?
It ended up being a broad circle of my experiences from love and my journey with my mental health to my line and the empowerment I get from it.
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist writing and recording the album?
I learned to trust my creative instinct more and trust my collaborators. Working with people I was constantly building with, like Adrian X and Ryan Ashley, I was given space to lead the sessions, but also trusted them to take the lead when the moment called for it.
Did you learn anything new about yourself in the process?
Yes – for better or for worse, that’s hard for me to let go of. And that I’d much rather make artwork than release singles, which is awkward given the landscape of how music is consumed right now.
What was the most exciting or rewarding part of working on the album?
The album ends with a poem composed for the project by my favorite poet Dominique Cristina and a score by David Lyle of the London Philharmonic. When I heard that final arrangement, I bawled my eyes out. It’s the perfect ending to the story and a beautiful reminder of how supportive I am. That was the most rewarding part of the experience, feeling the support of the community of creators who helped create it.
With ELIZABETH out now, do you have any other big plans? Any concerts or tour dates?
I’m excited to release my first fragrance as a product for this project, it’s an earthy blend of essential oils that I’ve been working on for a long time. As for the shows, are there any booking agents reading this? As soon as I find one I will let you know!
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Stream Elizabeth – Thanks for having me x
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