Leyma

Name, where are you from?
Max Hanley, from East London.

Describe your style in three words?
Airy, Relaxed, Colourful

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Between Lil Peep and, Bombay Bicycle club and Peace at Earl’s court last gig. David Gilmour came out and played ‘Wish You Were Here’ - that was insane. But would have to be Peep, just because he was and is such a big part of my life and I knew every word to every track, it was unreal.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I’d have to say the Beatles even though it’s bait, don’t think I listened to anything else growing up, and always wanted to be George. I even went to the barbers with a picture of him thinking the guy could cut my hair like that.
Bob Marley as well, he has always been a big inspiration, with dad playing him around the house a lot when I was younger. He spreads the right message and I aspire to be this honest.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The two subcultures that influence me the most would be Hip-hop and Indie. Hip-hop for me is such a huge genre and the music created is so diverse and vast, most of my favourite music today would fall under Hip-hop in some way. In school, I definitely took a lot of influence from Indie music, which is cool and there a lot of mad Indie acts nowadays I’m into.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I know he’s still alive but Bobby Charlton, I used to have his picture stuck on the ceiling right above my bunk bed when I was 10.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is favourite?
The Wanstead Tap, I felt at home, it was an intimate gig. Dan, the owner's a good mate of my dad and the tap's a sick place.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), he’s not really unsung. But definitely a hero in music for me. After watching all his interviews years ago, it inspired me to make music on my own, to produce music too. Love all his work.

British solo artist Leyma (born Max Hanley) is an exciting new talent from East London. Creating music since the age of nine, Max has created his own lo-fi sound, fusing hip-hop, indie and R&B with his uniquely observational and personal lyrics.