Lealani

Name, where are you from?
Lealani from Pomona, CA.

Describe your style in three words?
BEEP BOP BOOP.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Ty Segall’s buttcrack at The Smell for one of their anniversary shows when I was an angsty 16 year old in High School. I was pushed up against all these kids at the very front against the stage, best spot in the house. As Ty Segall was setting up his guitar pedals, his pants were falling; and my face was right in front of his buttcrack. After that, he started performing as a one-man band with his feet on a bass drum and a hi-hat stand, and his hands on a guitar, paired up with his dirty vocals. As always, we all went crazy and Ty killed it; but the best part was seeing Ty Segall’s buttcrack.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Portishead and Damaged Bug. Both of these artists make music STRAIGHT from the heart. They’re the two most genuine artists I could think of when it comes to making music. I WOULD DIE if I could ever see Portishead perform live. There is NO ONE like Portishead. Every single song they ever put out is genius, their music will literally raise your emotional intelligence. Damaged Bug is a synth-punk solo project made by John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees, and he’s another entertaining performer that I’d love to play a show with as well, and I don’t think he’s ever performed as Damaged Bug before.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Definitely the LA Beat Scene and Low End Theory. When I started making music at 12 years old, it was my goal to perform at Low End Theory. I was so inspired by all the residents and performers they would have on their lineups. I then had the chance to perform at Low End Theory Festival 2016 when I was a finalist for their Beat Invitational. I was then invited to perform again at The Airliner when I was 16 years old. The Backyard show scene in the Inland Empire also influenced me, as I had a surf-punk project in High School called The Pezheads. I had this huge obsession with Surf-punk in High School and was heavily inspired by local bands and friends that were around me. Those shows were always so intimate and pure, it made me the musician I am today and it reminds me that we’re all here to have fun.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would hang out with Robert Moog and ask him to teach me about how he makes his synthesizers and I’d probably beg him to make me a custom one.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
LOW END THEORY!!! At the Airliner in Los Angeles. I feel that it’s where my music career really started and everyone there is so deep into the music that they like. The Low End Residents will showcase musicians that they like, whether they have a following or not. They always support good artists. It’s a venue that’s small enough to see the eyes of the people in front of you, but it’s a part of a big enough of a scene to have a lot of fun and be around so many genuine people. 

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Adrian Younge. He’s my favourite composer/film scorer. The music he writes is very visual. I take a lot of inspiration from the way he uses the drums, combined with melodies that are both familiar and vintage. It’s so inspiring to hear the music he makes and also to know how humble and honest he is with himself and his work. He gives the best advice when he goes on Instagram Live, and you can tell he is a very intelligent guy when he speaks.

Lealani is a multi-instrumentalist from Pomona, California. She released her debut album 'Fantastic Planet' in January 2019. Domeofdoom.lnk.to/fantasticplanet.

Lealani will be performing on Saturday at this years All Our Tomorrows festival. Alongside Black Country, New Road, Pardans, Jerskin Fendrix, Great Dad, Platonica Erotica, Taylor Skye, Lealani and Brother May.