Interview: Laertis - Just U

Originally from Athens, emerging singer and songwriter Laertis has since made his home in London, but that hasn’t stopped him from bringing those southern European influences with him as he unveils his latest single, ‘Just U’. Inspired by jazz, soul, funk and Latin music, Laertis has a truly genre-bending aesthetic that floods his latest release. With its smooth and wistful direction, stamped with his own haunting persona, ‘Just U’ is a bold yet captivating swoon that shows the true dexterity of Laertis’s songwriting and production.

So with Laertis’s new offering catching the ear of many right now, Chris Bound got in touch with him to find out more about his work to date and what he has planned in the months to come.

Words by Chris Bound

Discovered via http://musosoup.com

laertis.jpg

Chris) Hi Laertis, how are you today? 

Laertis) I feel pretty well. Thank you, hope you do too. 

How would you describe your sound? 

I’d say there is a jazz feeling within it as well as traditional Greek elements such as mellow melodies – which are not too far from the Middle Eastern sounds. I sometimes try to put these influences into a more folky character. But I love being upbeat and playing with the rhythm.

Which artists have influenced you the most over the years?

Oh! That’s a quite broad list to refer to. But, off the top of my head: Otis Redding, Buena Vista Social Club, Marvin Gaye, Fleet Foxes, The Doors, Chet Baker and Cesária Evora are some of the artists that I got influenced by, and possibly many more.

How did your latest single, ‘Just U’, come about?

Four years ago I decided to make an important change in my life and move to London. I had a quite chequered first year with many interesting incidents. This song came to me almost a year later – as a retrospective of those challenging times – when I started to feel more settled into this new life. I don’t know exactly how to explain, but I came up with a chord progression I liked and mumbled some vocal melodies on top of it. Then, when I set myself into a more contemplative state of mind, I managed to translate these thoughts into words. And there it is!!

Are you planning to make it part of a larger release, such as an EP or album?

Yes, I’ve already been working on an EP release with my great friend and collaborator Rob Woods, who also helped ‘Just U’ come to a completion. A few more collaborations I’m involved in at the moment are a single release with Rever, and another EP with an artist called Markiff, which is gonna have a bit of a different vibe to ‘Just U’.

The lockdown has affected everyone’s plans right now. What are you doing to stay productive throughout it and are you still able to work on new music?

It’s true that plans got shifted a little bit but I reckon it’s for the good. This period I’m focusing on my wellbeing and taking care of my body and mind. Music plays a big role in that for me but it’s not the only activity. I like reading a bit more now, and learning my other instruments in more profound ways. That keeps me going and indeed makes me create new music or work on the already existing projects.

What advice would you give other artists who are trying to stay productive during this crisis?

Any kind of crisis also comes with a purpose. To keep doing what we believe is best for us is the healthiest way to live, within or outside a crisis period. Staying productive keeps us alive so it’s good to also not feel too hectic because of the abundance of time we’ve got in a day.