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 that the album has been a long time coming, and it was well worth waiting for. Co-produced with Adrian X (Drake, The Weeknd, Doc McKinney), the project is a reflection on identity and an homage to her ancestral ties, with the title serving as a nod to the name that her mother gave her while showcasing a new incarnation of her artistry, paving the way for her future as an artist to watch.
With ELIZABETH out now, we caught up with LOKRE to reflect on the album’s writing and recording process, as well as 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 a handful of new singles and your debut album coming soon! What has been the highlight of your year so far?
LOKRE: Just finally getting to share this music with people – when I say it’s been 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 ones will listen that way) – I’m excited for them to take in the story the project is telling from beginning to end. Every note was really meticulously crafted so I just hope they hear the care that went into it.
With ELIZABETH being your debut album, was there anything you knew you wanted to accomplish with it when you began working on it?
Above all else I want to tell my story. For a long time I think I shied away from letting my origins 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 to finally be doing that.
You recently released your single, “Finish Line” from the album! Can you tell us a little bit about the track? What inspired it?
‘Finish Line’ is like a list of all my toxic traits (lol) but really. It’s a dedication to the hard, human and beautiful parts of this journey I chose. As challenging as it can be, the ways we stumble and find a way to get back up, those moments are what make the process valuable. The production is probably my favourite on the project – the song went all the way up to version 45 before I decided it was finally done, does anyone make that many versions anymore?
The album’s title is your name, so is it safe to say that this is a very personal release?
Definitely, and the name Elizabeth carries such a specific cultural association with royalty – which is really
how I feel about the legacy of my grandmother who was a well known Trinidadian dancer. She was royalty in her own right which is why I decided to wear her jewelry on the album cover… Crown Jewels, brown women edition.
Were there any specific subjects that you wanted to touch on with these songs?
It ended up being a wide scope of my experiences from love and my journey with my mental health, to my lineage and empowerment I gain from that.
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist with the writing and recording of the album?
I learned to trust my creative instincts more, and to trust my collaborators. Working with people I’ve been steadily building with like Adrian X and Ryan Ashley, I was given space to guide 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 – that for better or worse, I have a hard time letting go. And that I much prefer making bodies of work than releasing singles which is inconvenient considering the landscape of the way music is consumed right now.
What was the most exciting or rewarding part of working on the album?
The album ends with a poem that was composed for the project by my favourite poet Dominique Christina & scored by David Lale of the London Filharmonic. When I heard that final arrangement I balled my eyes out. It’s the perfect ending to the story, and it’s a beautiful reminder of how supported I am. That’s been the most rewarding part of the experience, to feel the support of the community of creators that helped bring it to being.
With ELIZABETH out now, do you have any other big plans coming up? Any shows or tour dates in the works?
I’m excited to be launching my first fragrance as the merch for this project, it’s an earthy grounding essential oil blend that I’ve been working on for a long time. As for shows, any booking agents reading this? As soon as I find one I’ll let you know!
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Go stream ‘Elizabeth’ – Thanks for having me x
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