Hey what's up people! It's your boy Labrinth here and my oh my it's been a while since I have chatted to you all. It's been crazy! It's always crazy for me but it seems to have taken on a whole life of it's own recently!
So much has gone on since I last put pen to paper but really the main thing for me has been being part of the Olympic celebrations and carrying the flame last week....I was lucky enough to carry the flame from Brent last Wednesday and I gotta say I've been on a bit of a high ever since. I was a bit vague about it all before and was like "yeah that's cool" but didn't really understand or appreciate the magnitude of what it all stood for you know. I was a bit of an Olympic grinch!
Jeez thou the atmosphere was electric when I stepped out there. It was like for one tiny minute everyone was just getting on and smiling at each other, all different races and background. And it was just nice, you know?
London can be a very cynical place, as I'm sure you'll all agree and people can get moody. But it was quite a magical moment when everyone felt at peace. Some of the runners were crying and I was like, "wow this is deep. Lab - you better hold back those tears."
Although I was more concerned about not tripping over - it was only 300 metres but you are carrying a naked flame and one wrong move could see it all go wrong! When I came out of the bus loads of people were trying to grab the torch - it was madness - I felt like Jesus or someone! It was crazy.
Such a cool experience though and i'm so honoured to be proud of the whole thing! Big up London!
Aside from that I've really been focussing and drilling down on the live side of me as an artist. I remember this time last year when I was just embarking on the festival circuit, trying to figure out what I wanted to look like in a live environment.
I gotta say it's one of the things I really enjoy working on - I love surprising people and I think people still don't know what to expect from me. I really enjoy 'festival life' as it were and I love the reactions when I bring out my guitar on stage. The crowd are always a bit like "what the hell is this urban guy doing with a guitar" and thats what I love - the shock element of it all!
I think people expect a pop act because I am with SYCO but I don't do that. I love scrolling through my Twitter afterwards and seeing what people have to say! Some people are like "Lab, give me guitar lessons lol." I love the energy and adrenalin of when you are on stage and I think it really broadens what I am about.
Aside from that I have been working on developing my act ExR (Emergency Room) who are a very talented duo made of up-and-coming female vocalist Etta Bond and super sick producer Raf Riley. We've just dropped the video for Boring Bitches last week which features Lady Leshurr and it has gone mad.
The guys have just released their first self titled EP 'Emergency Room' which you grab from here and I am super excited about what we have coming up for them. i think people are gonna like it! So make sure you stay tuned for more details about that! I really am focussing on these guys after my album and I want to move quite quickly on them... so that will be 'another side of me' which I am looking forward for you all to see!
Right now I need to shoot and get back into that studio... I have got music to make! Catch ya very soon, stay safe - Lab x