Hailing from Finland, LUMI’s debut release, “Look The Other Way,” charted at #3 on Beatport’s Indie Dance charts. With her quick rise, we put her to task on our quick-fire Q&A.
Why music?
As cliche as it may be, it truly saved my life, and it can change my mood from a bad one to a good one in an instant.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Probably biohacking.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Decrease the time between thought and action, and you will be more productive than 90% of people.
What inspires you?
Weird art. The feeling of awe in nature. Waterfalls.
What’s the next big thing?
Being sober at the club.
Best club experience?
Club Space in Miami. It’s the best for a reason.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
Working as a nurse assistant at a hospital.
How do you know when a track’s finished?
When I feel like my entire brain is on fire.
What was your last day job? And when did you realise you could give it up?
My current job in tech. I’ve known for a while that I’m ready to give it up because focusing on anything and doing any task feels like pulling teeth!
Which song do you wish you wrote?
Tiger Stripes – Sneaking Hot Dogs Into People’s Pockets. I f**king love that track and the name too.
What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?
Go out and become part of the culture and scene, start an event, meet people, and support them.
What’s the worst track you’ve ever released?
I’ve only released two EPs, and thank god I’m not falling out of love with them yet!
Recommend us a film.
Fantastic Fungi.
Recommend us a book.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant has really good advice for life, happiness, etc. But Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being as well as “The War on Art” is another good one for aspiring artists.
What or who is underrated?
Looking into someone’s eyes at dinner and not at your phone.
What or who is overrated?
Being backstage.
What are you addicted to?
Pepperoncinis, iced matcha, and reformer pilates.
What do you lust over?
Warm sunny days, iconic outfits, and dancing in public.
What is your greatest regret?
Not starting sooner.
What one thing would most improve your life?
An assistant tbh.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?
The first one I played was a disaster, to be honest, and the venue shut down the following week.
Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the ass?
Depends on who, but rich most likely.
What’s the secret to a great mix?
Track selection and variety.
If you could only listen to one more track, what would it be?
Body Language – MANDY, Booka Shade.
How do you relax?
Yoga, sound bowls, reading, a good meal, time with family and friends
What one piece of software/kit could you not do without? Why?
Serum -, let’s be real. It has an easy-to-use interface and many options you can easily explore when customizing certain sounds and waveforms.
Art or money?
Art.
Ronaldo or Messi?
Messi.
Strangest place you ever wrote a track?
Inside a hyperbaric oxygen tank.
Must-visit record store?
Village Revival Records in NYC.
What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry?
Entitlement.
What’s your favourite label? Why?
Kompakt Extra. I love the versatility. They are very selective, and the music is never cookie-cutter—actually, quite the opposite.
What’s the worst thing about making music?
Ironically, the vast number of possibilities and options sometimes makes me want to do it all; the need to narrow it down can sometimes be the hardest part.
What’s your motto?
If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
Name something timeless
Seth Troxler – WMC 2010 ‘Bats’ video on the DJ Mag YouTube.
Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?
Get the basics right first and focus on simplicity; overcomplicating the melody or too many crazy FX will just confuse the listener and make the track sound like sh*t.
Once you do that, you can add your signature sounds that make your music yours, like a cool vocal, a specific style of drums, a certain kind of snare, etc. Being unique is the best thing you can do, don’t go cookie-cutter and follow the same pattern everyone else is doing. Don’t be afraid to stand out.
Complete this sentence: At heart, I’m just a frustrated…
…little kid that wants the newest Webkinz or Tamagotchi.
If someone saw a performance of yours in 1000 years, what do you think they would say?
That no one really knows what they are doing, including me, at that time.
Can music change the world?
Sound can change vibrations and frequencies, which can resonate in your body in different ways and alter your mood, feelings, and emotions. So, yes.
What are you listening to right now?
Set & Setting by Goom Gum on TrueSoul record label.
What should you do before you die? Travel more and more and more
Leave this world with no regrets is my biggest motto. The worst that can happen is you get a no, but dying with the regret of never trying will be worse.
Find LUMI on Instagram.
LUMI’s Pan-Pot ‘Bond’ remix is out now. Listen on Spotify.
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