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Image courtesy of L3bby
Front Row with L3bby
"Bladee and DG’s impact is about not just the music. It’s the culture surrounding them, the way people stretch Bladee’s lyrics into sprawling conspiracy theories and show up to Drain Gang shows looking like gender-bamboozling Sims with a hodgepodge of erratic clothes and colors. Drain culture: an abyss of in-jokes, slang, visuals, and fashion."
– No Bells article on 'How the cult of Drain Gang rose from meme to myth' (2022).
Internet Music.
That's the term which is currently redefining & reimagining what the future of music looks like at this present moment. And when I say Internet music–I want you to think Soulja Boy. Lil B. The original pioneers of the genre, which is inherently closely tied to YouTube and other facets of online culture. I would classify artists like Gab3 (Uzi) and Swedish collective, Drain Gang, as contemporary martyrs for the genre of internet music, which inspires my next FRM interviewee–none other than L3bby himself.
Lebohang Matsebe, known as L3bby, is a 20-year old musician from Johannesburg and a student studying Communication Design at Vega in Cape Town. I first came across L3bby's music last year when he dropped his EP 'Last Year Being Broke'. I still remember listening to 'Intro&Out' in 2023 and thinking wow–this sounds different. Considering L3bby has released several projects since then–what fascinates me even more is the scope of his meteoric rise and how his music shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
"I create art sometimes when I have free time and I make music almost everyday", mentions the young multidisciplinary artist during our back and forth. Within this day and age we exist in, which can be characterised by a certain apathy which stems from instant gratification, I find an artists commitment to the continuous improvement of their craft more endearing than ever. Passion matters–it is cool to try. L3bby's work ethic reminds me of this.
To me–local artists such as L3bby, MeccaMind, Passionpanther, the entire Rand Lords label roster, and more, feel like the genuine new kids on the block intent on doing things differently from existing status quo. I appreciate how seriously the visuals and graphics are considered relative to the music itself. When I watch L3bby music videos for 'I can see the sun/Run (MV)' and 'Ghostgirl/The Fall'–I cannot unsee the Drain Gang (Bladee especially) influence; both innovative visuals which display L3bby's artistic proficiency.
During our virtual to-and-fro, L3bby mentions:
"The art direction for Silk Road came from a psychedelic trip like I mentioned earlier. I saw Ralph Lauren on the silk road camel in my trip on my dorm room floor. And that's how the album cover came about. The visual direction came from doing deep dives on the internet about SilkRoad and the dark web. I took a lot of inspiration from Gab3's videos when he was still Uzi and Harto Falion, and I put my own sauce into it."
So take an FRM detour with us and enjoy this ensuing interview with L3bby as we immerse ourselves in the world of the SilkRoad, working with friends as collaborators, musical inspirations who have influenced his sound, and more.
Would you mind introducing yourself and including a short description of what you do?
LM: I believe I'm like three people in one vessel. My family knows me as Lebohang Matsebe, my close friends know me as Lebza and the world knows me as L3bby. I'm a 20-year old Musician from the West Rand of Johannesburg and a student studying Communication Design at Vega in Cape Town. I create art sometimes when I have free time and I make music almost everyday.
Congratulations on making #Silkroad, really good music! I've had the entire project on repeat since you dropped on Apple (Neuro Teams with @Passionpanther is my favourite). So I guess let's take it back to the beginning... How did you even start approaching a project like this?
LM: The whole concept of the project came from a psychedelic trip. During the trip I had a realization about how substances are so easily accessible Cape Town–which lead to the whole Silk Road market concept. The first song I made on the project was #RIPSPEAKERKNOCKERZ with MeccaMind; that's when I realized I didn't want my voice on the entire project. It was a very different approach and process from my past projects because I wasn't fully in control of the making of the project. The result was mind blowing though–and through that I felt as if I took the artists I was working with out of their comfort zones. By the way they all blew me away.
What inspires your unique L3bby sound? You keep evolutionising your approach over these different projects man and it's the most beautiful thing ever. Silk Road is my favourite yet.
LM: My sound is inspired by my friends, family, my surroundings and most importantly the INTERNET. People I hang out with like MeccaMind, Passionpanther, Ssinsserah, The Rand Lords and more (wish I could mention everybody) have a very distinct style and sound of music. They put me on to music that made me change my entire sound and style. Doing deep dives on the internet as a teen also exposed me to artists that inspire me a lot–mainly being Yung Lean, Bladee, meat computer and Cartier'God. There's many more though I just can't mention them all.
How do you select your collaborators?
LM: When it comes to collaboration I love working with people who think "Out the box". I love being creatively challenged when I'm working with someone–and Passionpanther is a great example of someone who always forces me to go out of my comfort zone. But mainly I only collaborate with people I have a relationship with, being friends and family. That way I know when we create something together–it's genuine.
Can you talk us through your chosen Art direction, from music videos, visualisers, styling and everything. How did you determine this visual aesthetic?
LM: The art direction for Silk Road came from a psychedelic trip like I mentioned earlier. I saw Ralph Lauren on the silk road camel in my trip on my dorm room floor. And that's how the album cover came about. The visual direction came from doing deep dives on the internet about SilkRoad and the dark web. I took a lot of inspiration from Gab3's videos when he was still 'Uzi' and Harto Falion, and I put my own sauce into it.
In terms of styling Sserah (@Sinsserah) styled me in some of his unreleased merch for the Ghostgirl visualizer which I felt matched the whole dark web aesthetic. And (@arejae66) helped me with the styling for the I can see the sun video. Both are great stylists and very underrated people.
Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations who have influenced your sound?
LM: My music inspiration always changes hence my sound always changes but the inspiration behind my sonics mainly comes from artists like Toro y Moi, Drain Gang, Sad Boys and GothBoiClique. But lately I've been listening to a lot of alternative pop, altè and ambient music. Mainly artists like 8485, Cruel Santino and Aphex Twin.
Is there any advice which you've picked up within your short career which you could impart to any emerging musicians attempting to make a name for themselves within the industry?
LM: The only advice I have for emerging musicians that are on the same path as me is that "Nobody is going to save you". Mecca taught me that if nobody's gonna book you–book yourself. Like if you don't have the correct equipment–just work with what you got. Keep doing you and everything else will fall in place. And last but not least–"Go against the grain".
What are you looking forward to most during the remainder of 2024 and beyond?
LM: I'm not done for the year. I'm working on the deluxe for SilkRoad right now and a couple more visuals for that. I have a lot in store for 2025, a lot of new soundscapes I've been experimenting with that I can't wait for the world to hear.
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