Lfay is a lyricist and vocalist from rural Norfolk, whose sound is a slick mix of old-school hip hop, urban jazz and jungle. Ahead of her support slot for Blu & Exile at Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom, we chat about how she started out, early influences, what’s in store this year and why the local scene is the place to be. 

So, tell me about when you first started making music – how long’s it been?

LFay: Well, I always made music, and I used to be like ‘mum, I’m gonna be a singer’. And then I was like, nah I won’t. But then one day, maybe five or six years ago, I just thought I’ve got all these songs, I might as well put them out. And I used to sit and go through SoundCloud and just type in ‘beats’, and I found this guy and asked ‘can I just use these beats?’ He was like, yeah, have them for free, and then yeah I just put them out on mine.

I saw you’ve got quite a few different influences, from Amy Winehouse to MF Doom, but was there anything that really made you think, yeah, I wanna do that?

LFay: I think I just love music really, like, as everyone who makes music says. Like all types of music I can just get on with, so I think maybe just the scene. It’s cool, it’s a good outlet to have, and everyone’s sound, so.

Who was the first artist you ever saw live, if you can remember?

LFay: I literally don’t know. Probably like, there’s this band called Skasouls that always play the pubs and the villages near mine, and they’re sick. They’re so good and there’s this lady called Joy, she just gets up there singing. I’m always like, yeah, I wanna be like her. She’s cool as f*ck. They’re just about doing bits. So yeah maybe them!

Do you feel like your surroundings have influenced your music?

LFay: Yeah, absolutely. I literally can only write about what’s going on for me, which is so self-absorbed, but…there’s been times when I’ve been like, ‘oh, I’ll try and write a song about this’, but it just doesn’t work – it’s kind of whatever just comes out of my mouth. So inevitably it’s my experiences, or people that I’ve grown up with, or yeah being a country bumpkin, growing up in a village in the middle of nowhere. And I love the scene in Norwich, because everyone’s on the same level. We’re just doing what we’re doing with the people that we like.

Yeah from what I can tell it seems quite tight-knit?

LFay: Yeah, everyone’s so sound. I used to be like, I don’t wanna get stuck in Norwich, I wanna move out of Norfolk. And then I realised the more you try and chase it, then you’re just gonna be on your own, doing it on your ones, which is just sh*t. And now I’m like, do you know what? Norwich is actually the place to be. Everyone just wants you to do well. Like Wordplay, they’re Norwich-based, and they’re just pushing for Norwich artists to get out there. All the venues put Norwich acts on support slots and stuff, which is just mad. Everyone wants everyone to do well. There’s no like competition vibe, we’ve all just got the same goal, which is sick.

You’re releasing a few new singles at the moment, aren’t you? What’s the process been like with them?

LFay: Yeah, yeah. I’ve been sitting on some of them for a while, I didn’t release anything last year, I was actually just gonna sack it off, to be fair. Because I f*cking hate the social media part of music, I hate being like ‘ooh, look at me’, do you know what I mean? And I really love my job as well. So I was like, why am I doing this when I actually like my life. And then I met Ben and Rob [Lieu] and we started making music, and I was like, yeah, this is sick. And then we formed the band, and I was like, this is why I wanted to do it. Having Lieu and the band really changed things. I think because we come from the same area, we’re all the same kind of vibe, so it’s easy to make music.

So, you’re playing here at Voodoo Daddy’s tonight. How do you find playing live?

LFay: I used to get so nervous before shows that I wouldn’t be able to speak to anyone, which is mad, because normally I just chat on end. It was really weird. But now I think I’m used to it, and we rehearse here at Voodoo’s so it’s just nice. Also having a band is so helpful because it’s not just everyone looking at me. Everyone’s looking at Simon the sax player. He’s a wizard.

And you’re booked for some pretty big festivals this year, including Boomtown and Latitude. Have you done any like those before?

LFay: I think the biggest one I’ve done was First Light Festival in Lowestoft. That was mad. I kind of find them easier because I’m like, none of you know me, so you have no expectations haha. But it is mad that I’m doing them festivals, I can’t really believe it to be fair. I’m so gassed.

Does it feel quite different playing to a home crowd compared to elsewhere?

LFay: Yeah, it does. I love playing in Norwich because all the homies come, it’s like a big family affair. Playing elsewhere is a different kind of energy. It’s like random people that I don’t know, which is really cool.

What’s been your favourite gig to date?

LFay: I played Melonskin Day Party in Bristol, and it was just this mad lineup. Me and all my mates were like, ‘How the f*ck am I on that?’ It was mad, that was probably my favourite so far. Loved that one.

And have you got a favourite local venue?

LFay: Voodoo’s! It’s gotta be Voodoo’s. Or the Banham Barrel – that’s a spot, it’s opposite the zoo. And the guy that owns it is called Brian and he’s a f*cking geezer. He’s sick. But yeah it’s probably gotta be Voodoo’s, it was my first ever show. I love it.

Which other local artists should we be keeping an eye on?

LFay: There’s too many to list! There’s Harry Ixer, there’s H3R, they’re a collective of female DJs in Norwich. Obviously Lieu, the best of the best. Juliet, Alice-Lily, Pozzy, there’s just too many. Sleep’s Cousin, he’s sick. And shout out to Frost-D! Yeah Suffolk and Norfolk, they got it going on. You kind of just take it for granted and then you’re like oh no, it’s actually sick.

Final bonus question – do you have a party trick? 

LFay: F*cking hell, now you’re asking. Do I have a party trick?

Yeah. Like the worm or something.

LFay: I can’t do the worm. I can’t even cartwheel. It’s so embarrassing. I work with kids, and they try and teach me every week. They’re like, how can you not cartwheel? I can’t cartwheel. Oh, f*ck, I don’t even know. Oh, I can play the harmonica! And the mouth harp.

That’s quite cool, pretty niche. You gonna be bringing that into your music?

LFay: Maybe. Maybe in a little techno number. Never say never.

Listen to LFay’s latest single now: