THE 10 Qs SERIES
Today, Lex Ludlow dropped the news that she’s cooking up her debut album and mapping out some epic hometown events. “I’m also working on some exciting gigs, such as my support slot for Oceanvs Orientalis in Stockholm on May 17th and my first time visiting Interlaken, where I’ll be playing alongside Kellerkind and Nice-D.”
Q: Before we dig in, what's next for you? (Please talk about current projects here+)
Currently, I’m working on a live set that I hope will be ready to perform this summer. I also have some exciting gigs to announce, such as my support slot for Oceanvs Orientalis in Stockholm on May 17th, and my first time visiting Interlaken where I’ll be playing alongside Kellerkind and Nice-D. Additionally, I’m working on my first album and making plans for some cozy events to be held in my hometown. I recently rebuilt a caravan into a DJ booth, adding to the charm of these small open-air gatherings.
Q: What are your thoughts on the meaning of success, and how do you define success for yourself?
Most of the music I listen to doesn’t hit the “Top 10” charts. They don’t end up on the radio or big Spotify lists either. The clubs I go to mostly have no photo policy and don’t record hyped-after movies. The artists I admire don’t have a PR team or a large following on social media. So, success for me has never been about numbers or online popularity. But still, I constantly need to remind myself about this, when it comes to my own music, it’s easy to feel lost and confused, scrolling through social media and all the music platforms that only feed you one side of the dance industry. I cherish small clubs and festivals where I can stand close to my audience, feel the bass in my chest, meet eyes, and dance like a lunatic without being caught on someone’s camera. Success, to me, is the warm feeling after a long night, standing in the morning sun, feeling that I’ve connected with people through my set, creating memories that last.
As a producer, I still have so much to learn and explore. In my safe space at home, I find pride and success in small achievements, like perfecting the punch in a kick or nailing the groove in the baseline. However, once the track leaves the studio, self-criticism sets in quickly, making it challenging to maintain the right mindset. I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for compliments, especially when they come from artists I’ve admired for a long time. Yet, I strive not to let external validation dictate my creative journey. I aim to stay true to my own unique sound and release tracks that define me, even if they’re not understood by everyone.
Q: What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever bought?
One of my biggest thrills since childhood has been just that, buying ridiculous things and searching for weird items at flea markets. This passion has only grown stronger with age. In fact, I finance my record label releases by repurposing unwanted ugly towels and granny curtains into merch caps, and each sold cap covers the cost of the mastering for one track. To illustrate how extreme this behavior can get, I guess I can tell you about last summer when my best friend and I were Djing in Brno, and visited some secondhand shops in the area. I stumbled upon a huge golden curtain that I definitely needed for one of my many projects. Luckily for me, my friend knows me too well and happily extended our journey two days, just so we could bring an extra large bag home by train, instead of taking our scheduled flight from Prague. Quite stupid traveling for two extra days, for some ridiculous ugly curtains I suppose.
Q: What's the most memorable fan encounter you've ever had?
Despite not being a very recognized artist, every encounter with a fan, whether it’s after a gig or through social media, holds significant value to me. One particularly memorable moment occurred after I released my first vinyl at Atomnation. A guy reached out, sending a clip of him playing my vinyl. Witnessing the impact my music had on someone else was incredibly beautiful and new to me. Two years later, we were still in contact and noticed that both were in Amsterdam during ADE, so we decided to meet up and say hello to each other in person, that felt special, and I always feel like I meet the most interesting people connecting over the same taste in music which is a quite fun observation.
Q: Where and when would you go if you could travel back in time to any moment in history?
If given the chance, I’d love to witness various epochs in history, from the era of dinosaurs to the gigantic ice walls covering the northern countries during the ice age. However, upon deeper reflection, I find myself drawn to my background and history. As I’m adopted from Sri Lanka, I’ve found a unique connection to my birth country through my profession as a sailor and tailor, and through my passion for eastern rhythms as a musician. It would be really special, to get a glimpse of my lost family’s history.
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Q: If you could only listen to three songs for the rest of your life, which ones would you choose?
Some music has the remarkable ability to suddenly throw you back into a distant memory, each of these tracks possesses that profound power over me… “It’s Only – DJ Koze Remix” by Matthew Herbert / “Flight to Berlin (feat. Thalstroem) [Vynyard Dub Mix] by Klartraum / or any track from this recorded live set on Soundcloud / Dwig live at waking life 2018.
Q: What is your philosophy on happiness, and how do you strive to maintain a sense of happiness and well-being?
I believe it’s crucial to acknowledge that you alone are responsible for your happiness and health. It took me many years and some broken relationships to fully grasp and live by this understanding. Secondly, it’s essential to be loyal and kind to your loved ones. I prefer investing a significant amount of time in a few close friends rather than spreading myself thin among many. I genuinely believe that deep connections with family, friends, and partners enrich life and provide a sense of security that empowers you in the most magical way.
Q: How do you see dance music evolving in the future?
I suppose what I see is not what I wish for the music industry to be. I mean I love machines and technology, but at the same time, it scares me. Anyhow, I hope we continue to cherish dance music’s fundamental essence, focusing on connection and community rather than commercialization. Personally, I’m drawn to electronic dance music that retains its raw, unpolished quality, with odd characters, accidental chords, and unique voices. I advocate for a fusion of electronic elements and live instruments, prioritizing authenticity and human connection over technological advancements.
Q: If you could switch lives with any other celebrity for a week, who would it be?
My lifelong admiration for David Attenborough remains solid. Since childhood, I’ve been captivated by his work, wisdom, and profound impact on me and the rest of the world. His calming voice has kept me company on many sleepless nights and inspired me to be the best version of myself and be kind to Mother Earth.
Q: What's the weirdest thing you've ever Googled?
Last week I almost lost a whole day because of Google, after finding an old stamp collection album in my basement that used to belong to my father. I started to google pictures of all these old stamps to figure out their history and value. I lost track of time and found so many funny weird forums with people writing about different stamps.
