Chill Out With Rapper Galcher Lustwerk at Zhao Dai
Dance music nerds and hip-hop heads credit Galcher Lustwerk with pioneering the once obscure Soundcloud “chill out” genre that has recently come to dominate everything from the clubs to the pop charts. But try not to hold that against him. That’s because the Cleveland-raised, New York-based producer still crafts a nuanced blend of refined house instrumentals and finely honed raps, allowing him to continually stand out creatively amongst an ever-increasing slew of mimicking bedroom producers. The critically acclaimed producer tells us more about the supine sounds he has helped to craft ahead of his Oct 3 set at Zhao Dai.
Galcher Lustwerk is regarded as a trailblazing producer
How did growing up in Cleveland affect your music early on?
There aren’t any creative jobs for young people in Cleveland, so many musicians leave. There was nobody local that I looked up to, so I only absorbed music through radio, CDs, and cassettes. I wasn’t bored, it seemed normal to me. I stayed home and imagined things and created things from my head.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on a review in The Fader (thefader.com) that gives you some serious props: “Galcher’s 100% mix was at the ground level of what would eventually emerge as a dominant sound in electronic music. Much of the gauzy atmospherics that define endless YouTube playlists designed to ‘chill out,’ can be traced back to Lustwerk, and you’d be hard-pressed not to find him in any algorithmic sorting of that style.”
While I appreciate getting credit, I try not to think about it too much because it’s beyond my control. People, including journalists for big magazines, are going to listen to what's recommended to them by algorithms and social media feeds, which I never felt right taking advantage of.
Galcher Lustwerk is known for his hypnotic production, but he's also a talented rapper
Some critics and music nerds are quick to malign that “chill out” sound, bemoaning the lack of hooks and criticising many of the artists for sounding samey. How does it feel to be deemed a pioneer of such polarizing music?
Any music sub-genre that becomes popular needs to be criticized. If something’s popular then that means many people who are involved are only doing it to fit in, they jump on the bandwagon and make mediocre music. Therefore they deserve the most criticism.
Tell me about some of the younger artists you are mentoring and providing a platform for on your Lustwerk Music label, and why you’re excited about their music.
Right now I’m focusing on Quavius (lustwerkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/quavius) who will release his second EP on Lustwerk Music in 2019. He is a natural talent. He understands song structure, arrangement, melody, storytelling, and emotion. He has a specific style which I think fans of the label would enjoy.
While your production is frequently praised, many fans have equal enthusiasm for your rapping. As Pitchfork (pitchfork.com) put it: “Even teetotalers would have trouble denying the power of huskily muttered lines like, ‘Poppin' pills, rollin' bills, rollin' blunts, poppin' seals / Rollin' trees, rollin' deep, takin' E, LSD’ – repetition, like assonant rhyme, is a hell of a drug.” What inspires you to write such feel-good, accessible rhymes?
I study rap music a lot and keep up with new rappers as well. I like rappers with a sense of humor, rappers who are efficient at delivering ideas. I don’t have a single approach to recording. I do what I can in the moment. It’s rare for me to record, I have to have ideas flowing out of my head naturally. Writing down lyrics doesn’t work as well for me. So I don’t know what’s next, really. More exploring.
Head to Zhao Dai next Wednesday, Oct 3, to see where Galcher Lustwerk's explorations in chill take him next.
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