Lawrence Bath’s song ‘Grow’ feat. CSAAR was recently featured on BBC Introducing Solent. The song was stuck in my head for what seemed like years so I caught up with Lawrence to talk about his music, inspiration and dreams.
https://soundcloud.com/lawrencebath/lawrence-bath-grow-ft-csaar-1
You have recently graduated from our Digital Music course. How did you find it?
The course for me was brilliant. I studied music production for film and the general history of electronic music and it was great to learn more about what’s influenced what I love today.
How would you define your music?
I think I’ve got a passion for inherently organic sounds. Like I’m a lover of electronic music but it’s the fusion with the acoustic music I grew up with alongside the electronic influences that form my sound. I would say it’s evocative, mellow but also somewhat uplifting music I try to create.
Your song featuring another Digital Music student CSAAR was very recently played on BBC Introducing Solent. Was the airplay important to you?
Yeah, I tuned in. It was great to hear something I’d created on the airwaves, I’ve had a few tracks featured on a few other stations but the affiliations BBC introducing has makes it the biggest achievement so far.
Your collaboration worked wonders for the song. How did you choose CSAAR?
I heard a few of her tracks on Soundcloud and linked up with her because we did the same course. She heard one of my favourite tracks and she worked her magic!
CSAAR: ‘I’m so into it – this is exactly my thing’
What’s your writing process and how do find other musicians to collaborate with?
The writing process for me is something that changes every time I write. If I start with the percussion it usually turns out completely different to when the synthesis comes first. It’s all dependant on the vibe I’m going for at the time.
In terms of collaborating I just explore SoundCloud and speak to friends I know who are musicians and see what I can find to work with. There is a level of luck involved when stumbling across people but getting myself out there in the local scene is my main aim and that should benefit me in lots of ways.
SoundCloud has always been an essential platform for songwriters but it’s recently been evolving into new territories. How important is SoundCloud for an electronic act?
I feel SoundCloud is currently going through a lot of change and how effective it will be in the future I cannot say, but currently it’s a brilliant tool focused solely on the music and nothing unnecessary.
I noticed you have two SoundCloud accounts and one of them has over 800 followers. Why did you create a new one?
The older profile is one I’ve had since 2010 and since then my music has changed quite dramatically, as have I as an individual. It is there as a redirection to my new page but at university I decided to restart with my current way of producing so it was a new, organic audience.
https://soundcloud.com/lawrencebath/below
Who are some of your biggest influences?
All music influences me in one way or another. Historically, it would be Brian Eno and Kraftwerk, pioneers of their own genres and doing what many others had yet to even think of doing. More recently James Blake, George Fitzgerald and Jamie xx are massively inspiring and their music resonates in my life as being very important to me.
When do you know you’ve succeeded in music?
Success changes with each individual based on why they make music I think. For me I will have succeeded when I’ve made the music I want to make, worked with lots of people and found myself as part of Southampton’s buzzing music sector.
Every musician has a dream collaboration. What’s yours?
To go in a studio with Brian Eno or be in the same recording space as James Blake would be out of this world.
What are your plans for the near future?
I’m currently studying my Masters in media, but beyond that I’m aiming to get as much experience in the music industry as possible.
Lawrence Bath SoundCloud | Facebook