IN CONVERSATION WITH 3L3D3P
Interview by Samo Šajn
3L3D3P is a producer and vocalist from Los Angeles shaping her own world of punk-electronic music. Her debut album “General!” marks a new chapter in her sound and follows an exciting stretch of releases and touring in Europe.
Photography by Rowenne Lantion
Styling by Kiukei
How did the idea for your debut album come together, and what does it represent for you as an artist?
Well, after releasing a handful of singles, I knew a legitimate album was necessary to express a bigger picture of my art. “General!” is a project that really encompasses my experience as an artist through chaos and control. It is a rather intimate introduction to me, Marina, and the world of 3L3D3P.
What story or feeling were you trying to capture with “General!”?
Like I mentioned, this album is an intimate introduction to the world of 3L3D3P. In terms of the past, I feel like the singles were a kind of keyhole peek into that world. This album allows listeners to experience the nuances and range, sonically and emotionally, that make up this project.
Your previous singles, “>>> (FWD)” and “rpa”, show very different sides of your sound. How do you decide which direction a track should take?
When it comes to making a track, I allow myself the freedom to go in whatever direction I feel in that moment. With “>>>”, I was emotionally up and down at the time, and I wanted to dive deeper into my production. Over the course of a month, I experimented until the track felt perfect, and that is the version you hear today.
How has your sound evolved since you first started releasing music?
At the beginning of 3L3D3P as a project, I was just coming out of being in bands for about 10 years. I was never the center of the band, though I wrote a majority of the songs. I never produced our music alone, even though I always wanted to because I had a unique approach and voice in production. When I finally had a chance with this project, my skill was pretty rudimentary, but the ideas were fresh and exciting. Since then, I feel like I have gone much deeper into technical literacy as a producer, and it shows in my work. I can now execute my sometimes outlandish ideas with more finesse because I actually have the skills to do so on my own.
Photography by Daiki Miyadada
Styling by Kiukei
What was the most memorable moment from your recent European tour?
I would say Left of the Dial in Rotterdam, my very last show on the road, was the most awesome moment. Playing at an arcade felt so fitting to me. Moments before I started, there was no one in the venue, but when I began, the room filled. Playing to a packed room surrounded by classic arcade games was surreal. The crowd went insane.
How does being part of the Vada Vada collective influence your music and creative process?
Being affiliated with Vada Vada has been a great environment for creating experimental music because of the accepting tone of the collective and the fanbase. I have the support to explore off-kilter ideas that I was once shunned for by past peers. Support means everything when you are going against the grain.
Your live performances are known for their energy and intensity. How do you translate your recordings into that kind of live experience?
Because all of the music comes from the soul, the live performance is just an extension of that same energy. I do not think too much about my live shows. I just let them filter through me. The emotion of the songs is the same emotion in my body, and I let it manifest naturally. Sometimes I am surprised by what the music makes me do.
How do you approach blending different genres like hardcore, punk, and electronic while keeping your music cohesive?
It comes easy because these are all elements I have always been inspired by. Since I was a kid, I always dreamed of crossing hardcore punk with hardcore techno because they both gave me the same electrified feeling. I do not question the process because I trust myself enough to let whatever influence bleed in whenever it feels right. It is more raw than a thought-out plan.
Photography by Daiki Miyadada
Styling by Kiukei
Which track on the album was the most challenging to create, and why?
I would say the most challenging was “rpa.” This song took me over a year to finish. It went through tons of revisions, and I took a ton of breaks, but I feel like the result is something beautiful. The song is complex, and because I felt like anything was possible with it, I tried everything on it. Was it grueling? A little bit, but it was fun, and the experimenting always fulfills the spirit of who I am as an artist and a person.
Looking ahead, what goals or directions are you excited to explore next as an artist?
I am very excited to bring this strange new sound that is 3L3D3P forward into the world. It is time for a change. It is so boring and nostalgic all the time. I do not care for repeating the past. I always want to move forward, and my goal is to push headfirst into the mainstream and ultimately change the world as we know it. There is no question in my mind that I will do that in due time. I look forward to that moment and looking back at this moment, answering your question.
