IN CONVERSATION WITH LEXA GATES

interview MARIE-PAULINE CESARI

Numéro Netherlands Digital presents 24-year-old Queens rapper, singer, and producer Lexa Gates, stepping into her sophomore era with her new single ‘Past It’. Following the acclaim of her debut Elite Vessel and sold-out shows across the US and Europe, Lexa has become a rising force known for her genre-blurring sound, sharp lyricism, and fearless storytelling. With a new album on the way this autumn, she’s proving to be one of the most magnetic voices of her generation. 

Let’s start at the beginning. Who were some of your earliest musical influences growing up in Queens? Were there any artists or sounds that shaped the way you approach music today?

I was more influenced by sounds around me—the internet, people talking outside, stickers and paint on the walls, cars beeping, horns and alarms. Passing by a house and a dog starts barking, then a lady yells, “calm down whatever its name is.” That kind of chaos shaped me more than any artist did.

You’ve spoken about making beats in your mom’s basement as a teen. Was there a specific moment or turning point when you knew you wanted to pursue music full-time?

I was drinking and smoking too much, and it started catching up with me. When I turned 21, I realized the only thing I was really good at was art. So I had to clean up and go all in.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned from carving your own path into the industry—especially outside the traditional route?

It’s not as fucked up as it seems, and everyone isn’t out to get me. Sharing ideas can be annoying, but it’s so important. Communication and connection are key in this game.

Your debut album Elite Vessel was praised for its honesty and genre-blurring approach. Looking back now, what does that project represent to you personally?

It represents who I was at the time. I didn’t know anything about the industry—I was just trying to do my best, not let my people down, and stay true to myself and what I thought was fire.

You’ve had support from artists like SZA, Clairo, and Zane Lowe. How does it feel to be recognized by people who’ve shaped your generation—and possibly shaped you?

I’m really grateful. It shows me I’m moving in the right direction. It inspires me to keep going and reminds me the heights I’m aiming for are closer than they seem.

Let’s talk about your new single, “Past It.” It’s deeply introspective but still sharp and playful. What’s the story behind the track, and how did it evolve during the writing and recording process?

I worked with a goated producer on it. I started writing everything down on paper, just trying to be as honest as possible and let the words flow through me. It came at a shift in my life when things weren’t dusty anymore—everything felt elevated.

You just wrapped your first-ever headline tour, with major festival slots on the horizon. How does performing live shift the way you connect with your music—and with your audience?

Music always hits different live. The connection is way stronger. You see the artist as a human, and you feel the work it took to get to that final product. It’s awesome to hear people sing along and even cry to the lyrics—they feel what I feel.

What role does fashion play in your identity as an artist—and how do you use style as a way to communicate your perspective or mood?

Fashion is a physical representation of what’s going on inside me—just another way to express myself. You see me, and you know what’s up. It’s how I communicate that I’m fly as a PJ.

CREDITS

photography CATHERINE A LOMEDICO