I was recently approached to see if I would assist in getting the word out about a Kickstarter project for Lachi and Meridian Gold (http://www NULL.kickstarter NULL.com/projects/lachi/lachi-and-meridian-gold-full-length-album). Not knowing anything about who they were, I immediately started Googling. What I discovered was a musical message of hope and belief in one’s inner strength. It also so happens that Lachi is sight impaired.
Now, since a major focus of Brighter Nights is to promote the accomplishment of the low vision world and help them achieve their goals, how could I refuse? I offered to help if I could do it in the form of a Spotlight Interview…and here it is.
However, before we get to the interview, take a quick listen to this YouTube video of “Bug Out” by the band and read Lachi’s brief bio below.
Who is Lachi?
Lachi has been tearing up the New York City club scene since she hit the stage in 2006. “I’d describe my music as a combination of rock and pop with a hint of soul and a bit of jazzy scatting. What’s most i
mportant is that the lyrics convey a message of truth, growth, poetry and reality. My influences are a grand ol’ mess of The Beatles, Radiohead, Bjork, Smashing Pumpkins, Lauryn Hill, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mozart.”
Lachi’s unerring talent for consistently exceptional songwriting and mesmerizing, stellar performance has landed her and her band attention on NPR, MTV, Oprah Radio, and a host of others.
And now for the interview…
How did you get started in your music career? Was music something you have always wanted to do?
I’ve been playing music ever since I was a kid. My mom bought me a little plastic, eight note keyboard when I was four, and I’ve been ripping at keys ever since! Music was something I’d always longed to have in my life whether it be a hobby, a career, or a second career. Once I’d gotten heavily into songwriting in high school, I knew I had some sort of calling. It was the music…it was always the music. It would listen to my fears and insecurities, cheer me up, give me advice. Music saved my life in many ways, so I did then and still feel I owe music my life.
How has having low vision shaped your music?
Because of my physical difference, I grew up outcast which allowed me to think outside the box…to embrace whims of creativity and to invent worlds and scapes in my mind that I would often escape to…leading me to embark upon many sole ventures such as writing novels, short stories, poems and endless amounts of songs and wordless scores.
What is the biggest challenge you face as a musician / performer who has low vision? How have you overcome these challenges?
I feel the only real challenge is trying to get people not to focus on it instead of the music.
What would you do differently, if anything, if tomorrow you were suddenly fully sighted?
Get my license. I live in NYC though, so I’d probably never drive anyway. Hehe.
How would you define happiness?
Happiness is a feeling of true internal contentment….not a false sense or something brought forth by denal or defense-oriented justification, but a true
internal sense of joy and zest for life, successes, other’s lives and successes, nature, the world around you. If that deep silhouette within you that only you know (the “real” you) is happy….that is true happiness.
Do you have any words of advice for someone who might be interested in pursuing a career in music?
Work hard. Work at it like a full time job, as it is a personal business. Pour your time and assets into this business, after all, it is your business!
I understand you have initiated a Kickstarter campaign to finance your next record. Tell us a bit about that, your goal and how others can help out.
We put together this Kickstarter campaign, which ends November 17, as a means to have fans invest in our next project. Our goal is to make a commercially viable record to distribute a message of positivity, inner strength and self acceptance to the masses! Depending on the amount donated, a fan is able to receive great prizes for backing such as a copy of the new album, tickets to shows, merch, posters, a house concert where I or the band shows up and plays a full set just for the pledger, and much more! The campaign can be accessed here at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lachi/lachi-and-meridian-gold-full-length-album (http://www NULL.kickstarter NULL.com/projects/lachi/lachi-and-meridian-gold-full-length-album). There you can find video blogs and all the information needed and also click on “back this project” to help fund the campaign!
Where can people find you online? Where can people go to see / hear you perform?
People can find me online at lachimusic.com (http://lachimusic NULL.com) or on Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation and Youtube. We will be touring the South Atlantic states of PA, DC, VA and NC from Nov 17-21 (specific tour dates can be found at lachimusic.com (http://lachimusic NULL.com) ). Yet more dates for the release of the upcoming album in 2012 are already being brokered!
A special thanks to Jay at Brighter Nights for allowing me the opportunity of
this interview!
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No, Lachi, thank you for sharing your story, and your music with us. All the best to you and your project!
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lovely !!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Cat. Like the new design for catforsley.me as well.
thx my bro ——– it’s like my secret garden in there – so many themes
Kudos + Miracles to You 4 Being YOU a zillion percent of the time
XX c