With the release of his debut album, ‘Do as You Wish’, just last month, we spoke with South East London’s Le3 bLACK. As both a rapper and producer, Le3 creates atmospheric and detailed production as the setting to his vulnerable and honest raps. 

Not only a musician, but he is also the host of his new show SouthGround, alongside fellow artist dxvl on Keakie. The show looks to speak on the current music climate in London and bring in some of the most talented artists from the underground scene. We catch up with Le3 to chat about the future of the show, the creative process of his latest project and what’s coming up in 2020.

Emily: So, you’ve just announced your new show SouthGround on Keakie. Can you tell us a little bit about the show and how it come about?
Le3 Black: So dxvl must have got an email one day from Sterling (the guy who oversees the whole project), saying how he’s been messing with the music for a long time and thought it would be wise to get him on board with a radio show. I end up going to the meeting as well and he didn’t realise who I was until I mentioned my name and said “yeah come through as well, would love to see both of us orchestrate the show”, so it kinda just went on from there!

You just dropped the first show alongside dxvl featuring ayrtn. How important is it for you guys to create a platform for artists like yourself?
It’s hella important. We gotta make sure that the support is real... especially in an industry where we are so prone to misinterpreted behaviours and preconceived notions of how young teenagers and young adults should act; we’re in this together. I didn’t get that guidance when I started out. The self-motivation is what drives me towards creating a platform for artists and fellow musicians alike.

What are your hopes for the future of the show?
Hopefully, get in on Radio 1 or 1XTRA or something along those lines! Never know until you actually try.

You also recently released your debut album, ‘Do as You Wish’. How has the response to the project been?
Was amazing, the support was crazy and so motivational especially when I was going through a crazy, rough time. When your art form is appreciated wholeheartedly, you will feel so much more lifted from that response

If you had to describe your sound in a sentence to someone that may not have listened, what would you say?
I would say it’s literally a confessional into Le3 bLACK’s mental state - people will always have to endure something that hinders them temporarily but it’s about the progress from that to get back on your feet!

How would you say your sound has grown from ‘Where The Monster Lies’ to ‘Do As You Wish’?
I feel like the elements are still heavy in the previous project. The first thing about this one is the vulnerability is heavier and appeals more, that’s how I see it. I guess it’s two bodies of work that outline each other.

You executively produced and arranged the whole album - what was your process like and how was it working with different sounds from your other work?
I waited and waited for every moment to give an influence. I wanted the moment to feel like it was real and relatable to me, nothing is worse than making something that doesn’t connect spiritually and mentally. Production was dense and I wanted it to be meaningful, as if you’re reading a novel or watching a two-hour film. Textures come and go but once I found the sound I wanted, I knew straight away, it was it!

What were you listening to whilst creating the project and how was it inspiring your work?
Ohhh a range of things from James Blake to Kanye, Smino, Skepta, Frank Ocean, Solange etc. The list can go on but those artists be the main inspiration. The sounds that come out from their albums were amazing and I wanted to adapt some of it whilst keeping my own originality.

What was the aim with the creative direction of the album and how was working alongside Shaquille Keith for the artwork and for his feature on ‘Shaquille’s Interlude’?
The artwork was something that was being discussed for ages. There was a previous cover before and detail, but it wasn’t resonating for me, we needed something that was gonna appeal instantly to the wandering eye, and this was perfect. Shaq is always a pleasure to work with. We go way way back and have been best friends for years, of course, you get different wavelengths but with him, it’s always an easy treat.

The project covers a variety of genres from the chaotic sound of ‘Hell’ to a bubbly, light-hearted tone on ‘Luv’. What was the purpose of creating these different moods throughout the album?
I felt like you want to add different moods for different occasions and this was the perfect time. Mandem might not want to listen to 75 BPM tracks, because they are more inclined for the female audiences nine times out of ten; so I thought why not appeal to every possible listener. Types are dependent on their usual mood, so making something that attracts both sides makes sense.

You had collaborations from Nalia on the opening track to Big Nate on ‘Hell’. How did the collaborations come about and what did these artists bring to your sound?
Naila is the perfect artist to have for an opening like that. She encapsulated the atmosphere of the entire track and brought it to life. With Big Nate he has been my g since I was in 237 so it was only right to collaborate. He’s been through similar turmoils like me so he understood the direction I wanted to go in and nailed it beautifully.

How did using different characters within the project help to further the narrative?
I feel like it kept the listener engaged; wanting to know more and to see if they can ride along with the story which I’m trying to portray. It’s great when you have a narrative, especially when the album is being made to fit the current mood.

For you, what was the track on the album which best represented where you wanted to go with the project’s sound?
I think for me it would be the track ‘Uncaring’. It brought another side out of me having dealt with loneliness and, most recently, the case of “anxiety”. It brings a mood that explains my essence. It sounds gloomy and I am getting to a better place within my inner mental frame, but it emulates everything I’ve ever felt.

With so much music coming out of the UK right now, which artists do you think people should be keeping an eye out for?
The bro’s like Manny Dubbs, JJ, dxvl, Dee Vi… ayrtn always been bubbling in musical textures. Naila with her mesmerising vocals. So many talented people out there the list can go on and on.

What’s coming up for the end of 2019 and what can we expect from 2020?
I reckon maybe some singles but for now, imma just rest up and get my health back to normal. 2020, I want it to be a make or break year for me, it’s holding something special but deffo more projects coming in the near future!