00:00
Hermajesty
All right, I'm just gonna start it from the top. All right. Welcome back to WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 Raleigh. I'm Hermajesty live during World College Radio Day. And today I'm with Melbourne artist Lalić. It's a pleasure to be with you tonight. How about you introduce yourself?
00:17
Lalić
Hey. Yeah, my name is Mladen. I've been making autumn music in Melbourne for the last maybe like 10 years. And I originally from Serbia. And my pronouns are they/them.
00:34
Hermajesty
Awesome. When did you immigrate? Were you born in Serbia?
00:39
Lalić
Yeah, I was born in Serbia. Came here in 1998.
00:42
Hermajesty
Okay. How old are you? So you mostly grew up in Australia?
00:48
Lalić
Yeah, yeah.
00:50
Hermajesty
Okay. Can you explain—kind of-- Lalić for listeners who haven't heard the project yet?
00:56
Lalić
Sure. It's a pretty, I guess, chaotic project in the sense, like, I think it. It's. It's just been kind of like my. My whims over the last. I don't know when the. It's been something I've been doing since I was like, you know, like, I think the first Lilich recordings I made was when I was like 12, 13, and then I just. So it's kind of like every album is quite different and they all feel pretty personal, you know, Like, I think I. It's hard to describe them all as one because I think they're all so different and I get bored very quickly with like, you know, something. I just kind of move on, I guess.
01:35
Hermajesty
Yeah, it's definitely changed a lot as, like, the project has gone on with time and because of that, like, do you. Do you still like using, I guess, the term Lalić? Just. I mean, the project name, Lalić, just in the sense that, like, you've changed so much in that time.
01:58
Lalić
I guess, like, one of the things I really like about it is that it kind of. I guess, I don't know, I guess, like, that's kind of like what life is, right? Like, life changes all the time, you know? And I feel like there has been times where I've made really dramatic turns in like, my sound or my ideology or whatever, and I've been tempted to, like, kind of take up another name, but I think I really like the consistency of the inconsistency. You know what I mean? Like, I like.
02:24
Hermajesty
Yeah, like, it is. It's representative of you and like, no, like, nobody's static. Like, it's. It's showing your journey.
02:33
Lalić
Yeah, totally. And I think that even in that sense, it kind of like makes it like, less about me and for me, anyway, because it feels like I'm, like, at the whims of, you know, like, greater things or something. Not like, greater, but I mean, like, as in, like, I feel like I just, like, follow those whims to change rather than kind of like, crafting something more concise, you know?
02:58
Hermajesty
Yeah. I mean, I'd say it's more like. It's more of you as a musical output than it is, like, a band. Like a concrete.
03:07
Lalić
Yeah.
03:07
Hermajesty
Thing.
03:08
Lalić
Yeah.
03:09
Hermajesty
Like how. Yeah, it's more. Yeah. It's more individualistic than it is, like. Oh, I expect the span to sound like this with each consecutive or whatever. Yeah, yeah. So you obviously. I mean, you're not that old. You're a. You're a product of the Internet, I would assume. Sorry, a product of the Internet. Like, age white, like, growing up.
03:32
Lalić
Yeah, for sure. Yeah.
03:34
Hermajesty
Yeah. So it, like, did you grow up more, like, making and posting music online or, like, were you more of, like, cutting your teeth on the. Like, on, like, playing live shows or. How was your kind of, like, growing up with it?
03:49
Lalić
That's such a. That's such a great question. I. The first. Very first thing was making music, like, on my computer. You know, I did that for so many years before I even got close to anything, like a live show, you know, And I think that, like, bring up the Internet is really important because it's like, I was doing that in that, like, 2006 to 2009 is, like, when I first started making music. And that was like, a real, like, SoundCloud was just kind of just popping off for the first time. And there was a lot of, like, a bedroom indie music, you know, like a Panda band.
04:21
Hermajesty
Found your MySpace when I was researching.
04:25
Lalić
That's crazy. Yeah, there's heaps of those weird, like, profiles that I don't know how to log into anymore out there kind of thing. But it was definitely, like, a big spirit. Like, I feel like I turned. I was like, 13, 14, 15, like, around the same time that there was this kind of, like, greater energy of just like, just make random your room. You know what I mean?
04:45
Hermajesty
Yeah, yeah. What kind of, like, what has invoked a lot of your stylistic changes is it just kind of like you're changing your influences, like, what you're listening to, or, like, almost, because, like, it felt like I do not deserve this. Catharsis was like, a very personal, like, output of stuff. So, like, what kind of changes? How much of. How much of kind of all of that goes into a record for you?
05:18
Lalić
Yeah, Well, I think part of that is that I'm kind of always working on between three and five different records, you know, and, like, some of them, like, never actually get released. And because of that, it kind of, like, I'll usually, like, gravitate to the path of least resistance. You know what I mean?
05:38
Hermajesty
Yeah. Like, I like coming more naturally to you.
05:41
Lalić
Yeah, totally. And I think that also, like, that kind of, like, ebb and flow kind of pattern that the albums seem to have, it's also kind of like. Like, if I do an album and I feel like I've really, like, achieved something that I wanted to achieve in that album, I kind of, like, the last thing I want to do next is something really similar. You know what I mean?
06:02
Hermajesty
Yeah.
06:04
Lalić
So it just kind of, like, naturally ends up happening like that, but. But then also it's like, you know, depends on what's going on in my life. And like I said, like, it's just very responsive to my environment, you know?
06:16
Hermajesty
Yeah. With COVID and everything. I know it's been a little. It's been a little different on the Aussie side, as far as sort of lockdowns and.
06:25
Lalić
Yeah, everything.
06:26
Hermajesty
But was there anything that you. Or I guess it's. I guess it's a little different because you are, like, making stuff in your bedroom a lot. Sort of. Sort of like. Or that's how it started. But were there any projects that you meant to record or, like, you had ready that kind of, like, axed because of COVID or, like, did you. Were there any of those kind of projects that, like, going into it, you were like, yeah, like, this is. This is awesome. But then coming out of it, you were like, oh, this doesn't really represent me or where I'm at anymore.
07:01
Lalić
Yeah, absolutely. I had a. I took almost a year where I didn't touch any music, you know, like. And it's the longest I've ever done. But, you know, like, before that, I don't think I'd even gone a week without working on something. But, like, when the. When the. When Covid first started, when the lockdowns and the pandemic first started happening, it kind of really coincided with, like, what I was working at the time in the sense that. I don't know, I just kind of. Just kind of happened at this crossroads where it was like, all this stuff was going on in the world, and I had things I wanted to say about it. And then I had this album that I was trying to write at that exact moment. You know what I Mean that like, kind of musically, I think.
07:44
Lalić
And that was like postmodern Gothic. And then I finished that and I just, you know, I think there was a moment where I was like, all right, next album. Like, I'm going to release four albums this year, you know, kind of thing. And then I just. I think the whole lockdown and the change and everything was like. Like I feel like I haven't stopped in 10 years. Over 10 years, you know, like that I've been going nonstop. And there was just this moment where I just remembered, you know, what happened. So this is kind of a long winded story. You can cut me off if I'm talking too much. No, no.
08:18
Hermajesty
We have like another hour. You're fine.
08:21
Lalić
Well, okay. So I. I was working on this album that was going to be a follow up to Postmodern Gothic. And I was really happy with it. And then I lost this album. Right. It was like, pretty much finished. I lost it on this hard drive. And. And there was this kind of like this moment where I was just like, this is my out. This is like my chat. Like the, Like I'm, you know, Keanu Reeves on the bus, and it's like just enough. Slowed down enough for me to hop on out, you know what I mean, kind of thing. And when I did that, it was just like such a relief, you know, like just to relax and kind of not have that, I don't know, I went through a lot within myself kind of thing.
08:57
Lalić
And then when I found the album, like, it turns out I hadn't even deleted it. Three months later, it was kind of like, I'm out now, you know, like. Like I'm not getting pulled back in. I kind of just like, took a break. So, yeah, so that's kind of my Covid music experience, I guess. But it's also a very personal experience. I kept running. Yeah.
09:16
Hermajesty
Yeah. So with the bedroom project and kind of the way you record yourself, how did you assemble a live version of Lola for touring?
09:29
Lalić
Yeah, so we had a live band pretty between 2014 and then our last show was 2017 or 2018, I think. And that was, I guess it was like being surrounded by friends that were really like, hyping me up and like. Like the Andy, Liam and Lucas who played in the live band that we assembled, you know, they were all people that kind of approached me and were really supportive of my music. And. And then I think part of that is like, I started writing music, like, for that kind of, you know, like for that Kind of music.
10:04
Hermajesty
Yeah. You were doing it for like. Like a four piece.
10:08
Lalić
Yeah, yeah. And I think I just like kind of gotten burnt out and like I was making a lot of like experimental electronica and you know, like abstract music and stuff like that. And then it was just like when I. When the band got together, it was just like such a relief to like write. It was like the first time I could write songs like what I thought that I would be making as a musician when I was like 12 and I wanted to be in a band, you know what I mean? Like.
10:31
Hermajesty
Yeah, and then.
10:32
Lalić
And then you kind of go down all these roads and then you get to a point in your life where you're like, oh, I can like try and tie down that like. You know what I mean? That vision that I once made. Yeah, that's awesome.
10:45
Hermajesty
Did you do. Did you ever record. Because you said you were writing differently. Did the like kind of. The four piece of version of Lalić. Did you record stuff with them?
10:55
Lalić
Yes. Yeah, we made. I guess they. They were sparsely. On the first album, Broken Foot, Rabbit Hole In Bits. Like that was like as were forming the band and I was already recording that at home. And then I get some of them in to play certain songs and stuff and. And then the whole second out, the third album, I guess, Portal, that was all recorded and written with the band and Stu MacKenzie recorded that at my house and then Ice, you know, like awesome. That was a thing. It was like meant to be. Like, like, we're going to record this live and it's going to sound really awesome. And then we recorded it live. And then I took like two, three years in my bedroom, like, and adding. Adding stuff to it, you know, and like.
11:34
Lalić
Yeah, convoluting it and turning it back into a bedroom release after all that time. So. Yeah.
11:41
Hermajesty
Yeah. Speaking of Stu, like tangentially, how was touring the States with the Murlocs?
11:49
Lalić
It was. I mean it was amazing. I feel like. I feel it was amazing. It was one of the best things I've ever done. I feel like at the time some things were. I feel like I took some of it for granted, you know, Like I. Like, I'm thinking back now, like some of the times I'm like, oh, I'm so tired and like, oh, I'm so hungry and like. Like I don't know, just like that. And I'm like, Like I'd kill to be back, you know, like out there again. Like, it was so much fun, but it was also like. Yeah, during A really chaotic time in my life. Like, I don't know. I feel just like so much chaos has gone on in the last, like, seven years and. Yeah.
12:27
Hermajesty
Does. Does Ambrose consume as much shrimp as, like, he said to.
12:34
Lalić
Shrimp.
12:35
Hermajesty
Shrimp like prawn.
12:42
Lalić
I mean, that's. I haven't heard that. I've never heard that before.
12:46
Hermajesty
I don't know. It's just something I've heard about online.
12:49
Lalić
That's so funny.
12:53
Hermajesty
You've said before that you want music to be more accessible. Like, how is. Obviously, like, you were able to make stuff in your bedroom and, like, output it to, like, SoundCloud and MySpace and Bandcamp and stuff. How do you. How. How has it changed? How has the change in that impacted you? Kind of the democratization of releasing music? And how do you think it can improve?
13:21
Lalić
Yeah, I think about that a lot. Like, I think that we're in kind of, like, a weird spot, but that also, like, this transition that's maybe been happening for the last 10 years is kind of, like, starting to coalesce into something solid, you know? Like, I mean, I think that what went through was, like, digital media in general's, like, technological challenges, right? With becoming, like, so readily available that, like, the industry had to change a lot, obviously, you know what I mean? And it's kind of like, I think that they were. The entire industry was kind of forced into this position, I guess, economically, of, like, having to draw, like, a drop of Jews from a stone, you know what I mean?
14:02
Lalić
Like, yeah, for that reason, it's like, I think that while things have gotten, like, kind of more democratic, it's also more authoritarian than ever, I guess, in how the music industry is run. You know what I mean?
14:16
Hermajesty
Like, yeah, like, how, like, how Spotify picks, like, in their playlist, like, who. Who makes it essential?
14:25
Lalić
Exactly.
14:26
Hermajesty
Yeah.
14:26
Lalić
And the way that Spotify picks who makes it is by, you know, the companies that they work with to give them brands, and the way that those companies get bands is that the bands have to pay these companies. You know what I mean? And so it's like this setup thing where essentially now, like, no one can afford to really take a risk. You know what I mean? So it's kind of like. It feels a lot like a mafia to me, really. You know, like. And again, it's like, I'm critical of it, but I also understand, like, as from a business point of view, like, there's just. You know what I mean? Like, they. I guess they kind of had to do that, but I think it's I think it has cut out a lot of potential for that middle layer.
15:04
Lalić
You know what I mean? Like, I think it's made really stark. Like, you're making it or you're not making it. I don't think that was quite as contrasted once as it is now, you know?
15:13
Hermajesty
Yeah, I feel like that's definitely. That's definitely where a lot of. Especially, like, with physical, like, media, so sales declining, or I guess they're kind of technically on an upswing again since, like. Yeah, the. The.
15:26
Lalić
It's like a totally different monetization.
15:30
Hermajesty
Yeah.
15:30
Lalić
Like that.
15:32
Hermajesty
Yeah. You can, like, seem big, but, like, streams aren't doing that much financially for fans. Yeah.
15:42
Lalić
Which is like, you know. Yeah.
15:46
Hermajesty
Yeah. You said in the past the Melbourne scene has become better about representation, tokenism, and sort of transphobia in general. You mentioned that in 2016, those are kind of some of the largest obstacles facing queer artists in the scene. Then how is it kind of. How is it. How has it changed in the past five years?
16:08
Lalić
Yeah, I think that. I think we've gone through a lot of cycles, you know, and I think that it's gonna be really interesting, like, how things play out after the pandemic and everything. But I think that in general, like, one hand, like, I think that a lot of these things that were kind of, like, more political issues back then are way more normalized now. You know what I mean? Like, Like, I don't really. I don't, like, find myself, like, fighting for pronouns and. You know what I mean? Like, I'm sure it happens, but it's not, like, as a buzzy thing, but same time.
16:43
Hermajesty
Yeah, it's like a single. It's like a single correction instead of, like a through the night kind of deal.
16:49
Lalić
Yeah. Or like, somewhat, you know, like, who's against and who's on what team. And I don't know, it was, you know, it was really messy and stuff. But also, I feel like. Like, my problem with it at the moment is that it's kind of like I feel like what was happening in 2016 and since then, it's been kind of like it was like this confusion of, like, okay, there's all these, like, new stuff that people are getting used to and whatever. And then it was kind of like everyone, like, quickly tried to fill out as quickly as possible, like, okay, what's. What's. What's the ideology that we're all going to agree together? You know what I mean? And then kind of like, try and lock that down so that we can Have a.
17:23
Lalić
Like, a transferable record of what is right and wrong or whatever. But the problem with that is that it's kind of like these things need to keep evolving. You know what I mean?
17:31
Hermajesty
Yeah.
17:32
Lalić
And so I feel like I'm seeing a lot of stale, kind of, like, political rhetoric or, like, coming from institutions that. Participating in their rhetoric, but not instigating any of the change or, like, you know, or just like the conversations have kind of grinded a bit to a halt. And it kind of makes me feel like people just wanted peace more than they wanted truth, I guess.
17:58
Hermajesty
No, that's a really good way to put it. Kind of as like someone that's been in the scene for a long time. Do you see that being a more. You see the scene becoming more accepting as sort of like, new kids are coming into it?
18:14
Lalić
Totally. Absolutely. You know, and, like, there's just, like. You just see, like. Like, yeah, like, I felt I'm critical, but it's like, you see so much stuff that, you know, like, five years ago, if you told me that was just commonplace, would it. You know what I mean? It just. It's amazing to see in total, like, you know, and. And, yeah, I'm already feeling, like, politically challenged by younger people, you know, and I'm only 28, so, like, that's a really good, you know, sign as well.
18:46
Hermajesty
No. Yeah, there's a good slaughter. Slaughter, beach dog, lion. That's like, I feel old admitting counterculture makes me tired. And it's just like, kind of being like, oh, wait, like, these kids are. Yeah, they're hitting it harder than I was. So kind of moving off of the slightly heavier topics. What's kind of the current vision for Lalić? And do you have anything in the pipeline currently? Like, do you ever maybe plan on releasing that album that you found that got deleted or.
19:26
Lalić
I actually just finished a new album about three weeks ago.
19:31
Hermajesty
Awesome.
19:32
Lalić
So it's kind of really cool timing. And actually, I was just listening over it before. I'll show you. There it is in my iTunes World.
19:41
Hermajesty
Preview, First Peak, World Preview, Twilight Princess.
19:48
Lalić
But I. Yeah, so I have this album called Twilight Princess that I've been working on and off for years, and there's been really hard project to work on because it was, like, really personal. And I kind of, like, felt. Feels very ultimate. Like, I feel like, very, like this is probably the best thing I've ever done, which is, you know, what I really kind of want to feel every time I release something, but I just feel really strong about this and I'm really. It's been a long time coming, and I'm really. And it kind of came as a surprise. I think it's like, I'd spent so long, I kind of checked out, and then, you know, like, a few weeks ago, I moved house, and I set up a studio in the back.
20:22
Lalić
And then I just, like, started cooking, and I was just, like, in there every day, like old days. And it was just amazing, you know? So I'm going to say. And this is also the first time that I finished an album before I've announced its release date. Like, every other time, I've been like, you know, October 24th or whatever. And then October 23rd, I'm, like, mastering. You know what I mean? Like, I'm uploading new versions kind of thing. This time, it's like, I haven't even told anyone, and I've got the whole thing finished, so that'll be kind of cool. But I. I might finish that other album. We'll see how we go. I. I really want to get into tv, to be honest. I want to make tv. That's what I've been thinking about. Like, this is a random point to put across.
21:05
Lalić
I know that's a bit of a side thing, but it's like.
21:07
Hermajesty
No, it's okay. I feel like I want to hear about where you want to go creative.
21:12
Lalić
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I just feel like that's a real avenue, because I guess I think part of it was being in lockdown and watching so much tv, you know, and kind of like starting to relate to that as a medium. And then, so last year, when I took my break from music, me and some friends kind of worked on a show for a little while. Just like animation, just, like, for fun and, like, kind of like a sitcom vibe. But I just, like, really want to, like. I feel like in music, there's so much like. Like, I'm saying something, right? But it's like.
21:40
Lalić
Because of, like, poetry and subjectivity, it's like, only, like, say, a quarter of that gets across, and then a quarter of that, it's like, the rest of it, I'm leaving up to the other person, right, to kind of interpret things, these messages, in relation to whatever they're going through or whatever. But, like, I feel like I'd love to move into something a bit more specific where I kind of have. We. We have to, like, actually say stuff. You know what I mean? Like. Like tv, I guess. I don't know. It's like, kind of like.
22:06
Hermajesty
No. Yeah, it can definitely Be a lot more heavy handed.
22:10
Lalić
Yeah, totally. And you have to commit more. I think that's what I like. I was like writing scripts all last year and it was like the closest I've ever come to having a good therapist. You know, like having to actually like tie down what you're saying and why you're saying it, you know, and it's like I would write an episode and then be like, oh my God, like I'm the joke. Like I can't believe I even, you know what I mean, kind of thing and then learn something about my, like. So that's kind of what I want to go into.
22:36
Lalić
But also, as lockdown opens, I want to, you know, there's a bunch of artists in Melbourne that I want to help and support and you know, like, great artists that should be out there and friends of mine that I really believe in, that I'm going to work on some of their projects with them and, you know.
22:52
Hermajesty
Yeah, yeah. Who are you? Who are you kind of looking at right now in the Melbourne scene? Like, who are some of those artists?
23:00
Lalić
Well, look, if I gave you a list, it would just be of all my friends, you know, like, it's like there's a lot out there, you know, like, and everyone's really good. Like, I gotta say that like a lot, you know, I think that what gets beamed out of Melbourne is a tiny fraction, you know what I mean? And kind of like the barriers to getting out of Melbourne very. They comb out a lot of really good stuff, you know what I mean? And so there's kind of a lot of. There's a lot of really good short lived projects, you know what I mean? Like, and people move on a lot. People do a band for a year and a half or something, but to drop some names, like my best friend, Slippy Mane, it's my favorite rapper in the city and he's amazing.
23:44
Lalić
There's Hyena, who does amazing pop stuff. There's Bank Records, friend of mine's putting out really cool stuff. It's hard to say. Like everyone's kind of like in Pause. And this is band, Champagne and Quiche. Sorry, I'm just raving about all my friends. But like there's, there's. There's heaps of stuff out there. But also I, I'm not as in, I don't.
24:06
Hermajesty
There's.
24:07
Lalić
There's been people that know much more about scene these days than I do, you know?
24:10
Hermajesty
Yeah, yeah.
24:14
Lalić
I feel old, you know?
24:16
Hermajesty
No, I get.
24:17
Lalić
I feel, I feel like, good, Like I don't feel. I feel like I've done a bunch of stuff I like and now I like that I don't have that hectic fever anymore. You know what I mean?
24:28
Hermajesty
Yeah.
24:28
Lalić
Just kind of like relax.
24:30
Hermajesty
Yeah. That kind of leads into another question I had. Sort of you talking about how. How Twilight Princess is sort of an ultimate project. Like at this point, do you feel like. I guess not, not like a, like a master of your. Of your craft, but do you feel like confident what you're doing? Like, do you feel like, do you. Do you feel like there's a lot left to learn or where do you think you're at, like on your journey as an artist, Music at least?
25:01
Lalić
I think, like convincing myself that there wasn't much left to learn was like integral to like harnessing a kind of confidence that I definitely think helped me make some of the stuff I think, like postmodern gothic for me, like, felt like I wasn't learning anything. Like I was just executing. And that's why I kind of felt like my strongest album when I made it, you know, and because it's like I came into that project, I did it all in three months and it just felt like I know exactly what I'm doing was in every other album was like, I'm going to learn something, I'm going to take something along the way. But at the same time, it's kind of like getting in my head that I was done is probably what led to that massive drop off. You know what I mean?
25:40
Lalić
And that like, kind of like then you'll kind of process about it. I think that, like, part of that is that when you like feel like you've gotten to the top of a certain mountain, right? And it's like, it's. It's scary and confronting to. To realize that the only possible next step is to realize that you're actually at the bottom of a new mountain. You know what I mean?
26:05
Hermajesty
Yeah.
26:06
Lalić
And that's kind of like, I think what I'm gonna go through at some point, like. But I think that's the thing. It's like, this is reluctance in me, right? That's like, oh, yeah. Like, I don't want to. I don't know. I don't want to go through all of that again.
26:18
Hermajesty
Like.
26:19
Lalić
But I know that the truth is that I've definitely got much further to go, you know?
26:23
Hermajesty
Yeah.
26:24
Lalić
So.
26:26
Hermajesty
Kind of going off of that, how do you like, especially with so much Time since Post Mortal Gothic come out and you. You finishing up another album, how do you feel like that affects your art? You kind of feeling confident and, like. Like, I feel like I'm not learning anything. Compared to when you're kind of scrapping along as you're putting together a project.
26:53
Lalić
Yeah. How's. Like, what's the difference in vibe, I guess. Yeah.
26:58
Hermajesty
Yeah.
26:59
Lalić
I think that, like, the scrapping together vibe feels a lot more like. Kind of like I'm in dialogue with something. You know what I mean? Like, I feel a lot. Kind of Almost less responsible for those albums because they kind of. I feel like I barely did it. I feel like it was just like, what? The dice rolled, you know what I mean? In a certain way.
27:23
Hermajesty
Yeah. Like, you can look back on it and be like, oh, I didn't know how to do that, so.
27:26
Lalić
So, yeah, I was. I felt like I was just, like, driving this big, kind of pushing this blob around, you know what I mean? Kind of thing. I think that, like. I think that gives it a really special quality, you know? And I think it was, like, pretty early. Like, I had a good friend, Cozy, who was like. I was. When we met, I was, like, working on this album, and I was like, I'm gonna get it done. And I remember she was. They were just, like. Just put out what you're doing, you know, show people where you're at. Like, don't. Don't wait until you're perfect. And then show people, you know, like, show, like. And then that really, like, instilled this, like, ideology of, like, showing broken work, you know what I mean?
28:02
Lalić
And kind of shying away from really polished things because it kind of, like, felt like a. Oh, look at me. Like, look how perfect I can do. You know what I mean? Kind of thing, as opposed to, like. Instead of, like, making, like, a perfect work, you know, it's like recognizing that, like, the world's messed up and, like, people are messed up. I messed up. And then the work is also going to be messed up rather than being pristine, you know? Cool. Thanks.
28:28
Hermajesty
Yeah. And kind of going off that I just kind of. I'm keeping magic. Everything you like, everything you say, it's. It's. It's. I keep. I keep having more questions. Like, you said that. That one of the songs off of Bad Tapes 2 was a demo when you were 14. Is there other stuff that you would consider, like, upheaving again that you think would have a place on more projects or how do you feel about going back again into the sort of archives.
29:01
Lalić
Yeah, I dive into those vaults. Like I'm, you know, I don't know who's a famous diver. Some like, you know, I dive a lot into those vaults. Like I'm. I'm always in and out of that stuff and kind of like reflecting on those kinds of like. I guess like almost like they're like resources, you know, like there's like stuff that and like half formed ideas that then like later down the track there's a lot of tracks that I have on my laptop that like I'll have certain different music friends come around and then I'll play them or something. This is junk. This junk, this junk. And they're like, oh no, I want that. And like that's really cool, you know, kind of thing. But I thought. I thought about doing a bed. Tapes three, but it's in February. So.
29:47
Lalić
When I was 13, first ever CD I ever made was called Tapes and Bright Sides and. And it was like real like music concrete, weird, abstract, all on audacity with like lots of reverse like sounds and you know. But it's. It's in February, it's gonna be 15 years. So I was thinking of maybe like releasing something like that.
30:07
Hermajesty
Okay.
30:08
Lalić
Yeah, yeah, but. But I think it. It all I can. It's all there, it all informs. Like I said, it's all part of that like soup. And it's like depending part of the.
30:22
Hermajesty
Chronology of who you are as a musician. Yeah, yeah. Do you ever go back and like, do you. Would you ever like re. Record any of those or do you just kind of take bits and pieces that you thought were like good and then kind of incorporate them into songs?
30:41
Lalić
Yeah, I think that like. I think a. To a certain extent, like a lot of it's tapped out, mined out, you know, like used over the last couple of years. But a lot of the time it would be like maybe something just has like a really simple, beautiful melody in it, you know, And I'll take that or I will use it for like the sonic scape of a certain song, you know, like sometimes I'm building a song and I need to fill something out and I just like drag something into the sampler, you know what I mean? Like some old weird thing and then kind of muffled out and put it up in one ear, like that kind of stuff. But then a lot of it is like really sacred to me, you know.
31:18
Lalić
Like there's a lot of recordings that I made when I was like 14, 15, 16 that it's like I can't Nothing brings me back to that time like, those songs, and they bring me right back, you know? Like, I remember, like, the day. I remember, like, what. You know what I mean? Like.
31:31
Hermajesty
Yeah.
31:31
Lalić
So it's got that kind of, like, special thing to it that. That's just for me.
31:37
Hermajesty
Yeah. Sort of. With, like, as you're. As you're learning when you're recording, will you go back and, like, re. Record, I guess, songs that you just recorded, like, earlier in the. In the recording process kind of with what you learned throughout the record, or will you kind of lead them as they were?
31:57
Lalić
No, I definitely leave them as they were. Yeah. Yeah, I think. I think that. A lot of power in that way, I think. Yeah.
32:08
Hermajesty
Will you. You think you're gonna start playing shows soon or.
32:14
Lalić
Yeah, I mean, we'll see how things go with the lockdowns here and stuff, you know?
32:19
Hermajesty
Yeah, I know.
32:19
Lalić
It's really.
32:20
Hermajesty
It's really, like, inconsistent, and it's really, like, snap. It'll happen. Yeah.
32:26
Lalić
Yeah. So it's really hard to, like, plan anything or get your hopes up or anything like that, but it also kind of suits because, like, I feel like a few years ago, I made this decision, like, that I wasn't gonna campaign with gigs anymore. You know what I mean? Like, I was gonna, like, do shows, you know, so like, once every three, every six months, maybe do, like, one show and be like, come see this, because, you know, you're not gonna see it again, and it's gonna be really good, you know?
32:52
Hermajesty
Yeah.
32:52
Lalić
And I think that felt so much better, you know? Like, I think last few albums, I've pretty much done, like, two shows per album, you know.
32:59
Hermajesty
Okay.
33:00
Lalić
Yeah. So I like to make a bit more of a thing, but I love tour around, you know, I really want to come back to America, and I really want to, you know, go tour in Europe and stuff like that. So I think that should. That could be in my future. We'll see.
33:18
Hermajesty
Yeah, that'd be awesome. Just a few short questions. What's your favorite Crayola crayon color?
33:27
Lalić
Magenta.
33:28
Hermajesty
Okay. Do you follow footy at all?
33:34
Lalić
I watched my very first footy match last week, actually.
33:38
Hermajesty
Oh, you just watched the grand final?
33:40
Lalić
Yeah. Yeah. Because my partner's entire family go for the. For one of the teams. Yeah.
33:46
Hermajesty
Dogs or demons?
33:49
Lalić
Demons.
33:52
Hermajesty
Shame. What are some things that we even touched on that you may want the listeners and the viewers at home to know?
34:04
Lalić
I mean, first of all, I think that was great. Like, it was. I really liked how you're Always ready with another question to keep things going. There's, like, a really good flow.
34:14
Hermajesty
Thank you.
34:18
Lalić
Look, just that, you know, look, I don't know. I just. I just. We're all in this together, you know. That's what I want to say. And that we're all kind of, like, levelling up, you know, we have to. And it's kind of a. I just. I'm proud of everyone. That's how I feel, you know, And I hope everyone can stay strong.
34:45
Hermajesty
Awesome. Where can they find you on social media?
34:49
Lalić
Lalit?bandcamp.com. I've also got Facebook and Instagram that I never, ever use. I pop on there, like, I'll post, like, once, like, hey, this album came out today. And then I'll go disappear for a.
35:01
Hermajesty
Year and a half.
35:02
Lalić
But there's also some paintings I should be posting on there.
35:05
Hermajesty
I was going to ask you about the paintings, because those are on. Those are on Instagram.
35:10
Lalić
Yeah, yeah. Painting is very. A sporadic thing for me. It just kind of, like, hits me like a freight trainer. And I'll paint for, like, two months, and then I'll give it up for two years and then come back to it. So it's hard to, you know, predict when that happens.
35:24
Hermajesty
And then. Do you. How do you. Sorry, this just came back to me. I was definitely trying to wrap up the interview. It just came back to me. But I really enjoy Danube and the Danube track. Yeah. And so how is, like, kind of singing? It's in serving. Right.
35:47
Lalić
Yeah.
35:48
Hermajesty
The first part of it. How does that kind of differ for you? And, like, do you find that almost channels, like, a different part of you than singing in English?
36:00
Lalić
Well, I think that even just, like, very, like, practically, it's like, I listen to a lot of Serbian music. I think I listen to more Serbian music than non Serbian music, you know, like, in a lot of, like, 80s and 70s, like, disco and pop and stuff like that. And so particularly that song that was, like, singing in Serbian, it was like I could draw on all those influences, you know, like the way that they use the phonetics and stuff like that. It was like. It's all very, like, choppy and kind of, like, cool like that. And I definitely want to write more in Serbian. I want to go back there and. But, yeah, I listen to so much Serbian music like this so much because Yugoslavian music in general, so it was cool to sing in it.
36:42
Hermajesty
Yeah. That was really interesting how you worked with, like. With, like, other Balkan labels and stuff.
36:49
Lalić
Yeah.
36:51
Hermajesty
Because you put a. You put a cassette out with a Slovakian label, Right?
36:57
Lalić
Yeah. Yeah. And I, you know, it's really glad to say I've been on some of the compilation before. In 2019, just before COVID hit, I was in. I was in Serbia for four months and I was planning to go back and I really liked kind of like trying to be part of something over there as well, you know?
37:14
Hermajesty
Yeah.
37:15
Lalić
But I have so many amazing fans in Europe. Like, so many people from different countries that like, hit me up when a new album comes out or ask the lyrics or email me telling me, like, how much certain things mean to them. Like, it's amazing, you know, like, so I have like heaps of little towns that I want to visit and play in just for that, like, one person, you know.
37:30
Hermajesty
Yeah.
37:31
Lalić
So thank you.
37:34
Hermajesty
Yeah, that's so cool. Finding your. Finding your stuff was definitely. It was super interesting. I like so much of it, but thank you so much for being with me. WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 Raleigh. I'm HerMajesty, here with Lalić.
37:54
Lalić
Thank you so much.