Memphis LK makes bedroom pop for the big stage.
Fusing underground club beats, candy-coated melodies and feather-light vocals, her tracks don’t just get people on their feet. They create an insatiable need to dance.
With the skill and work ethic of that calibre, it’s no wonder the producer, singer, songwriter and DJ has been picking up fans at 180bpm.
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In this past year alone, she’s dropped two EPs, collaborated with German dance pop princess Mona Yim, performed at Splendour in the Grass and Beyond The Valley and had her face plastered on a billboard in Times Square. Not bad for a 26-year-old DIY artist.
Her latest EP, True Love And Its Consequences, is a five-song romp that showcases some of her strongest tracks yet. With a crystal clear vision and production to match, it’s nothing but hits. We caught up with Memphis to talk about inspiration, Palomas, and what the future holds.
Hi Memphis! How’s your day been so far?
I just finished a studio session for a collaboration I’m excited about, so it’s been a good day. But I’m on the bus home now and the bus driver is in a deep road rage and I’m a little bit scared for my life.
Where there any music, books, or movies you were inspired by when you were working on the new EP?
The Matrix, the Lizzie McGuire Movie, Nintendo 64 soundtrack, 2000s trance and acid.
When you were working on the EP, did you have a particular goal in mind?
I usually try not to force anything and just let the songs evolve how they want to. I toured a lot this year and that inspired me, in the sense that I was making stuff I knew would be fun in a live setting.
Which song from the EP is the most special to you and why?
Bad For Me, because through the process of making it (and remaking it, and remaking it) I learned to trust myself again.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
Four Tet, Bicep, Peggy Gou, Gwen Stefani, Disclosure, Burial, Avicii, Charli XCX
Was there ever a specific moment when you felt like you’d made it?
I spent about two years learning how to produce better and I decided not to release any music in that time. I wanted to become more confident in my ability to finish songs by myself.
When I put out my last EP Too Much Fun at the start of this year, it was the first body of work I released after taking that time. It was the first release that truly felt like me. The EP had such an overwhelmingly positive response, it felt surreal. That was the most incredible feeling.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
10 minutes of vocal warm-ups and a Paloma (tequila, soda, lime, pink grapefruit).
What’s on your dream rider?
A juicer with all the ingredients to make juice and a massage chair.
Do you have any hectic stories from the road?
I tried to drive a car from Melbourne to Sydney for a show once. It was an old car and I didn’t check the oil or the water because I’m just a silly little girl – how was I meant to know?
The car engine died halfway and because the car was so old it was written off and we had to hitchhike the rest of the way to get to soundcheck on time.
Do you have any exciting plans for the summer?
I’m playing at Your Paradise in Fiji next week which will be so fun. I’m actually going back to the UK after that where it will be extremely cold and wintery so I’ll probably go ice skating, drink mulled wine and finish some songs.
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