In Depth: Lyza Jane
Genre defying vocalist Lyza Jane first made her name as a backing singer for the band Alabama 3. She has since embarked on a solo journey which to date has produced three self-released EP’s and a full-length album - the most recent being her acclaimed 2019 LP, Housebound. Whilst officially remaining an independent artist she's also released projects on Blah Records, a label that she's been closely affiliated with since 2016. This connection propelled Lyza’s renown via Blah’s predominantly hip-hop fanbase with rappers such as Lee Scott, Milkavelli and Bisk featuring regularly on her projects. With the knowledge Lyza had been working on new material in 2020, we reached out to discover more about her musical accomplishments and exclusive insights into what she has in store.
Photographer: Lee Scott
From a young age, creativity played a prominent role in Lyza’s life. Growing up in the company of Joe Strummer, her stepfather, she gained valuable insights into studio life and found the process of making music magical. As a teenager, Lyza followed her musical footsteps after receiving an opportunity to become a backing singer for Alabama 3. This collaboration materialised from “a touch of serendipity” in Lyza’s own words. “I'd known about them for a while and always loved watching them live,” she explained. “Then when I turned 18 I threw a party in this scrap yard under The West Way near Ladbroke Grove. It was a base for the Strummerville charity at the time and a few of the Alabama’s came down and ended up doing a little acoustic set. They asked if I wanted to join in for a couple songs and from that I ended up singing with them at Glastonbury and kinda joined their dysfunctional family.” During this period, Lyza spent most of her time in Alabama 3’s studio above South London’s Brixton Jamm. Here she encountered more opportunities to record music and learn new production techniques. “Rob Love was always working on something,” continued Lyza, reminiscing. “So I’d find myself involved in one of his many side projects or working on a new Alabama 3 album. I went there almost every night so naturally began working with their producer here and there, but I still wasn’t capable of articulating what I wanted. I’d get frustrated and Rob would just say ‘you gotta learn to produce yourself’ - and it’s true. Being shy, I think if I hadn’t learnt the basics it would've made it a lot harder to experiment. I was always nervous that whoever had made the beat might not like what I'd done on it, but if I made it myself then it eliminated that pressure.”
During her time spent above Brixton Jamm, Lyza met a producer called Formz, who at the time was Alabama 3’s sound engineer. He also had ties to London’s underground hip-hop scene through his affiliation with another producer called Sumgii, who was involved with London Zoo and Piff Gang. “Despite the fact that it took years for us to put something out we'd made together,” Lyza confirmed. “We’d been meeting up consistently and creating stuff. He helped me with everything - introduced me to a whole new world of music and prompted me to move from Logic to Ableton which is really when I became more confident.” Formz later introduced Lyza to Sumgii, who at the time was co-starting a new UK hip-hop supergroup called Cult Mountain. Although independent, Cult Mountain was strongly affiliated to a label called Blah Records which has assisted Lyza’s more recent releases. “I’d known Formz and Sumgii for time before I'd heard much about the label,” said Lyza, recalling her first encounters with Blah. “I’d been to a few shows and hung out with them on the odd occasion but the first real introduction was when Bisk was recording his album at my mine back in 2016. From then on I’d see them regularly as they’d all roll through. But I’m not signed to Blah, just naturally affiliated with them since I’ve collaborated with friends on there. They’re all so talented so getting to know and work with them has been inspiring to say the least.”
In September 2015, Lyza dropped her debut project, M I L K T E E T H - a four track “accumulation of songs recorded in my bedroom, Brixton Jamm and Los Angeles,'' Lyza replied, revealing personal insights into the EP. “ I had a totally different writing process back then and had no idea what I was doing so everything just unfolded and this was the result. It was exciting to put out beats I'd made myself more than anything. But yeah, I had no idea what I was doing and with regards to the songs that were co-produced on there - I think I was an absolute nightmare to work with. I knew what I wanted but had no idea how to express it. Again, that’s why production has always been so important to me.”
Following her 2015 successes, Lyza took a hiatus from releasing music. It wasn’t until 2017 that she re-emerged with a new single, a collaboration alongside Blah Records, Cult Mountain founder Milkavelli. “I knew him from Cult Mountain and thought his writing was amazing,” said Lyza, recalling their earliest collaborations. “The first track we did together was Have it Your way off Nobody But You, but I hadn’t actually met him at this point. Lee Scott heard it at mine one time and sent it to him to see if he wanted to jump on it. A few months later I was at his house and played a beat I’d made which was Sabbath. I guess he just vibed off it and wrote a verse around what I’d done. I didn’t think I'd get away with including it on the EP because the sample was so obvious so I uploaded it to Soundcloud instead.”
Afterwards, Lyza dropped Easy featuring London based Blah affiliate, Bisk. The single was taken from her second EP release, Nobody But You.“It was the first project I put out that I was really proud of,” Lyza stated. “It’s unique and a little rough around the edges but that’s why I like it. It’s self released and produced by me and Formz, bar the first track that’s produced by Lee Scott. The Bisk feature on Easy came about because it was during the time he was recording with Formz at mine. I'd only just started hanging out with some of the Blah lot and around the same time Formz introduced me to Jack Chard who was fundamental to the making of the EP. It was just a really fun time of creating and finding my sound.”
![Jack Chard, Lyza Jane & Lee Scott. [L-R]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5653aeb7411ce23017e460/1590664028034-K0MPK2IQ5CHMAE12K4Z9/jack%2C+lee%2C+lyza.jpg)
Jack Chard, Lyza Jane & Lee Scott. [L-R]
2017 was a provenly productive year, as that summer Lyza began creating her first full-length album, Housebound. Aptly titled, the project was made whilst Lyza was “Housebound with a broken foot,” she revealed. “I lived on the 4th floor with no lift and all these pins sticking out my toes - there was no way I was escaping.” Towards the end of the summer, Lyza met a rapper called Sniff. Realising they had musical chemistry, together they wrote another project called Baby Blue Champion. “He was staying between mine in Acton and Jack’s which was up the road in Ealing,” began Lyza, reminiscing the creation process. “It was hands down the easiest project I’ve ever made in terms of fluidity. I was just really comfortable writing with him and the whole thing unfolded in a matter of days. I’d also just copped the Akai Touch so making beats was exciting. The whole thing was just effortless and natural. There weren’t necessarily any intentions, we were just making music for fun. We'd been enjoying the sun and listening to all the 90’s lotion like Ashanti and Ja Rule and this was the result. I don’t remember much about the making of it apart from it was completed in about five days and the sunrises in Acton were magical.” Baby Blue Champion became Lyza’s first official Blah Records release, in June 2018.
In April 2019, Lyza unleashed her Housebound project unto the world. As well as self-recording all 11 tracks featured on this project, Lyza produced the majority of the LP. “This was the first time I really trusted in my capabilities as a producer,” confided Lyza. “I'd always been so concerned with what others thought so having all that time to myself whilst housebound made experimenting much easier. I still feel that way, I need people to bounce ideas off of and teach me all the things I don't know, but initially I need to be alone to cultivate the idea. Something in me just won’t let ideas come out if someone else is there, and that goes for both singing and producing- it’s fucking annoying if I’m honest. Once the idea’s down, I’m desperate for input and that’s why this project worked so well. I got the outline of the project and then when people would come to hang and use the studio I’d end up collaborating with them or getting advice. The collaborations weren't necessarily orchestrated either, it was more a case of, ‘Ah lemme jump on that track’ kind of thing.” Featured collaborations on Housebound include Lee Scott, Danny Lover and Black Josh - all Blah affiliates. “I’d done a few hooks for Danny in the past, so I was really happy to get him on the album” continued Lyza. Both Housebound and Baby Blue Champion were written and recorded at Lyza’s flat which was nicknamed ‘The Party Palace’ - inevitably becoming a base where many Blah members came to make music. “Mainly because of the space and the concrete walls,” explained Lyza. “It was huge and naturally sound proofed which meant no noise complaints and basically a 24 hour unrestricted recording studio. That’s essentially where I got to know everyone.”
Photographer: Harvey W-F
2020 has been an uncertain year, however it hasn’t stopped Lyza doing what she loves, music being just one of her many passions. In March, she recorded and released a cover of one of her favourite singles, Killing Moon, originally by the band Echo & The Bunny Men. “I was actually given a list of songs and asked to cover one for some sort of advertising thing,” explained Lyza. “Nothing really came of it but I was really proud of what we’d done so decided to release it rather than it just sit there. Echo & The Bunny Men thought it was a jam which made it all the more worthwhile.” Aside from that, Lyza has loads of tracks which she's been sorting through, and has started working with Wholesome Fun - a production duo made up of multi-instrumentalists Jack Chard and Hyroglifics. “Everything they create is gold,” beamed Lyza. “It’s just time I finish writing. I’m also working on another little side project that I’m excited about but it's very fresh so not much to reveal yet.” Music aside, Lyza also designs and operates her own jewellery store - Loki By Lyza. “I’ve always loved jewellery so it seemed like an obvious progression for me to take,” said Lyza, revealing how her passion for crafting began. “It’s self taught, I worked in a jewellers part time for about 5 years so have never been deprived of inspiration when it comes to metal. I tend to use methods like 3D printing and have met some incredible CAD guys along the way that help materialise my ideas.”
Our final question for Lyza was if there were any UK artists who she hadn't met yet, but would like to collaborate with? “I always say this but it’s gotta be Tricky,” replied Lyza, readily. “He’s had a huge influence on me. He always said he never really knew what he was doing, he just did it - and that's kinda how I feel about the way I make music.”
Lyza Jane, thank you for your time. Any final shout outs?
“My dog, Dusty.”
Since this interview took place, Lyza Jane has announced a new visual for a single directed by AboveGround coming soon, whilst her Baby Blue Champion LP has finally been pressed onto vinyl - due for release on Blah Records, July 2020. Keep an eye out for both these projects, follow Lyza Jane @lyza.jane_ / @loki_by_lyza for future updates.
Words by Evo @ethanevo