Leikeli47 | Episode 27 | Skullcandy

You Feel Me?

Leikeli47 is empowered. She’s taken control of her narrative by hiding her true identity. Now critics, fans, and observers are forced to judge her on the merit of music instead of physical appearance. Admittedly a shy person most of her life, concealing her identity has empowered her to be herself in the music.

47 is the rare all-in-one complete package modern musician. Not only is she an impeccable lyricist and song writer, but she displays a masterful delivery whether rapping or singing (“communicating” as she calls it), and she co-produces many of her songs. Even beyond that, she has a clearly defined visual aesthetic to match her music, making her one of the most well defined and captivating characters we’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Her latest record, Acrylic, is the follow up to her previous Wash & Set and the second of a trilogy she’s dubbed the “beauty series.” Both albums are expansive in their scope, and concise in their clarity. They tackle a number of issues and topics with precision only a masterfully observant wordsmith could provide. Hear us talk about Pharrell watching her perform, finding the right sounds in the world to get the music out of her head, and people not even realizing she’s in the studio when the mask is off.

Highlights:

1:20: Why the mask?

2:18: Cultivating your sound

4:45: Growing up artistic

8:00: Moving to New York

9:30: What to do outside of music

11:48: Pharrell

19:00: Concepts of Beauty

23:12: Discount Break

23:17: Atlantic melting pots

25:45: Influences beyond music

29:45: Coming up musically

34:40: Putting on the mask

37:50: Life as a studio rat

42:25: "Girl Blunt" on insecure

43:40: The face behind the mask