Lukay
Lukay has hit both Canadian and American Billboard charts, and now has his sights set on dominating the UK.
The pop/R&B artist has been tipped as 'the next Ne-Yo', and we got the chance to chat with him about his single 'Dance With You', who he likes to listen to and who he'd collaborate with if he could pick anyone in the world.
When did you realise you wanted to be a musician?
I grew up in a musical family - my dad was a choir director and my mum was a singer in church. My brother plays the piano and my sister sings so this is something that I've always been around growing up, so it felt natural going down that path.
How did you find getting into the industry?
It's challenging - when you're passionate about something you go 100% and that's what I did. Luckily it got me quite some success in some parts of the world and hopefully we can bring that on over to the UK.
What struggles have you faced in your career?
The financial is not always there in the beginning but when you have people around you that believed in your passion and your vision it can kinda help the situation.
Who or what do you draw inspiration from as an artist?
Inspiration comes from many things. It can come from personal experience, or an experience around me or just something that I feel that people need to hear.
Tell us about your single 'Dance With You'.
It's pretty much an EDM (electronic dance music) type of song - very happy, very fun for clubs or radio. It's a very happy song - if you saw the music video - it's pretty much me chasing a girl - in a friendly way, a cute way - asking a girl to dance with him pretty much and in the end she ends up with him.
How was the process of filming that music video?
It was pretty cool and pretty long. It took about three days - it was very cold. It was originally meant to be shot in the UK but we ended up shooting it in Montreal and it was really cold, but we were able to nail it and it was a really fun experience - the dancers, the film crew - they were amazing so it was a really good process.
Is there an album to follow?
Definitely - an album will be coming. Most likely an EP will be coming before that and then an album - not specific dates but it's definitely part of the plan.
Whose music do you listen to at the moment?
Bruno Mars, Pharrell - 'Get Lucky' - that's one of my favourite songs. I would say Justin Timberlake as well. I kinda like that retro that's coming back, so I'm definitely feeling those type of records.
Where do you hope to be in 12 months time?
Hopefully touring Europe, performing in very, very big venues in the UK - hopefully! That's the aim and I think we can definitely pull it off.
Aside from the EP and album are there any other projects coming up you can share with us?
I did a featuring with a DJ, David Ferrera, we're shooting the video probably next month and it's gonna be a song released worldwide - so it's gonna be a pretty big song. Also another song that I did with Universal DJ Vito V - another big song - kinda EDM song. There's also another song - another featuring that I did - on an artist signed to T.I.'s label down in Atlanta. We're also supposed to be shooting the video sometime next month in L.A.
If you could choose one person to collaborate with, who would you choose?
Taylor Swift. I know a lot of people get a shock every time I say that but I'm a very firm believer in mixing two flavours that're very different, I think something magical can come out of it. We've seen it happen over and over throughout the years but I don't think somebody from the country world and the pop/R&B has done - not that I can think of - but I think it would be something pretty magical, me and her together.
'Dance With You' is out now.