3/13/2018 – Continuing our popular Synthwave interview series, we checked out Hungary’s Lazerpunk. His newest album is dark and sinister, but comes with a packaged around track he almost deleted. Black Lambo has been an underground hit on the Outrun – Vaporwave scene. We caught up with Lazerpunk to hear about the new album and whole lot more. #synthwave
Slickster: Black Lambo has some catchy and sinister vocals. Who did the vocals and how did you come up with that sound?
Lazerpunk: Everyone is asking me about Black Lambo and it’s totally weird. Even days before the release I was thinking very hard if I should delete it from the album, as it didn’t really fit. This is the only track with a good, uplifting vibe on the entire album. Also it has strong hiphop/trap elements, which is not something that is common in this genre, so I absolutely did not expect people to like it. Originally it was an instrumental song and as I was listening to it over and over again I just started rapping over the beat because I was getting bored of it. Then I recorded these lyrics that I came up with on the spot, and sent it to a few friends as a joke, but they said this is totally fire and kept pushing me to put this on the album. So eventually I did and it became the most popular track on the whole thing. The original lyrics were very different but I decided to delete all drug references and I also deleted the part where I mentioned Lil Paper.
Slickster: You have songs titled, “Ego Death”, “Poison”, “Revenge”, “Rampage’, and “Anger” on this album. What is driving these intense feelings that you channeled onto the record?
Lazerpunk: The last few years been pretty rough for me. I won’t really get into the details but I’ve been through some stuff that severely damaged me as a person, but at the same time inspried me big time as an artist. And it really shows. I was in a much better mood when I wrote my two previous albums and they are not even close to what DEATH & GLORY is. I had enough of everything and decided to just finish this last album just because I don’t like unfinished business. Then the thing blew up and so many new doors opened for me that I’m no longer looking at the Exit. Or at least I see that it is not the only door I can walk through now.
Slickster: Some would call your music ‘darksynth‘. How do you classify music as ‘darksynth’ as opposed to ‘synthwave‘ or ‘outrun‘?
Lazerpunk: Synthwave is cruising on the beaches of Miami in the sunset in a convertible roadster with palmtrees all around. This is Quixotic. Outrun is trying to get away from the cops after a bank robbery in a Ferrari Testarossa in Los Angeles downtown. This is Tokyo Rose. And darksynth is going straight to hell with maximum speed driving a black Lamborghini, kicking the gas pedal through the floor while the whole thing is on fire and it is the grim reaper itself who is sitting in the passenger seat grinning at you like a maniac as you push the gas pedal even further. And that’s Lazerpunk.
Slickster: There is a line in you bio that states, “Even though his careless behaviour on the roads and his multiple accidents due to illegal street races have caused a lot of controversy…” Can you elaborate on this? Are you into street racing, modding cars, race queens, and all of that scene?
Lazerpunk: Well I’m not some guy from a Fast & Furious movie, not even close, but I love cars and motorbikes, and I love speed. Last year I paid so much to the police because of speeding that they could list me as their sponsor. I also had quite a few accidents. The last one happened right on my birthday and could easily been fatal, so that really got me thinking and made me take a step back. I got lots of supportive messages from people but there were also guys who said I should have died because I’m a dumb fuck for racing in traffic and such. And I have some people who really want me dead. I know the stuff they are saying behind my back, and they really wish the worst on me. But it’s cool. It’s not like they are going to do anything other than running their mouths.
Slickster: Your business model includes giving away your music for free. In today’s online environment is this the only way to get noticed? Can artists make any money from Youtube videos anymore? If people want to donate, where can they send money?
Lazerpunk: I have no idea about Youtube money, I get none of that since it’s other folks who upload my music. Maybe I should take a look at that. But people mostly support me by donating cash through my bandcamp site. It is pretty cool actually, because all my music is free, so when someone send me money I know that they really like what I’m doing and they want me to continue. And that feels great. People always ask me what is it about me that makes me stand out and why am I doing so good. And I don’t really know what’s special about me, but one thing I know for sure, that I have the most loyal and most supportive folks having my back.
Slickster: Do you have any live performances on the schedule? If so, where and when?
Lazerpunk: I’m putting together my live setup now, so it’s still in the works, but yes, I’m planning to do lots of live shows this year. Can’t really disclose any dates and places yet, but I can promise that I’ll go back to Moscow, and I’ll also visit many other European cities. And I have a thing for Eastern European countries, so I want to visit a few places in that region as well. Might I add, I never been to the US before, and that’s on my “things to do before die” list, so I’ll have to make that happen as well.
Slickster: Thanks for talking with Slickster Magazine and best of luck with all of your upcoming musical endeavors. What message would you like to share with the world?
Lazerpunk: Thanks for interviewing me. I’m not big on inspriational thoughts and such, but what I could suggest everyone is to don’t put too much time and effort into the wrong things. Relationships will end, friends will stab you in the back, but if you take care of your car or motorbike it will serve you forever. Fuck people, focus on yourself and machines.
