You might recognize Lumasi from his bass-filled flips, reaction videos on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram, but do you really know him?
Lumasi (pronounced Loo-muh-see) has taken the Internet by storm, with videos of his flips racking in millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes. His music is filled with vibrant and palpable bass, and he remixes songs that we all know and love. But where does this creativity stem from? What does he plan to do this year riding the wave of his online success?
We sat down with the Denver-based artist at Gem and Jam in Tucson, Arizona to get the scoop.
Nix (Electric Hawk): How has 2024 been for you so far? Has it been a good year?
Lumasi: Yeah, it’s been great! I’m actually working on a rebrand that we’re going to roll out at the end of February. That’s going to be super fun. And I played my first show with Tape B in Madison. It was a show. It was fucking awesome. Like, yeah, people and Madison were awesome. It was just great. It’s been off to a good start.
N: Tell me about that rebrand!
Lumasi: So, it’s going to be the same name. I got a new logo and we’re rolling out some merch with it and it’s going to be a new vibe. Because I used to make a different type of music, like melodic bass, and I started making more dubstep a little over a year ago, I just wanted to have a fresh start with it. And I think I really like it and I’m excited for the merch drop and the next releases, too. It’s all going to be this idea that I have, so I’m just excited to roll that out.
N: Your music career has kind of blossomed in the last year, and many people, including myself, have found you through social media. How do you think social media has impacted your career in the last year? What opportunities do you think it provides for artists on the rise like yourself?
Lumasi: I owe everything to social media. I don’t know if anyone would have found my music if I didn’t use social media to get my music out there the way that I have because there’s been a lot of talk. People are saying that it’s fake or whatever, but I’m just trying to get my music out there. Social media has had a huge impact on that, and it showed [my music] to people. I’m not doing any tricks or whatever. So I would say social media is a great asset. And I also will say that if you’re trying to fake content on social media, I don’t think it’ll do well. I think authenticity really shines, and I think it connects with people.
I just like being authentic and making remixes for [my girlfriend] Avery. People like that, and I like doing it. It wasn’t ever supposed to be a marketing thing. [I told her] I can make any song you want. I’ll do that for you, tell me what songs you want. And then we decided to surprise and record her reactions, and people liked it. It’s all about authenticity.
N: We have been loving the flips and remixes you have been putting out! In your opinion, what qualities make a good flip and which ones make a flip not-so-good?
Lumasi: That’s subjective; I don’t know what to say is a bad flip. But what I think makes a good flip is really making it your own. How would you would produce the song if you had these vocals or if you had this rapper with you in the studio? I think that’s what makes a great flip. Or capturing what the original artist wanted to do, but in a different way.
I have this unreleased flip that I’m going to play tonight for the first time, and I think I did that, in a way. I’m just super excited because it’s different from my other stuff, and I think I captured the vibe of the original artist in a cool way–a different way.
I think that’s what makes a good flip: it’s how you can make it your own.
N: That’s really exciting, I’m ready to hear it! You recently announced that you’re going to be tour support with Liquid Stranger on the Wakaan Expansion Tour. What most excites you about touring? Is this your first tour that you’re going on?
Lumasi: Yeah, it is my first tour. I’m just excited to play in new cities that I’ve never played before and have never even been to. I’m just really excited to meet people and to travel!
N: I know you talked a little bit about your rebrand already, but what else can we expect from your project in the upcoming year?
Lumasi: So this last year, I did a lot of Soundcloud remixes and stuff. This coming year, you can expect a lot more originals, stuff that’s going to be on all platforms. So I’m really excited for that. But I’m still going to do my flips. I love doing flips–that’s what inspires me. Other musicians inspire me, so it’s great. Yeah, I’m excited I’m going to have a lot more original music coming out this year and possibly a tour. We’re working on it.
N: That’s so exciting! Is there anything that you’d like to add about yourself, or that you wanted to talk about?
Lumasi: I will say a lot of people have a hard time pronouncing my name. It’s Lumasi (Loo-muh-see). But honestly, I don’t care. Whatever you want to call me, go for it. Like tomato, tomato.
N: How did you come up with the name Lumasi?
Lumasi: That’s a funny story, actually. So it was about 2015 and I was in high school. Me and a couple of buddies watched videos of music festivals, and wanted to do it too. We combined the first two letters of each of our names. So L U is from me, Luke, and then Ma and Si is from the first two letters of their names. After the first ten minutes of trying to learn how to produce, they gave up. But me, I was locked in. I just kept the name. It started as soon as I started wanting to pursue music, so it resonates with me. I like it. That’s how the name started.
N: That’s a fun origin story. It keeps your project authentic and personal. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us, I’m really looking forward to your set!
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