Luh’ra is a local musician whose music brings us joy and whose personal style inspires us, always. We love creating these cnscs_ people conversations, because they allow us to connect with people we admire, in many, different ways, and share them with you. We always leave the calls feeling refreshed and inspired, and our chat with Luh’ra was no different – we chatted about her journey with music, her sisters’ influence on her style, her love for local design and the process of curating a show.
Masego and Stella: You have been sharing your soothing and soulful tunes with the world for about two years now. How did your musical journey begin? What was the first song that you shared with the world, and what did that feel like?
Luh’ra: It’s difficult for me to say exactly when I started sharing music. I started playing classical guitar when I was 10 and always played music as a small child. But, I had a guitar teacher in high school who encouraged me to start writing my own songs and I would bring a new song to every lesson. There was one show I did in high school where I played those songs. I can’t say that that was the start of me sharing my music, because after high school I started studying architecture and wasn’t playing much music. I would say that my actual career started when I finished my internship at the architecture firm I was working at. I started a band with my friend, Boskasie, and we started hosting our own events.
A song that I associate with that time is a song I wrote after I finished my journey with architecture – it’s called “Moon.” One of the main lyrics is, “I think I’m falling from the moon.” It’s about feeling like you’ve progressed to a certain level, but all of a sudden you have to take a few steps backwards to move forward again. So, it’s always really special when I play that song, because even when I play it now, it can mean something different within a different context.
M & S: You have an eclectic and colourful sense of personal style. Can you tell us a bit about your personal style journey and how you discovered what you love to wear? What role does fashion play in your personal expression?
L: The first style influence in my life would have to be my sisters. Their styles were two polar opposites. My one sister was kinda a tomboy (whatever that means) and my other sister dressed quite feminine, most of the time. But, they also both love hip hop. So, all of that combined taught me the foundations of my fashion sense.
As I got older, I was exposed to so many different local designers, working for them and gathering items of clothing from various places. That took my style in a different direction, but the foundation always remained.
Growing up and having sisters meant that they would always just give me clothes that they didn’t want. That was quite an important lesson to learn, because even though I thought the things they gave me were cool, they may not have been things I would choose for myself. I think that is a cool lesson to learn – to just get something and figure out how to wear it in your own way. That is my favourite challenge.
Masego: I agree, because that is what personal style is about – figuring out how you can wear something. It could be almost any item of clothing, but you make it fit you, instead of you fitting the clothing style.
L: Definitely! And it has always been such a funny thing for me, working in retail situations and hearing people say, “oh, but it’s too big for me.” And, I’m just like, “I don’t understand what you mean.” *laughs* I love wearing oversized clothes, and the size of something doesn’t bother me – I’ll just make it work if I like the style.
In terms of personal expression, an item of clothing doesn’t make your personal expression, it’s more about how you choose to wear it – that’s where the expression comes in.
Masego: What tips would you give someone to find a way to express themselves through clothing that they maybe don’t think is their style?
L: I would say just don’t be scared. I think a lot of times, people have a perception in their mind of what suits them, and even though they like something, they will still say they can’t wear it, or that the colour doesn’t look good on them. So, learn to not be scared and embrace what you like.
M & S: We noticed that you often incorporate items by local designers and thrifted garments in your looks. We are always advocating for supporting local and thrifting as alternatives to fast fashion. Was the decision to incorporate local and thrifted garments an intentional move towards slow fashion, for you? What sparked this decision?
L: It happened quite organically. The idea of sustainability has always been interesting to me in various ways. I started thrifting in high school as well, just because it was cheaper and a cool thing to do. I’d always see local brands and always wanted to wear their clothes, but it always seemed unattainable, because the prices were too high for me. I guess that is why I started working for so many local designers, because I knew I could get free clothes if I worked for them! *laughs* And, I’m really not a good salesperson!
As I’ve gotten older, the way I thrift is different. I pay more attention to the quality of the clothes and the fabric, whereas before I would just buy anything cheap with a cool cut. Now, I have more of an appreciation for craftsmanship. I will save up to buy something if I really want it. It is nice to be able to approach people when I have shows and ask them if there is something they think I could wear for a show or a video. And, often, people are willing to gift me the piece, which I appreciate because hopefully it benefits both parties. But, it is also nice to save up, invest and support local designers when I can.
I remember when I turned 25, I was so broke, I had just quit my job and I didn’t know what was going on. I wanted to celebrate my birthday nicely, and I couldn’t. But, just looking at my wardrobe, I was like, “at least I can be proud of this!” *laughs* It is something special to collect special items and to know that the clothes that you collect are good quality and they all have a story behind them.
Stella: I also feel like people discover quite a lot of local brands through seeing you wear them at performances – I think I have done that!
Masego: I think that too. You say you are not a good salesperson, but that is one of the best ways to promote an item. People will see you wearing an item and maybe they really like the way you style it, and then they think, “oh, I want that brand too,” or, “I want to check them out and put them on my wish list.” So, you are a good salesperson!
L: Oh, that’s cool! I guess now I’m just being a salesperson in my own way. At one of my recent shows, I wore a jersey that my friend Keith made, and he said that so many people reached out to him after that. He said he had given a scarf to someone who is an influencer and the traction from that wasn’t great. The idea of influencers is so interesting, because people who have a lot of followers don’t always get the most engagement for your brand.
Stella: It’s so interesting, because when you wear those pieces, it doesn’t feel like you are marketing them. It just seems like those pieces are part of your wardrobe and they fit so well with the rest of your style that I don’t even think that you are being loaned garments. It’s just part of the performance and part of the art.
L: I definitely wouldn’t wear something that I don’t believe in.
M & S: You have been doing a lot of online, live performances lately. How has finding different ways to connect with your audience affected your relationship to your art? What is something that has been on your mind, lately, when you think about what it means to be a musician in a time like this?
L: It’s been interesting, because my first live, virtual, show I did I played from my bathroom, in my shower, and then I was just alone. So, I miss the engagement with the audience – that part is something that I miss the most. But, it’s also been really interesting, because I have been able to do shows for platforms all around the world, and I don’t think those people would have reached to me if it wasn’t for this time.
What has also been cool – I mean, it’s been quite stressful, but it’s also been cool – is to get to curate the space for my own live performances. But, I do also feel more limited now, because I just have to see what is in my wardrobe, because it’s quite a risk to be asking people for clothes, in terms of Corona. It’s been a lot of learning during this time. I have had to learn how to record myself to make sure that the audio is as good quality as it can be – and sometimes it’s not!
Stella: I feel like at a live show, you can feed off the energy of the audience so much better, and that sets the tone for the performance. So, it must be really strange not to have that.
L: Yeah. It’s kinda sad, because this year I really wanted to play more shows with my band and now, even though I have had quite a lot of shows, playing with a band hasn’t been an option.
M & S: In an interview with Between 10 and 5, you mentioned creating spaces and curating your events is an important part of the way you engage with your music. How have our current circumstances changed the way you relate to your space? Have you created new spaces for yourself?
L: Like I said, from the beginning of my musical career, creating events was always a big part of who I am, as an artist. Because I started with that foundation, it meant that I would get booked for gigs that suited my style, which is quite cool. So, if I know I’m going to be playing in a certain space, I will make sure that how I’m dressed is going to suit the environment.
Now, I haven’t created an event in a while, but what has been cool about the live performances is that I can create the mood for the lives in whatever way I want to. I obviously make sure that it will suit the platform that I’m doing the lives on. That is also something that is nice about the lives – even though you don’t get the energy from the crowd, you create the mood and the energy, and it’s received in whatever way people receive it. Not that it doesn’t matter how it’s received, but I won’t be influenced by expressions in the crowd, because my music is very soft, and I have had difficult gigs where the crowd isn’t being soft. So, that hasn’t been an issue with any of these lives streams which is great.
M & S: What is your favourite item in your wardrobe, and why?
L: My hand-painted wrap dress from Daisie Jo. We just connected on the internet and she said that she wanted to give me a dress. I had just gotten my cat and I didn’t want to leave him at home alone, so she came to my house and we had tea together. She even brought presents for Kuro, my kitten, which was so cute I couldn’t even believe it! She is just the coolest person I have ever seen in real life, and the dress is so amazing.
M & S: What is your favourite cost-free place to go in your city?
L: I’d say the Company Gardens or Greenpoint Urban Park.
M & S: Where do you go when you want to treat yourself?
L: There’s this French restaurant, called Café du Cap, on Loop Street. It’s such a random place, but I like to go there sometimes, and they have my favourite coffee.
M & S: What social media account is inspiring you right now?
L: @_akjpstudio – their account is really beautiful and so is their store.
M & S: What is on your local brand wish list?
L: A Sherpa Puffy Jacket from Happyville.
If you want to keep up with what Luh’ra is up to, get inspired by her personal style, and find out when her upcoming shows are, you should follow her on Instagram. And, if you are looking for some tunes to groove to once you have finished reading this interview, you can also stream Luh’ra’s latest EP – ‘Luh’ra Luv’ – on various platforms.
With love,
Masego and Stella x
cnscs_ 