Interview: Catching Up With LEFTI + Stream Discoteca

In need of some new nu-disco party starters in your life? Enter LEFTI who has just released his latest EP, Discoteca. Featuring new heaters “All Night, “Make You Mine” and “Every Time” feat. Spencer Ludwig, the aptly titled EP packs a ton of grooves in a short timeframe.

GroundSounds recently sent LEFTI some interview questions to help get to know the artist better. You can stream Discoteca in full while reading below and if you’re in NYC, head to Freehold on April 4th where LEFTI will be DJ’ing as a part of the toucan sounds label launch party. (free RSVP)

Hi LEFTI! Congrats on your new EP. Can you tell us a little more on who you are and how you first got into making music?

First off, let me start by saying thank you very much for having me. It was my older brothers who really ignited the spark when I was very young. We had a 4 track that I used to play around with and started making music followed by recording bands that I played in while I was in high school. It was then, that my musical journey began making music as a guitar player.

What’s your songwriting process like?

This could go down many ways. I definitely make a lot of “early on” instrumentals now, to eventually write vocals to or play around with a sample or something. Sometimes I end up making a completely new music bed under that vocal from those demos, sort of like a remix. It can also come together from scratch. If I am working with a vocalist in a session, I usually aim to capture the general feel of the music but finish the vocal writing that day and then produce it out after.

What was your inspiration behind writing “All Night”?

This is the only song that was recorded at a different studio, which was my friend’s out in Kansas City. I went out there to do a gig at The Riot Room and spent the whole weekend making this song. They had quite a bit of percussion to use so I wanted to record a ton of it. I was there only for a few days so I spent all of my time, day and night, recording this one song and was literally up All Night on my last night just after my gig until I had to head to the airport.

Who are some of your biggest influences/favorite artists?

I lived a handful of different “musical” lives, all of which had very different influences. For this project, it is definitely a mix of old and new. I’d say my influence live somewhere between the likes of Chic, Quincy Jones (MJ production), definitely some French House and mix of things from the 2006-2012 nu disco/blog scene when disco house was also really pumping. Something really cool about that era was that the remixes were having totally separate lives of their own around the originals.

Any new artists/venues/purveyors of the arts in the Brooklyn you could turn our readers onto?

There is a lot happening in Brooklyn now. Since the closing of Output [RIP] Goodroom has really been on of the best spots closest to me. I tend to frequent Elsewhere quite a bit too, the rooftop is really nice during the summer. JD Samson and Amber Valentine throw a really fun monthly called PAT that is always a good time. New artists to check out, gotta take this opportunity to turn you on to some homies that are really killing it right now. Definitely check out Crush Club and also my good friend Pink Flamingo Rhythm Review.

Where can we follow you and where can our readers catch you live next?

My next event will not only be my EP release party but also the label launch event for Toucan Sounds! Very excited for this one. It is April 4th at Freehold. You can rsvp for free entry at rsvp@freeholdbrooklyn.com.

Twitter/IG: @leftimusic

Any parting thoughts? Open platform!

I just want to say thank you to everyone and anyone who gives a listen to my music. I am very excited about this EP and have a lot more on the way!