Since the early days of Majestic Casual‘s reign on YouTube, Lido has been gracing our ears with truly unique beats that are catchy, fresh and hypnotising all around. The unusual tunes were new to us (at the time), and we weren’t sure what genre they belonged to. That said, we definitely were into it, and it’s no different now.
Through the years, Lido has grown into becoming one of the most exciting young musicians today. After performing at this year’s Good Vibes Festival, we can tell that he’s a vigorous and multi-talented performer, switching from drums to the piano to vocals all in the span of one song.
Having had a sold-out US show for his debut album Everything, having worked with artists like Halsey and Chance the Rapper, on top of even reimagining Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo in an eight-minute remix, the only way this multi-hyphenate is going is up.
At Good Vibes Festival 2017, the Lipstiq team was lucky enough to have been able to have a quick chat with the 24-year-old music producer from Norway – Lido a.k.a. Peder Losnegård. Read on as he breaks down the rules of music genres, detail how he got his stage name, divulges his mission as an international artist.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXu3-hcF2lM/
Q: I believe your real name is Peder. How did you come up with Lido?
A: It’s a very weird story. I went to Kenya when I was about 12 years old. I made music in the ghetto, together with the children who live in the slum. We carried out a [charity] project together, and the money went back to the youth camp in Kenya. One of those kids — probably around 6 to 7 years old — gave me the name Lido, but I still don’t know what it means until today because it doesn’t even mean anything in Swahili. The name stuck with me though, since it’s such an important experience to me. Everyone has been calling me Lido since.
Q: How did it all start for you?
A: I started playing drums when I was 2. My dad was really into gospel music, so he would always play music in the house and drag me along to concerts when I was very tiny. At 2, my crazy uncle gave a drum kit for Christmas. I loved it so much that I always play the drum sets. Yeah, so that was the beginning, and then I started playing the piano and singing, way later.
Q: How has growing up in Norway shaped your musical background?
A: It really shaped me a lot. I was so isolated, all alone in the mountains in Norway. I didn’t have anybody to teach me to do things. So I had to figure out how to produce myself, how to make sounds and write songs. I didn’t have a mentor. I guess because of that, I had to make up my own techniques which are different than anybody else’s. At the same time, nobody told me the rules. So I didn’t know when I broke the rules. I didn’t learn about genres. I was just making music exactly how I want it to sound.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxkfWKFOVQ/
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: My dad — a lot of music he listens to like Kurt Franklin and Frank Hammond. Also, Kanye West is really important to me. He’s the first person in hip hop whom I really like. And this producer Rustie; he’s the first person that I really like in electronic music.
Q: As an artist, which music festival has been the most memorable for you?
A: I played at Coachella last year and that was probably the most memorable yet. I debuted my album there, but I never played anything of my album before, so this was the first time playing and it was really emotional for me. I was crying on stage. My sister was there, my dad was there, and it was really special.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWF_HZBlEEO/
Q: Has fame, even in the slightest bit, changed your life?
A: Oh God, I’m not famous at all! What do you mean? (laughs) I live in Los Angeles, so everyone is very used to famous people there. They don’t care about me at all. I spend most of my time in the studio, with people who are really talented in making good music. When I’m not in the studio, I’m usually cooking food with my friends or watching movies. I’m very normal like that, so I think fame doesn’t influence me at all. I don’t think I’m that famous yet, but as long as I can make music, I’m happy.
Q: What do your parents think about your music?
A: They like it. It’s probably very different than the music than they thought I would be making. When I was a kid, I played drums like jazz drums, so they probably thought I’d be a jazz drummer. But it ended up being weird electronic instead — I think they still like it though. My mom likes poetic lyrics, so she likes my lyrics. My dad really likes chords, harmonies from gospel and R’n’B music. I think they both like certain aspects of my music.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/322259983″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Q: How did you come up with your signature tune (0:04)?
A: Ahh, it was the main melody in the first remix I ever made. After that, I kept using that melody because I thought it was a cool little signature. I use it everywhere now. I like to hide it in places and stuff, it’s fun. It’s really fun.
Q: If you were to be stuck in one year’s music scene eternally, which year would it be?
A: Probably between 2002 and 2003. Hip hop was really cool then. With Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland. I feel like that stuff’s really good.
Q: Is there anything that bugs you about being in the electronic music scene?
A: A lot of people think I’m a DJ and that’s probably the biggest challenge I have. I’m not a DJ at all. If you think I’m a DJ and you come to my concert, you’re going to be disappointed because I just play drums, and keys and sing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBSMk5lxg7/
Q: What is the one track that never gets old for you?
A: “Cry Me A River” by Justin Timberlake.
Q: How do you feel about your profile as a producer in the industry, on an international stage?
A: My mission is to expand people’s horizons. I want to be a part of evolving electronic and pop music. Show people chords and melodies they’ve never heard before. Things that they might be scared of, that might sound challenging and different. And try to show people that it can be fun, that it can be good music even if its complicated and weird or jazz and stuff. Show them what an incredible world of music that exists out there that most people still don’t know about.
Learn more of Lido via his official website or social media channels on Facebook and Instagram. Check out his Soundcloud too while you’re at it! Meanwhile, here’s the first song of his that made us swoon over the producer’s genius music-making skills:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146433371″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
