Known for creating the cyber vocal in Mathame’s international smash hit ‘Nothing Around Us’, Lyke is still one of the youngest producers to have ever collaborated with labels such as Afterlife Recordings and Drumcode. Born in 2000 as Luca Piantanida, the young Italian studied piano and jazz before crossing over into the electronic music space. Drawing from techno and other electronic influences through his refined melodies and harmonies, distinctive voice and authentic synths, Lyke’s unique sound has been speaking volumes every step along the way, leading to his official signing with Armada Music in 2020 and the release of his first single with the label: ‘AROSE’.

WWD: Hey Lyke, great to have you with us today to chat! Most people will recognise you from Nothing Around Us; your collaboration with Mathame. After collaborating with several artists in the past; what is your main vision for your solo project?

Collaborating with different artists has always allowed me to broaden the concept of music and to know different creative processes, especially with Mathame with whom the feeling was immediate and with whom I still collaborate. With this new single begins a new path of which “Arose” is just the beginning.

WWD: How would you best describe the Lyke sound?

I’m always looking for new melodies and harmonies that truly mean something to me. I look for naturalness within these new sounds, starting from the piano, synth or vocals. The vocals have helped me to move the productions to another level, and will be an increasingly fundamental element.

WWD: Your first track is out Friday called AROSE. Can you tell us a bit more about the initial inspiration for this track and what the production process was like getting it to the final master?

“Arose” is the first piece I wrote after my father’s death in March, I was very angry and sad about what was happening. I was thinking a lot about my childhood memories with him. Maybe that’s why the sound is overall happy, very carefree, a little playful, but it also includes a lot of nostalgia and personal memories.

WWD: Can you share some background on how your producing career came to fruition? Was this always a goal of yours?

Absolutely it has always been, pushed by my parents I have always studied piano since I was a child. Studies of classical and jazz music together with studies of harmony and composition have been the keys that have allowed me to then be able to produce my own songs. I started to produce on the computer and from 2016 I became more and more close to the Techno Melodic genre with which I found space to the sound I wanted to achieve.

WWD: You do everything yourself; from producing to song writing to the actual vocals. Do you think this benefits your work compared to artists who work together in a team?

Definitely, right now I feel good about it and I believe that this simplifies many stages of the creative process , but everyone has their own way of working and I do not exclude myself working with other people in the future. However, a team is important in a different way for each artist, in the production phase, or post production but I believe both can be of great value.   

WWD: Who or what have influenced you as an artist and where do you usually draw your inspiration from?

I listen to a lot of different music ranging from Disco and Rock to Trap and Jazz, but most of my inspiration comes from classical and pop music.

There are a lot of artists that for me are, even now , very significant. Like for an example Chopin, Moby, Wim Mertens, Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Avicii, Mumford And Sons and many others. 

Another aspect from which I draw much inspiration is Architecture, a subject full of details that my father as an architect has always taught me to appreciate.

A lot of the titles of my songs in the past were given by him, he could always find a sense and details that others didn’t perceive, I have to thank him very much for that. 

WWD: Do you have any specific goals for the Lyke project over the next 5 years?

Nothing specifically. At the moment I certainly want to continue to experiment within the Dance music scene, but maybe also work on some video productions and soundtracks. We will have to see, let’s hope we get out of this situation as soon as possible so it will be easier to think more ahead.

WWD: On your Instagram page we noticed an acoustic video you recorded for Nothing Around Us. Any more live performances we can expect from you in the near future?

There will be more; both acoustic but also live streams or Jam sessions, I do not exclude anything for now! But yes, certainly there will be more content of this type in the near future.

WWD: What else do you have coming up that we should be looking out for this year?

I have so many demos practically finished and projects that I have been working on for a long time that I want to release, so I hope in 2021 I will be able to realize this and release more music.

Check out his new track HERE