Lo-fi house maestro Laurence Guy taps breakthrough singer-songwriter Miller Blue for his soulful tones and musing lyricism on his next EP via the ever-excellent Shall Not Fade.
Comprising two evocative tracks crafted during a studio jam session, their collaboration is a true testament to the pair’s artistic abilities and establishes this team as a potent creative force to be reckoned with. Both already seasoned artists, they have captivated millions of fans all around the world, amassing over 64,000,000 streams on Spotify alone. We sat down with the duo and found out exactly what brought this collaboration about. Don’t die wondering and see for yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Laurence Guy: Honestly, I imagine myself living just outside the Fontainebleau forest in France in a basic rural studio. Waking up, going rock climbing then getting red wine drunk and writing music for Drake/Beyoncé/whoever the fuck and, whenever the mood strikes me, myself.
Miller Blue: Alive and grateful.
If you could do just one thing for the rest of your life, what would that be?
LG: You’ve really tapped into my lifelong conundrum here….should I spend more time climbing or making music. I can’t live without either so I guess I’m gonna have to choose neither and leave this mortal coil.
MB: I was going to say basketball but that’d be exhausting. So instead, helping both myself and others express and share our truths through music.
Where are your go-to places to find peace of mind?
LG: To find peace of mind for me, I will generally write music. It’s a self-created safe space that I carved for myself from a very young age and it’s my go-to for catharsis. It genuinely brings me so much calm and over the years I’ve realised that what it does for me, it does for others too and that’s really a beautiful thing.
MB: Surround me with nature and I’m good. But as this isn’t always accessible living in London, I’ve been practising combining breath-work and observation to appreciate and accept the chaos that London so often brings. There’s so many gems if you just take the time to see them. Also, writing honest music always brings me back to a place of clarity without fail. It really is quite a special thing.
What’s the most important thing that you’ve learned so far?
LG: The most important thing I’ve learned in life is that it just keeps fucking going…so I try to adapt to whatever’s in front of me and not dwell on the future or the past.
MB: Our external is a reflection of our internal. So working on understanding yourself will ultimately help you to better understand and see others for who they really are.
How do you want to be remembered?
LG: I want the world to remember me as authentic, genuine and as someone that made people feel good!
MB: Honest, caring and odd.
Do you have a mantra that you live by?
LG: I don’t have a specific life mantra….I just try my best, wherever possible, to not be a massive c*nt.
MB: Not necessarily one specific mantra, however, the first thing that comes to my mind is: wherever you can, act with love.
Who do you look up to?
LG: This is v cliche, but I look up to my Mum, I look up to her partner, I look up to my Dad, I look up to his partner and I think mostly I look up to my older brother who is one of the most talented musicians I know. Fuck it, I also look up to all of my friends too, the worst/best people I’ve ever met.
MB: I’m 6’4 so not many people to be honest. No, but for real, my mum and dad. My mum is the most caring person I’ve ever met in my life. Always willing to help others where she can, I admire her kindness. My dad, although a complete enigma is unapologetically himself regardless of how others take him. I admire this trait and it’s really helping me in my current process towards individuation.
Name one thing you can’t live without.
LG: One thing I can’t live without is – eggs.
MB: Music. Cliche, but it is what it is.
What don’t you want to die wondering about?
LG: Christ, these questions are hitting the feels today! I guess I don’t want to die wondering how different my life would be if I was able to be truly honest and open with the people in my life. By that I just mean I want to achieve a level of emotional communication that’s alluded me in my life, as it’s historically come out in my music or (especially) my track titles and notes folder.
MB: Whether or not I was truly honest with the people I made connections with throughout my life. Being vulnerable can be terribly scary but also liberating. The more authentic interactions the better. So, I guess we’ll see.
Purchase Shall Not Fade here. Available now.