Sydney-based solo artist Lavurn Lee aka Guerre creates beautifully delicate electronic soundscapes combined with mesmerising vocals. Guerre has supported the likes of HTRK, Bonobo and most recently Toro Y Moi and Washed Out. Guerre has toured around Europe, been remixed by award winning artist Matt Corby and was featured on the 2011 Sound Summit Festival live showcase.
(And if you’re still wondering, Guerre translates to ‘war’ in French).
How would you describe Guerre in just 3 words?
Urban Athletic Negotiations
What first drew you to becoming a musician?
The potential to regain freedom, firstly for me, and subsequently for others.
What have you been up to over the past 12 months?
Flexing the muscles, working them into an instinctual process, rather than an experimental one.
What can we expect from a Guerre live show?
You can expect the expected. Sounds resonating at a variety of frequencies and playing in a rhythmic mode. Bpm averaging at about 120. I don’t know what you’ll expect, I’ve never seen one of my shows. You can be sure to expect music.
What is your favourite Sydney venue to play at and why?
I don’t really have a favourite place to play to be honest. I like Goodgod Small Club, it has a very nice vibe to it, it feels most like home for me. All those rad little warehouses in Marrickville are great too. Serial Space was a really cool space. All those little DIY venues popping about are super rad and I feel like I need to do more to support them.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the Australian music scene at the moment and how has it affected your work as an artist?
I’m not sure what the biggest issue facing Australian music is, I’m not from Australia so I’m a bit hesitant to make any big claims about what’s wrong with Australian music. But if there is something wrong, I guess it’s not affecting the music that we make so much so as it’s affecting the range of music that is being played. There is still a strong sense of the mainstream and I think that’s actually a positive thing, it’s creating a sort of underground that is willing to expose themselves to more unorthodox ideas. And this underground is being built locally, on a physical level I mean, it’s not really festering in the internet…it’s not clinging onto anything else.
I think the real ‘problem’ with any country’s music is also what can define it in some way. It is bound by these ideas of what kind of music a country can make. And this sort of thing is developed long before anyone from the margins can have a say. So once these chains are locked there is a moment when the people of that place can begin to harness those energies or disregard them. And I think some of Australia, at least in Sydney from what i can tell, has decided to break those old locks.
If you could collaborate with any Sydney based artist or band, who would you pick?
I’m not too fond on the idea of collaboration at the moment. I’m not ready for it yet, to allow a dialogue between someone else with art. I’m very selfish in that.
What advice can you give young musicians trying to break into the music industry?
Make your art.
Any shows coming up?
Not in the immediate future.
What’s on the horizon for you in the new year?
What everybody wants from me…..material. New material….
For more information on Guerre head to http://yespleaserecords.com.