Lukey Storey - Bad Choice

25 Mar

From being the resident DJ for Fall Out Boy to Professor Green on their worldwide tours, Lukey began his solo career in 2019, with the release of his lastest album ‘Weirdo’ in 2021 (Lukey’s dog Susie on the cover that is), we spoke to Lukey about music, the title of his album and why ‘Weirdo’!?

Photographer / video artist: Bautista Botto Barilli

Stylist: Sylvester Yiu

Assistant photographer: Miranda Islas Gonzalez

Special thanks to Woke Mangement and Anver.

SID: How did you get into music (from DJing to solo)?

LS: I started DJing basically when I was a kid, I had just turned 17 when I won a nation wide DJ competition. I used to practice for hours on end, every day after school for like 5 hours just coz I wanted to. I got obsessed with it. I then left school and started touring, on my own and with rappers in the UK hip-hop scene. With no real plans I got immersed in that world, making decent money for a kid at my age, loving what I did and kinda took it all for granted. It was all just off the back of my passion for it.

I started writing, rapping, recording way later. I’m talking like 10 or 15 years later, I’ve only really been at it seriously for 3 years. All the years DJing prior to that definitely counted for a lot. I think it made me get good quicker. I had produced too, recorded other artists so it all felt instilled in me already.

I had so much to say after years of touring and addiction and the madness that goes along with that so finding things to say wasn’t difficult either.

Lukey wears knit by Givenchy by Matthew Williams, roll-neck and trousers (throughout) both stylist’s own, sneakers, Lukey’s own

SID: What is the album 'Weirdo' about, and how did you come up with that title?

LS: ‘Weirdo’ is basically just about accepting who you really are. I’ve never felt like I’ve fitted in, I grew up on the outskirts, basically the suburbs. It’s freeing to just admit you are weird, no one is really normal anyway because ‘what's normal’? I guess the sentiment behind it is to just embrace who you are and not give a fuck what other people think of you, or to have to live up to anyone else's expectations. fuck that…..You still gotta be a decent human being though.

Lukey wears wool aviator by Kangol, sunglasses by Celine by Hedi Slimane

SID: What's the plan for the rest of 2022 for you as a musician?

LS: I’m just promoting my album, man. In as many ways as possible. I got some shows coming up that i’m looking forward to. Streams and numbers is cool but what does it all mean if as an artist you can’t perform your music live and connect with the people that really love what you do. I’m all about the live aspect of it all. I’m working on new stuff this year even though I said I’d take a break, Weirdo took nearly 2 years to make and at the end of last year I felt totally burnt out. Needless to say, it’s March and I’m already back at it. If the ideas are there, the ideas are there.

Lukey wears sunglasses by Celine by Hedi Slimane

SID: What are some of your all time favourite albums?

LS: Eminem, The Slim Shady LP and the Marshall Mathers LP. I can’t think of any other records released around that time that grabbed me as much as those did.

Madvillainy by Madlib and MF Doom,

Champion Sound by Jaylib,

Deadringer by RJD2

Dummy by Portishead

Illmatic by Nas

Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z

2001 by Dr. Dre

Pretty much everything Mac Miller released, I could go on and on really!