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Lehar: meet the prolific producer that creates electronic music out of pure intuition, emotion and beauty
Lehar is also the name behind the labels Multinotes label and Buttress Records
Lehar is an italian artist, an electronic music producer that creates music out of pure intuition and emotion, creating a very spontaneous output.
His debut EP ‘Sargas’ on Offenbach label Connaisseur Recordings has brought him recognition in modern electronic music and embodies his artistic vision, featuring dramatic effects, intimate basslines, romantic landscapes and captivating melodies.
Lehar’s reputation as a producer has been continuously growing since the launch of his EP “Magic Realism” on Diynamic Music, his indie single “Number One Hero” featuring Rush Midnight on 2DIY4, his contribution to the “10 Years of Diynamic” album, his mini-album “Picture,” released on Diynamic Music, and his “Penta EP” on his own label in 2018.
He has also collaborated with Musumeci and contributed to many labels like Compost Black Label, Endless, My Favorite Robot, Mood Music and Lost & Found.
While Lehar’s DJ sets are characterized by his spontaneous and passionate approach to life, and he strives to create a night that is as close to his musical roots as possible.
With partners Musumeci and Olderic, he founded the Multinotes label in 2018 and introduced a new concept for a one-night event called MUSE. Lehar’s creative imagination is boundless and transcends borders, just like his music. Read on to learn more!
Hi Lehar, great talking to you. Please share your story to the audiences in Brazil that may not know you yet
I was born in 1983 in Naples, the city of music. The relationship between music and the city of Naples has an important heritage and is deeply rooted in the city’s culture. If you are Napolitan, music is simply part of who you are.
At the age of 10, for family reasons, I moved to Venice, city where I still live today. As for most people, before starting to do what had always been my dream, making music, I had different experiences: I graduated in Marketing in Milan and started working in an advertising agency, but only for a few years.
At the age of 28 in fact, I finally decided to give a chance to my real passion and after endless studio nights, some small first gigs, I found myself after a few years having my first great satisfactions.
The first ever was when after a year of self-taught studio sessions, I managed to produce my first EP which came out on Connaisseur Recordings.. the rest is history ;)
How and when did you start with electronic music?
My love for Electronic Music started about 20 years ago when I started going to the first clubs. The culture of clubbing has always been deeply felt in the areas of Venice and this gave me the opportunity to spend whole nights listening to many international DJs including Dave Morales, Tony Humpries, Roger Sanchez, Lil Louis Vega… the great pioneers of electronic music.
The day after every evening I had gotten into the habit of going to the record store to buy vinyl, constantly looking for the ones that had made me dance the most. And this is where I also started my vinyl collection.
How can you describe the evolution of your sound from the beginning to what it is today? How would you describe the LEHAR sound of today?
Surely my sound has changed in the last 10 years, as have I. But what I always find coherent is the romantic and melodic vein of my sound, not to be confused with what is defined today as Melodic Techno, much more mainstream.
In general I believe that the constant search for innovation and inspiration is fundamental for an artist, it’s the main part of the game. Discovering different melodies, playing with them and creating something new is what makes me really love what is for me, the most beautiful job in the world.
You have released music in great imprints like Diynamic, Afterlife, Connaisseur Recordings, Compost Black Label, Endless, My Favorite Robot, Mood Music and Lost & Found. Do you think that the labels you work with can influence your music or is it the music that ends up shaping, somehow, the label’s sound?
No, when I produce my music I never think about the label I have to go out on, instead I think about developing something original and different, something that the market doesn’t offer.
Once the records are finished, I try to figure out which is the record lable for each of them.
How is the Multinotes label going? Please tell us about its concept, how was the idea of launching a label born, who else helps you with the daily work, the main releases so far. What is expected for 2023?
Multinotes was born from the need that I had together with Musumeci and Olderic to build our own musical platform where we could express our concept and vision of electronic music.
5 years ago we decided to join forces and started to release the music of artists we liked and that could represent our idea of sound.
Together with us, we have a team of four people who work daily between listening to demos, music research and release management. Furthermore, since last year we have decided to make some investments for the development of the image, including an artistic director within the team, especially for the organization of the showcase nights.
Nowadays the “club culture” has clearly changed: the public, if not in a few and rare cities in the world, no longer wishes to live only the musical experience itself but on the contrary, requires a purely audiovisual experience. And that’s why this new figure is of great help to us.
However, I would like to clarify that adapting to this does not mean for us taking away value from what is and will always remain the key element: music.
Our main goal is undoubtedly to bring our music to an ever wider audience. We are doing this mainly in two ways: scoring beautiful music from new artists, even unknown ones, and with the development of showcases.
In fact, although Multinotes was born as an underground label, it is having an ever positive increase year after year and I must say that we are very satisfied with how the demand for showcases is increasing and above all expanding all over the world.
Now we miss Brazil… who knows, maybe we’ll get here soon too ;)
What about Buttress Records, tells all about it. When it was launched, who else works in it…
Buttress was created by me, Musumeci and Enzo Elia in 2019. Working with a great artist like Enzo Elia is a pleasure and an honor for me, it gives me so many motivation and ideas.
If you go back in the Buttress catalog you will realize that the music we sign can be defined as“timeless music”, it will never be out fashioned. This because we never select the music based on the sound of the moment, but we try to surprise our followers continuously with avant-garde sounds.
Buttress is in fact the result of our need to release music from artists that we hold in high esteem but have a unique and distinct sound,a sound that is not necessarily only dace floor oriented. We like calling it our “boutique label”.
The next releases will be full of surprises.. you guys just stay tuned!
What type of music and artists fits best the labels and how can artists submit music?
Every artist can send us their music via email, Facebook, Instagram, as they prefer. Every type of electronic music is more than welcome, even non-electronic music.. the important thing is that it’s good music.
You recently released with TAU, Adana Twins’s label. How was it to work with the duo during the production of The 26th Beginning EP?
Benni and Friso have been two dear guys and friends for more than 5 years, I met them within the Diynamic family and then our respect and friendship has grown over the years.
I sent them my demos and they immediately felt willing to support my work, they are great professionals and it was a pleasure and an honor for me to have them by my side.
Any brazilian tour & events in the works for 2023? Share any projects or plans for new fans discovering LEHAR!
Together with my Brazilian booker Silvio we are looking for the best dates for my return to Brazil, the last time was 5 years ago and I still remember it. I loved the Brazilian public and miss it!
Last: we always ask for advice for new talents hustling to get careers off the ground. Can you share some insights and tips for those guys trying to figure out to to stand out?
Nowadays I have the feeling that to be a DJ is the new “wannabe”, the competition because is getting bigger and bigger and with all the tools we have at our disposalis also easy to be able to achieve success in a few years if not months.
My advise would be first of all to try to be intellectually honest, show your personality by doing something new and bringing new ideas and sounds.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or send your works to the artists you love the most. Try, try, try.. sooner or later your time will come if you really want it.
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Photos: Divulgação
