JS: You have such a rich body of work, and you've got two big records
already on deck for the world. Have you thought about compiling your
previous tracks together, or working toward an artist album of new
material?
Lula: I'm working on a full length album that will come out in March. I´m producing many different tracks
with many different producers, and some of them will come out on Kult
Records. I really don´t care so much about the business part, about
the selling. I just love the whole process of making a track, no
matter if the producers are famous already or if they've never
released a track. It´s really interesting and fullfilling to see what
people come up with and how they use my vocals and my words. I like
when I can hear and feel the producers' taste and mindset. I don´t
like the same old beat and sounds all the time, just because they
might sell well. I want to release the originality and personality of
the producers mixed together with a part of me inside it.
I love the process of having an idea, writing the lyrics, and then watching the birth and development of a track. And then to work with some of my all-time heroes- that one of these guys is laying their hands on my vocals, and bringing their mind together with a part of mine is so beautiful. I also enjoy finding unknown producers who have never released anything and making a track with them. I like the freshness and their creativity and enthusiasm. That´s my joy, my love… And then, to hear how people react to the finished tracks- what an experience… And such fulfillment when they write me, that the music and lyrics touched their hearts, that they feel the same way... it makes me cry and smile at the same time. Nothing could be more satisfying for me.
JS: You've been away for awhile, but now you've got a new track,
called "Fire and Burn" that's coming out on Kult Records, who you
mentioned earlier. How did you get involved with the people at Kult?
Lula: Eddie Cumana (from Dynamix) contacted me to tell me how much he
loved my stuff and asked if I wanted to make a track with him. So I
asked my secret spy in New York 'Who is Kult Records' and if they were
honest, and I only heard good things about the label. And now, after
my first track with them I can say I feel really good with them, like
I´ve known them forever. Whatever I need or don´t understand, they are
always there for me. They care about their artists, they work really
hard, they promote a lot, and I got my contracts right away, which is
very rare in this business. I love Kult; it´s a decent, honest label
who appreciates the artists and their creativity. I´m happy they found
me.
JS: Apparently it's a fruitful relationship, since I heard you've
already got your next track after "Fire and Burn" lined up. Is this
the Alan T collaboration?
Lula: Lilla (at Kult) asked me if I was interested in doing a track with
Alan, and of course I was. Many people had asked me if I would ever do
a track with him, especially since he occupied my place in front of
the speaker.
JS: I take it you mean his lyrics "I am here in spirit, coming
directly from the speaker!"
Lula: He is a really nice guy, I love him, but he cannot just take over
my space, just because I wasn´t around for a while. And of course he
had to agree that my name was first on the title. (slight pause) I´m
joking… But not really…
JS: Where do you see house music headed in the future?
Lula: I don't know... Where is the real 'house music' anyway? Do we call
all this music house music? It´s all electro, electronica, tribal,
tribal house, progressive, techno, tech-house, minimal techno,
minimal... What is what anyway? It goes in so many different
directions. It evolves. It changes, thank God. People will always want
to dance. New people will always come and produce new styles.
JS: What do you think about dance music in general these days?
Lula: I think the soul is missing in dance music nowadays. In the real
house music that Little Louie Vega, David Morales, Frankie Knuckles,
or Danny produced, back then, there was so much soul. Now it´s all
electro, which I love, too, but it doesn´t have the soul anymore.
Also, the music gets more and more instrumental. There aren´t too many
people singing anymore, right? It gets more and more- artificial, is
that the right word, maybe? And there is no more vinyl, sometimes even
no more CDs. I hate that. All these files, with nothing in my hand to
look at or to read from…
JS: What music do you listen to when just driving around, or listening
on an iPod or other portable music player?
Lula: Everything on Kompakt and Pokerflat and from the guys who are on
those labels, music like that. My favourites right now are the Luciano
Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi mix CD, Sven Väth In The Mix, and Anja Schneider´s
Mobilee mix CD. Sometimes I feel like they made these CDs just for
me.
JS: We've always wanted to know- how exactly did you get the stage name Lula?
Lula: I think it was Danny who chose that name. Actually, it was 'Lula
Grelhada,' which means 'fried shrimp' in Portuguese. I don´t know
whose idea that was, but it was when Danny and the USL made
"Goosebumps."
JS: In your decade-plus as a performer, what's the funniest or wildest
thing that's ever happened to you in the making of dance music?
Lula: When I recorded "Ecstasy (Take Your Shirts Off)," I was sitting in
Johnny Vicious' walk-in closet, where all his clothes were hanging, to
record the vocals. The sound was just perfect in there, sitting
between his shiny, purple shirts.
Lula's new single "Fire & Burn" will be released in September on Kult Records. Look for her debut artist album to come in March 2008.
Posted July 23, 2007