It’s took us a minute to catch up, but we here now. We sat down with the independent artist, Laurance, to discuss his single “Foxy Mama” and his journey into the industry.

BTM:

 “Foxy Mama” has a magnetic, confident vibe. What inspired you to write this track, and how did you develop the concept?

Laurance:

With any track, the goal wasn’t to write to an audience, but we were goofing around and having so much fun with this one that it felt like kismet to have the chorus be such an earworm. Eli made the beat first, then I wrote the hook almost instantly after hearing it for the first time. As soon as we heard the hook with the production we realized that this song had potential to connect with a big audience.

BTM:

You collaborated with Jerm on this single. How did the collaboration come about, and what was the chemistry like when working together?

Laurance: 

Jerm has been an active part of this project from early on. He’s been a mentor to myself in the hip hop world so it felt natural to have him on this. The 4 of us were in the studio together and we wanted to show him the track we’re excited about and he immediately wanted to be a part of it. He wrote and recorded the demo track the same session. He always brings a unique flow and perspective to a song that you didn’t know you needed till it’s recorded. He truly is a master of his craft and we’re so lucky to have him as a part of the family and  as a consistent collaborator. (We have a collaborative EP set to release by the end of the year.)

BTM:

The song has a cinematic feel, almost like a soundtrack to someone owning the room. Was that intentional, and how did you approach crafting the instrumental to match that vibe?

Laurance:

Eli crafted the production and adjusted as we wrote the vocals. Phil helped out with the feel and emotion, tension and release. And Jerm and I found a way to get a metaphorical message across while also making the song something we love to chant to each other over and over. 

BTM:

The lyrics feel playful yet empowering. Can you share more about the story or real-life experience that inspired the song?

Laurance:

On the surface the lyrics are confident and swaggy, but all in all the underlying text is talking about our relationship with alcohol. We’re all in the service industry and when I’m singing about the sly Foxy Mama, I’m talking about how alcohol and the bar/restaurant industry has affected/impacted us. How booze is our Foxy Mama, positively and negatively. 

BTM:

How have your fans responded to “Foxy Mama” so far, and did any reactions surprise you?

Laurance:

It’s by far our most popular song to date. The biggest surprise is how much people have really connected with it. We had a feeling this song would do well, but we had no clue how much it would take off and stand apart from the other songs we’ve put out so far. 

BTM:

Your music blends funk, hip-hop, and modern R&B effortlessly. Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?

Laurence:

Ludacris is my favorite rapper, so he has definitely shaped my flow. He and skizzy mars helped me realize that some of the best rap vocals are consistently melodic. None of us have ever made hip hop/rnb music before so we just take from our favorite artists and blend our own style in between. Some of our biggest influences from every genre are Cherub, Jon Bellion, Haywyre, Pretty Lights, and Local Natives.

BTM:

What’s the most important message or feeling you hope listeners take away from your music in general?

Laurance:

Acceptance, understanding, and a gateway to escape. We use music as a way to express ourselves, connect with each other, and escape from the rest of the world. And we want to provide that for our fans, especially at a live show. We want to bond, connect, and leave knowing that we helped create a positive experience that people will remember. 

BTM:

Your fans know you as a versatile and dynamic artist. How has your creative process evolved since you first started making music?

Laurance:

It’s becoming more streamlined. We are more open to listening to each other and more in tune with how we’re feeling. But at the end of the day the creative process hasn’t changed all that much. We’re more comfortable taking risks, but the writing flow is still us sitting together creating an experience that leads to emotional expression. We’ve known each other for so long, but we’re still learning, we’re still growing, and we’re happy doing it together. The audience we have thus far is in tune with how dynamic we are. We make music that WE feel, in hopes that it will resonate with others. No matter what, we’ll be making music that we want to make and we’re lucky to have a fan base that’s along for the ride. 

BTM:

Social media plays a big role in connecting with fans today. How do you balance sharing your creative journey while keeping parts of your personal life private?

Laurance:

Social media was so daunting at first because we didn’t know how to approach it. But after some trial and error we found that opening up and being goofy and genuine was the best way to connect with others. We have focused so much on live performance and connection so we decided to take that and use it in our social media approach. What we display is exactly who we are. And the longer we’re around, the more people can learn. We’re pretty transparent, and we’re happy to give that to the people who choose to support our art. 

BTM:

From your Instagram presence (@laurance.the.man), it’s clear you value authenticity. How does that value shape your music and your interactions with fans?

Laurance:

I think it gives us the opportunity to be more vulnerable. We’re able to express ourselves in a way that a lot of people aren’t able to. We can confidently say that fan interaction is as real as you can get. If we get the opportunity to meet, that’s the real version of myself, that’s the real version of Phil, and that’s the real version of Eli and Jerm. No walls, no emotional barriers, you get to meet the true version of the people releasing and performing the music you enjoy. 

Bonus question:

BTM:

We like to ask every artist this bonus question.

If years from now, a new artist cites you as their biggest influence, what would you hope they learned from your journey?

Laurance:

Don’t be afraid to make something that YOU really enjoy. There are people who want to hear it. Always challenge yourself, always be open to learning as much as you can. Influence and inspiration come from every part of your life. Always be willing to listen.

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Thank you, Laurance for taking the time out to share your journey and insights with your fans and Beyond The Maintreams. As an up and coming artist we appreciate your unique sound and look forward to see the heights this journey takes you to. Salute.

Check for Laurance on IG: @laurance.the.man

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