By Keith Walsh
With their future funk grooves and intensely introspective lyrics, the tunes by U.S based DJ 3kelves offer a fresh spin on dance music with smooth beats and a retro flair. A South Korean expatriate who moved to San Francisco 10 years ago, Taewook Lucas Kang found his knack for making catchy, beats and melodies by participating in Disclosure’s remix contests. I caught up with Kang after he completed a quick tour of New York City, about his new five song EP ‘Lucas 루카스.’ (My review of ‘Lucas 루카스‘ is at Synthbeat.com ).
Popular Culture Beat: I hear lots of 70s influences, from US music heard on the radio in the early days of smooth jazz and disco. How did these influences find their way to you in South Korea?
Taewook Lucas Kang: Honestly, the discovery of 70s music only came from recent years after moving to the United States! In South Korea, I only listened to classical music and Beatles’ best songs compilations forced by my parents.
Popular Culture Beat: How do you find the hybrid of funk, disco and indie pop is ideal to create the happy party mood you present?
Taewook Lucas Kang: I think the fusion of funk, disco, indie pop music is just a comfort zone for me at this moment. It seems very natural for me to find those songs exciting to work on and living through the songs!
Popular Culture Beat: What instruments are you playing on ‘Lucas 루카스?’
Taewook Lucas Kang: I am structuring everything and doing all things vocal and adding any additional production such as guitar, synth lines, and effects. All the other instruments such as drums, bass, and keys, I left to my very talented friends, JMono, Dylan C. Greene, Memery, Axel Steinbiss, and Karel Williams.
Popular Culture Beat: To what extent do loops and samples play a part in your creations?
Taewook Lucas Kang: Although my previous productions really focused on loops and samples, this EP I made sure to be as original as possible. All of them came from ideas created by me and my fellow producers. I will secretly say though: there is a vocal sample that is very much chopped up and chopped words are not singing any particular words, but I’m creating a new vocal line on top of it to manipulate it, which I thought is a very nerdy little tidbit.
Popular Culture Beat: What is your workflow? I mean, what DAW are you using, are you using in the box vst synths, hardware synths or a mix? How about your favorite electric guitar?
Taewook Lucas Kang: I am using Ableton but some of my other producers are using Logic as well. All of the songs have very unique starting points, but usually it starts with just making a song and seeing if it fits my project. There have been other songs that we have passed to other vocalists. We’re mainly using vst synths! My favorite electric guitar that’s used all over the EP is a Stratocaster I found in upstate New York for $150. Beaten up and punk-y and ready to go at all times.
Popular Culture Beat: Your lyrics are uniquely introspective, symbolic and dark. At what age did you discover your poetic voice and who are some of your literary influences?
Taewook Lucas Kang: I’ve always collected poetry books since but I’ve been collecting more recently since it has been helping with my writing process. My recent favorites are Saaed Jones and Ada Limon!
Popular Culture Beat: When and how did you find yourself in San Francisco and how did this move change the inputs that influence your music?
Taewook Lucas Kang: I moved to the Bay Area 10 years ago, and I love San Francisco! Always great concerts coming through and an amazing group of upcoming producers!
Popular Culture Beat: What is the meaning of ‘3kelves?’
Taewook Lucas Kang: People have said that it’s 3000 elves, 3 Korean Elves, 3 Krazy Elves, 3 Kang Elves, but I’ll never tell the actual original story 😉
Popular Culture Beat: What is your music training, what teachers can you thank?
Taewook Lucas Kang: Twenty years of obsessive music listening, but really Disclosure is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’ve always tried to make music, but Disclosure’s streams revealing EXACTLY what they do to their songs and also their weekly remix contests have gotten my production to where it is now. I owe Disclosure everything.
3kelves On Instagram
3kelves On Bandcamp
Toucan Sounds On Bandcamp
We Are Neurotic On Bandcamp
3kelves ‘Lucas’ Review at Synthbeat.com
finis