Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
Formed by lead singer and multi instrumentalist Sam J Martin in 2020, LAYKS encapsulates the nostalgic and tangible feel of ambient alternative indie pop combined with the visceral and relatable songwriting found in RnB and soul. This combination of atmospheric synth textures, dynamic neo soul guitar and swooning ethereal vocals bridges the gap between multiple genres, drawing on many areas of inspiration to create something that truly stands on it’s own both stylistically and musically.
Instagram : @thisislayks
Tiktok : @thisislayks
Youtube : @thisislayks
Twitter : @thisislayks
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
I think the ultimate thing that sets LAYKS apart form any other band or artists is my complete self sufficiency in the industry after releasing solo music for about four years this project came out of nowhere after a trip to LA and i just started writing song after song at Glasshouse In LA. After a few weeks I stood back and said to myself “this is its own thing; this is going to be released under another alias” and at the end of 2019 I had the initial skeleton of LAYKS in my back pocket.
I wanted to launch it as soon as I thought of it but I took my time really building the sound, feel and aesthetics of what I wanted it to be. Then flash forward to March 2020, I had to fly back to London from LA and we were plunged into the pandemic. LAYKS was born from a place of uncertainty and fear, but what’s immersed since is a visceral and beautiful beacon of magic that has been embraced by so many people all over the world.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
I started playing guitar and singing at five years old. my mum was a classically trained pianist and my dad played guitar as a kid, my brother and sisters were always into music so it was kind of unavoidable. I remember watching an Eric Clapton gig at four years old and being glued to the TV shouting “mum I wanna do that!!” which is hilarious because I actually ended up meeting him at the palladium in 2018.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
Self criticism and being my own worst enemy! in a world where being positive is almost seen as an act of rebellion, it took me a long time to find peace and purpose ti what i was doing. LAYKS gave me that peace and it’s become something bigger than me.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
John Mayer
Rick Rubin
Andrew Goldstein
Drop your social media links.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisislayks/?hl=id
TikTok: @thisislayks
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LAYKS
Twitter: @thisislayks
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thisislayks/