I love that message. So you were talking about the Leikeli onstage versus the Leikeli offstage, and you previously have described yourself as a very shy person. So I wanted to know, how do you shake out those nerves before you perform and channel this duality in your stage presence?
My first thought is the people. If I can be honest, that’s the only thing that I'm thinking about before, during and after. I don't know what this person, who just bought this ticket, is going through. But they bought a ticket to come, and escape, and have some fun, and to live, and to find some sort of inspiration is what I'm assuming, so I get up there, and in my mind, again, before and after, is always the people. I want people to know that I love them that much. I want to go on and do that good. So I'm nervous, my hands are sweaty, because I love them that much. Because I want to go out and wow them that much. Because I want them to feel like this money that they spent was worth every dime. So, my thought is always my fans. At any time. Before the show, recording, even now. My business is to serve. I’m here to serve people, and I'm grateful that I get to do that because I get to serve people in this artistic way.
Can you talk about that first show that you ever did? How was that?
So, my first show was with Skrillex and Diplo at Madison Square Garden, and it was the Jack U show. And they brought me out to do my song at the time titled, ‘F*** The Summer Up’. It was a massive experience, but also a learning experience. Because a fact about that show is, before you go on any main stage like that you need in-ears. And they're like, ‘Okay, we got Leikeli. We're gonna get you the in-ears. We’re gonna get you the mic.’ And long story short, someone forgot my in-ears, and it was just like, ‘Go! Just go up there. It’s your turn to go.’ And I went up there, and I had to try to catch my sound. And the proudest moment for me was when I caught my sound. And what I mean by that is, the sound, as you know, is just bouncing, and it's just traveling. One word of me coming through that microphone sounds like it's amplified 500 times around me, without a focus. So to get on that stage with those two professionals with millions of records worldwide as this newcomer, and be faced with that first test, and not only battle through it, but you're doing it with Jack U, you're doing it with Skrillex and Diplo– it was a super fulfilling. So that was my first show. That was my first experience just diving into performing, and it’s just been on ever since.
So, I see that you're wearing the Celine track jacket, and recently, you collaborated with Celine’s creative director, Hedi Slimane. Can you talk about that experience, working with such an influential designer and photographer?
It was the coolest and the greatest experience I've had thus far. To get that call from the one and only Hedi was super. It was just an exciting moment, and to be chosen to be a part of such an iconic house and brand, and to be a part of this campaign, I was just extremely grateful.
Any artists you are interested in collaborating with in the future?
Let me think. I would love to work with Kendrick Lamar and Nas. Those two spirits within this game that we're in, I just love how Nas has always been there for us, and so has Kendrick, being the one that came after. Nas is such an iconic figure. His stories, and his storytelling, and just staying true to who he is, as he journeys up as an artist, it's always been super authentic. I just love the fact that, as a fan, I’ve never felt abandoned by him, on top of him being one of the dopest lyricists ever. The same for Kendrick. He’s whimsical, you know? He’s magical. I would love to work with these people, but more so, I would love to learn. Just sit around them, and just observe. I would also throw in The Lox as well. To just do a song with The Lox would be crazy.