Stay True To Yourself, Says Prolific DIY Muso, Pacific-Lee SpeedKing
The musician has over one hundred tracks on Spotify.
Pacific-Lee SpeedKing grew up in South Africa, Eastern Cape. His parents nicknamed him the ‘music man’ since he would be playing drums on the pots he pulled out of the cupboards.
He says his music journey started before the Spotify era. This meant spending years online, ‘searching’, he says. But ultimately, this reminded the singer that all he ever wanted was to make music.
Pacific-Lee SpeedKing is a prolific artist. Citing stubbornness and obsessiveness as his weaknesses as a musician, Pacific-Lee SpeedKing has over one hundred tracks on Spotify and he’s currently thinking of revisiting an old extended play, which is the acoustic Whale Sounds, and he’s also mulling over his new EP, Low Drifter. Â
If you’re a musician and also want to be interviewed like Pacific-Lee SpeedKing, start the process using the button below.
L. SOJINI: Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what kind of musician you are?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: The earliest photographs taken of me are as a two-year-old child sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor playing drums on all the pots I pulled out the cupboards. My parents nicknamed me ‘music man’. I grew up in the Eastern Cape.
My life was always connected to music and it has given me the confidence to do things my way, which is how I operate. A true individual. I seek to spread the consciousness and truth of equality and inclusivity, my vibe is chilled, meditative, and trippy.
L. SOJINI: How did you get into music?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: I have always resonated with music. My journey began before the era of Spotify play listing and suggestions. I spent years online listening, searching. I found a lot. But it reminded me that all I have ever wanted is to make music. I’m and Aries/Sagittarius. I think, I do. Here we are a year later.
L. SOJINI: What do you think makes good music?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Music like any art form needs to be authentic. If not, it’s not good. Anyone could relate to any song in my opinion though it’s all dependent on the situation. The whole derivative culture is a bit of a dead end. But in the end what makes good music, regardless of the language of the lyrics, the emotion needs to give you goosebumps.
L. SOJINI: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a musician?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Strengths: I guess I am proactive and spontaneous. That and hardworking and a bit obsessive.
Weaknesses: stubborn, obsessive.
L. SOJINI: What are you currently working on?Â
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Myself, and in that space it’s like I imagine myself as a vibration or wave of sound, and the more I master life the more I will refine my sound.
To that end, I am wanting to make a sequel to my acoustic EP: Whale Sounds – so another five-track acoustic EP, and then I wanna piece together something nice to complete my EP Low Drifter, taking it to nine tracks.
L. SOJINI: How do you approach music? As in, what’s your philosophy when it comes to making music?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: I make my beats first. That process takes time, I really know the tracks by the time I wanna record. Then it’s about matching the lyrics to the song. I have a pretty organic writing process. I write all my songs.
When recording, I find my flow with the track and my words and record. After recording, I will decide whether to add vocals, effects etc. I like my voice being raw, but vocal effects are fun. I don’t use effects to make my voice sound better, only to fit the genre – sometimes.
Then its mastering, this used to be my biggest worry. I got it down now. But then I don’t overthink it, if I feel motivated I create, definitely got something to do with my Vedic astrology. My philosophy is: I need to make music that I wanna listen to.
L. SOJINI: What are you most proud of to have achieved as a musician?Â
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Well, I’m an independent one man show. So everything.
Over hundred tracks on Spotify, and Apple music (and most others) I was happy to be able to use my music in my Instagram stories that made me feel good. Also I have minted a lot of my songs into NFT’s, some exclusively in that way and I have seen some cool success with it.
L. SOJINI: How do you promote your music?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Well, haha! I just post random links around. Talk to close mates, post to Instagram from time to time. But I don’t wanna force it on people. I feel like music finds its ears.
L. SOJINI: Favourite musician? Why?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Durerstuben – My kind of tunes man, really unique creative sound.
L. SOJINI: What’s your advice or message to fellow musicians?
PACIFIC-LEE SPEEDKING: Do it for yourself. If music is a personal truth, don’t stifle it on the account of what ifs. Do it, you are much better than you think. The more confident you are the more your truth will shine. Music is a part of us, and can change lives. So why shouldn’t you.
Let Us Review Your Music!
What’s next after your interview has been featured on The Musician? Glad you asked.
One of the things I love about music is writing music review, so why not let me write one for you?
While interviews are free, music reviews take time. So, please consider a $10 tip to have your music reviewed here.