Laura Klovaite, otherwise known as Maybe Laura, is one of Londons most popular and prolific upcoming artists. We met in the Lion and Lamb, where I was fascinated by her selections, ranging from spacey electro to warming ambient. I visited Laura’s home in East London to have a lovely post lockdown catch up and to pick her brain behind her eclectic DJ sets.
A: Hey Laurita! Do you want to quickly introduce yourself?
L: Hi, I’m Laura, you can also call me Laurita, I am 25 years old, my artist name is Maybe Laura. I have worked at the Lion and Lamb for the last 3 years and have been DJing since 2016. Recently I have also started to do sound healing therapies using Tibetan singing bowls, and taking my first steps in music production.
A: You are Lithuanian, right? And when did you move to London?
L: I moved here around 5 and a half years ago to study, it had nothing to do with music to be honest. I came here to get a degree in finance but have always had a passion for arts. I was a gymnast and a dancer for 11 years, I was into painting, singing and more, but my mum used to say that those activities should only be hobbies and that I had to do something more serious in order to earn money and live a good life. In addition, I was good at math, physics and other sciences. I had a look at possible universities, and I took a last-minute decision to came here. During the first year of my studies I was sure I was going to become a banker or have a job in a financial sector but then my focus shifted. I started attending some music events and realised that I wanted to contribute to the world in a different way.
A: So, the Lion and Lamb is probably a good place to start talking about your experience with music. How did you meet those guys and got involved?
L: I believe the universe brought us together ahaha. One night I was at EGG, dancing in front of the DJ booth, and just had a moment of realisation, of total clarity that this is what I want to do too: make people happy, make everyone dance while sharing my feelings and energy through the music. After a few weekends, I went to another party at the EGG, all of my friends left early whilst I stayed till the end. That morning after the party ended I met a new friend who took me to the L&L for the first time and I had a chance to meet a lot of great souls instantly. Shortly after, the L&L boys took me to a ToiToi party, probably my first underground event, and that was it – a beginning of a beautiful friendship and a learning journey for me.
A: Was your entire experience of learning to DJ through them?
L: They played a big part of it. They would send me labels or artists to check and a lot of times provided me with a space to learn and discover dance music, sometimes at the end of the night or when most people left, they would let me jump on with my USB. All of them: Andre, Ivan, Mauro & Ricardo gave me invaluable lessons. Nevertheless, at the beginning there were a lot of other people too who gave me advice and shared their experiences. I was so interested in learning that when I used to go to these nights I would just stand next to the DJ booth, watching and listening to how the artists were doing their magic. I feel so grateful to everyone who encouraged and supported me since the day 1.
Laurita has just begun hosting a regular show on Netil Radio with one of the Lion and Lamb founders and DJ – Sputnick who play together as ‘Maybe Listen?’
A: The Lion and Lamb feels like a special little venue. Why do you think it is such a special venue?
L: It is indeed a very magical place. First of all, I believe that is because of the energy of the people who founded it as well as all of the people who worked/work there. You can just feel the love and care for the music and people when you come in. There’s a strive for everything to be of the best quality. Each one of the founders bring their own special element to the pub as all of the artist do on the different nights too. Likewise, the staff who work there are truly bubbly and hardworking people – they all love what they do, are super friendly and passionate about music. The pub has a welcoming energy and I believe it allows people to be sociable and relaxed at the same time. It is like a community hub. Even if you come there alone and it is your first time, you won’t feel lonely. Most of the time you will be able to talk to the DJ after her/his set, if you wanted to, or chat to the staff, who can tell you about the night and what’s on for the rest of the week or you will even make new friends ☺.
A: Are there any other venues that you really enjoy and which have had an impact on you?
L: EGG was an important one for me at the beginning of my life in London. I could say the same about Fabric, besides, you can usually find me there when my friends are playing. I really loved Giant Steps, such a shame it has been closed! Super nice and relaxing atmosphere. Fold has been my go to as well, always felt I could release myself there after a long day of work. I also like Star Lane, I have enjoyed some really fun day parties there, bathing in the sunshine outside with friends while listening to some great artists is definitely a bonus (as in Number 92). I love warehouse style parties as well, and most of the parties outdoors, especially in the forests or fields, I guess people feel more free and unobserved in those, which normally creates a great vibe.
A: From the few times I have seen you DJ you play a lot of vinyl, mostly physical stuff, I wondered what your preferred place is to buy new or old records?
L: When I first moved here I couldn’t afford a lot of new – 10 pound records. I got very lucky a couple of times though by buying job lots or second hand vinyl on Gumtree. Then, I got told about this amazing record shop which unfortunately is closed now: Lucky 7. It had 2 floors, of which around 70% was completely unorganised piles of second hand records, everything from trance to funk to metal to house & techno and beyond. I feel grateful that a very special person to me – Ricardo (Sputnick) has showed me the ropes on how to dig efficiently and I was able to dive deep into discovering great music there that I could easily afford at that point. Later on, I started buying records during the record markets at the L&L and from Affected Jay, whom I met there as well and from whom nowadays I get most of the new releases.
A: Where did you buy you first record?
L: The first record I bought was in Juno if I remember right.
A: Do you remember what it was?
L: Yeah, M-Dubs* – Bump’n’Grind. UKG classic.
A: ahaha nice
A: We chatted earlier about Four Tet and Floating Points and how they just have such variety when they DJ and you said you wanted to be that kind of DJ. Someone who plays anything at anytime, how would you describe yourself to someone who hasn’t heard you before?
L: Such a hard question, I play a lot of different music. I believe when people go to a certain party they know more or less what kind of music will be played or what is the general vibe of the event. I pay attention to the space, the vibe of the party, time of the day, DJs who play before and after and the energy of the crowd and then decide on which direction to develop my set towards. I really enjoy going to see artists play not because I know they play one specific genre but because I trust and respect that whichever way they decide to go forth that night, it will be amazing. I love being surprised on the dancefloor. This was the experience I’ve got from Four Tet’s DJ sets and many more great artists and it is what I am striving to deliver too. It obviously takes time to build the confidence of being able to play like that and trust in your feelings and intuition as well as build the connection to the crowd, and develop people’s confidence in you. It is a lot of risk taking but I believe it makes the sets so much more exciting and alive.
A: I remember us chatting one day about a party you had played somewhere when people had been quite demanding, wanting you to play lots of pop or whatever. Your selections strike me as someone who is pretty confident with what you play?
L: Yes, I play only what I really really love. I haven’t always been so confident though. But the encouragement of those around me helped a lot. I had to learn a lot and see a great deal of artists first, who are constantly challenging the crowd in their sets and creating something so special with different genres of music. When I started to hear more of this I realised it was not about the style of music but about the story you are telling and the feeling you are transmitting. The feeling of pure, all-encompassing love is at the core of every sound I play.
A: Yeah, I really agree with you and support that premise. Can be really easy to play what you think people want to hear and not what you truly love and support music wise.
L: Some people go to parties and have such high expectations, I do not know when this started – going out with the attitude that you ought to be impressed. I think it should be mostly about going to have fun, dancing, releasing oneself, smiling at each other, not about watching every little move of the DJ and commenting on each of the transitions ha-ha. We should have more trust in the people putting up the party and the DJs they choose. I think people who really come to enjoy their night always appreciate something different and unexpected during the events.
A: What else do you think makes a great party?
L: Personally, I think it is the intentions of the organisers and the DJs. Intention is so important in everything we do in our lives. If people are doing something for the love and not for some kind of selfish reasons – that makes a great party. Usually then it doesn’t matter if something breaks or changes unexpectedly during the event. If there is love and everyone is working for the same goal, the party will still continue with a good vibe, people will be helping each other and the problems will be sorted with a smile on their faces.
A: We spoke about Four Tet, Floating Points and I remember you showed me John Shima. All incredible artists, which other DJs or producers do you love and which have had influence on you?
L: Most important, all of the Lion and Lamb guys: Andre King, Mauro Ferno, Mestivan and Sputnick. Besides them, some of my most loved artists are: Anna Wall, A-Future, Harri Pepper, the Outransa residents: Nicky Macha and Kensa and Voigtmann.
Producer wise, some of my favorites are: John Shima, Nicolas Jaar, Pearson Sound, Radioactive man, Remi Mazet, Steevio and Thoma Bulwer.
A: It must be so inspiring to have so many friends involved with music. Must make you a better DJ yourself?
L: Definitely, there is so much inspiration around. We are always listening and learning from each other.
A: So, you are a DJ firstly, in lockdown have you got a lot more into making music?
L: Actually, I have, all of this free time gave an opportunity to learn more about production and my partner has been a really good teacher and source of encouragement. I used to feel quite overwhelmed sometimes when trying to make music, not sure on where exactly to start or what equipment to use and having so many talented and successful friends I felt that I want to do as good as those around me. I wanted to learn everything and used to forget that all is needed is a lot of practice and time to get to that level. Anna Wall was really helpful once suggesting me that I should just start somewhere, anywhere, however small it is and work from step by step from there.
A: How did you get over that overwhelming feeling behind making music?
L: I really had to get rid of this talk in my mind of what I should make. I just had to look for, and accept what I actually wanted to create, what is it that I have inside of me that is asking for a channel to be expressed. I feel that having so much music around is very inspiring but sometimes we start to compare ourselves too much. When I started, I did not know how to make most of the sounds, sound good (and that is obviously what I wanted), and so was getting bored easily and could not translate my ideas into projects. Eventually, I looked at what music I like to listen when I am totally relaxed at home, and started creating projects that are more ambient, experimental involving organic instruments and sounds from nature. Hence, I also started doing field recordings, I’ve got some from Thailand, Lithuania, India, Portugal and the UK. And now carry my recorder with me all the time. I am sure one day I will also make that amazing electro tune that is in my mind but it doesn’t have to be now, we have all the time to grow and should not put too much pressure on ourselves. After all, the most important thing is to truly enjoy every step of the process!
A: I can’t wait to hear that sick electro track one day! Thanks for chatting to me, it has been a pleasure as always.
Maybe Laura is one of many exciting artists to emerge from the London scene in recent years. Her DJ sets are as infectious and fun as her personality, she is someone who I am really excited to see progress not only as a DJ but as a producer as well.
Give her a follow on her socials to keep up to date:
Interview by: Angus Whitfield