gLAMB cage x DWG: Interview with Leila Lamb
Written by Rebecca Calvar
Musician Leila Lamb is revitalizing nightlife for young people in Boston! On October 23rd, the first ever gLAMB cage show made soundwaves at the Comedy Studio in Harvard Square, Cambridge. The purpose? Young people yearn for the space to dress up and dance like no one is watching, especially in a sleepy city like Boston where nothing seems to be happening after 8PM. gLAMB cage provides an underground rager for those who need an escape and are in need of a good time. All night.
I, on behalf of dwg, managed to catch up with Leila just before the show. We talked about the beginnings of gLAMB cage, new and upcoming music releases, and the future for Leila Lamb and gLAMB cage.
Becca: Thank you so much for finding the time to chat with me today! It’s been chaotic but I just want this to be a chill conversation!
Leila: Love it. By the way – I’ve been a huge fan [of DWG] since the beginning. You guys are doing something awesome and I have been a fan for a very long time and I wanted to give you those flowers. Thank you for coming!
Becca: Oh my god, thank you so much! I’ll for sure tell Daphne you’re giving her your flowers as well! Thank you for having me!
First question – Describe gLAMB cage in three words! Or anything really that sparks and comes to mind!
Leila: I would say party. Fashion. Kissing.
Becca: What inspired you to start gLAMB Cage?
Leila: There’s a few things at play with that. For me, I love playing shows, I love going to shows… When I was re-evaluating why I make music or what music meant to me, it was always about reaching out and trying to connect with other people. It was always about connection.
Becca: What was the first idea that came to mind?
This has been a year in the making and I wanted to build a space where young people can go out and have a good time, and to also be themselves! To be loud and proud, that is what I wanted to do with gLAMB cage. I also love going to live shows, to the club, and I wanted to essentially marry those two ideas, specifically for an 18+ audience because we’re in Boston [chuckle]. I spend a lot of time with people who are not of the drinking age but who are yearning and craving for spaces to go out, dance, have fun and have a good time. It was really important to me to not only create another space in this community to build and connect, but for young people to do so.
Becca: I love that. I remember when I was a freshman at Emerson, there was literally nothing we could do socially-wise. I would always get FOMO when I would see my friends from back home, going out in their college towns and be like“ I wish I was able to do something like that.” Would you say that that was the starting concept for gLAMB cage?
Leila: Yes! I transferred to school in Boston when I was 21, so I was surrounded by 18-year olds my first year going to school here and I was so used to going out. Then, the idea daunned me a year ago that there needs to be more spaces for 18+. Even when I was playing gigs, I was trying to find places that would accept young people and a lot of them turned me down because they were 21+. It was very important to me that – if we were going to create a space for young people, to make it an 18+ space because those are necessary.
It also is important to me to contribute to a space where people being themselves and expressing themselves and their identities is really, really important. That is what my music is about and what I want it to be about. I feel it in my core.
Becca: I always felt like young people are underrepresented when it comes to nightlife or even social events in the city in general. I love how you’re revitalizing the party scene for young people, especially in the sleepy city of Boston.
Leila: This is the age to do something like this. Young people need places to go out, and to be crazy and make friends. Plus, I always love an excuse to dress up.
Becca: Talking more now on your music and you as an artist: your music is considered to be under the realm of the genre, art pop, which is known for its avant-garde and experimental sounds.. Just a true defiance of the mainstream, traditional pop sound. What influenced you in pursuing this genre and your music?
Leila: I think my favorite thing about music and art, which made me realize that I wanted to do this and was able to do this within my own fingertips, is this idea that there’s really no such thing as genre if you’re trying to create art.
When I was younger, when I would write music I would be like“ this is a really folk-y song!” or“ this is a really rock song!” As I’ve gotten older, what I always argue is“ No, this is just a Leila song.” It doesn’t matter what it sounds like to me, it is coming from me. That’s what makes the sound.
What I like about Art Pop though is that – it is pushing the boundaries of music and blending all kinds of different facets of sounds, production, instruments, ideas and lyrics… It is pushing boundaries all the time and I feel like that’s what art is meant to do.
Becca: I agree! Art needs to constantly be pushed, especially music, which has always been used as an expression of resistance & a sense of power. Which leads to my next question perfectly!
You spoke a lot about being the voice for underrepresented audiences, not just in Boston, but for anyone who wants to be seen and fully express themselves to the fullest extent, which is why queer and BIPOC artists have always been the backbone of the creative culture. In today’s world where the government is attacking those communities and actively trying to erase them and their spaces, why is it important for events like gLAMB cage and to emphasize and uplift queer and underrepresented communities not just in Boston, but everywhere?
Leila: I think that the groups that are being attacked and what this administration and the ideology that is thriving under that administration and what it thrives on, is division. I think that the most powerful thing that we can do, as a form of resistance, is unity. I truly believe that in my soul.
I think – on top of that – art, expression and identity are how we resist every single day. I think what they want is division but also, they want conformity. They want something bland. They want something they can put their ideas onto. What is important for me about art, and what is important about spaces like this, is that there needs to be a place where young people can connect, meet and thrive, to be joyful and themselves… knowing that people are around that and build a community where – if you know something’s wrong, you can give them a call. You know there’ll always be people around you.
Making and creating more spaces like this, we build more resistance and that continues to grow from there.
Becca: What is the future of gLAMB cage looking like? What’s next?
Leila: I have a lot of big ideas. This is our first show and we started with a big idea and now we know that we can make this big idea work. So, there is one coming up very soon!
I definitely want to expand as we learn and as we grow. I also want to incorporate more mediums of art, different kinds of artistry! I would like to platform more artists. We started doing that on our Instagram, we started reaching out to more people too and highlighting different artists on our feed. I definitely want to build a community and a platform for other people to speak and rise, which is why I want to feature vendors and other mediums of art like that.
Hopefully we could also expand to different kinds of places outside of Boston.
Becca: I think California might be the move next [laughs].
Leila: Definitely! I definitely do want to take it to different cities, like when I go back home to L.A.
Becca: And what about Leila Lamb? What is the future looking like for your music and career?
Leila: Gosh, I am working on a lot, a lot, a lot, right now. My next single is called“ Pollyanna Cowgirl” and it should be out in November and you’ll be hearing it tonight! I have an EP coming out shortly and after that, hopefully an album out next year.
I’m always writing. I’m hoarding music, really. [laughs]
Becca: Thank you so much for talking with me and let me interview so close to the beginning of the show [laughs]. I see big things for gLAMB cage and your artistry. I'm so excited for everything that’s coming.
Leila: Oh thank you for taking the time to be here! Again, I’m such a huge fan and I’m so glad to hear that! I’m so excited to see everything come together.
