Refreshing, cool, unconventional; it’s difficult to find just one word that encapsulates The Age of L.U.N.A’s charismatic blend of hip-hop with melodic vocals and similarly soulful beats. Then again, it’s clear that this quartet don’t want to be summed up in one word.
Hailing from North and North West London, The Age of L.U.N.A (L.U.N.A being an acronym for ‘Living Under No Authority’) is made up of vocalist Daniella Thomas, producer NK-OK alongside rappers Butch and Kyote – who previously performed as a grime duo under the moniker ZangWu.
While the group’s average age works out at a youthful 19 years old (producer NK is just 16), their sound already boasts a real sense of maturity that is reminiscent of hip-hop back in the 90s when conscious lyrics were crucial.
“These days with the music industry, it’s more about the money than the music,” Butch explains. “We’re trying to bring that change. The 90s is my favourite era for conscious rap. The expression of peoples’ lifestyles back then was so strong and that’s what we are trying to do with our music.”
This need to convey a strong message in their music is more understandable when you look at the diverse artists who influenced this foursome while growing up. Although Kyote looks to Kano and Dizzee Rascal for inspiration, fellow rapper Butch was raised listening to legendary rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, all sourced from his dad's record collection.
Vocalist Daniella, meanwhile, favours the stylings of Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, and NK is heavily into jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk and Stanley Cowell – hardly the norm for the average 16 year old.
In fact, the choice to officially invite NK into the group is far from normal too when you consider how many artists choose to work with their go-to producers in private, instead acknowledging them every now and then with a shout-out on social media. Surely NK must spit the odd bar or assist with the songwriting too? “No, I’m just a producer,” he insists. “I do play a bit of drums, but I mainly produce.”
Butch and Kyote were adamant that NK should join them as part of their new collective once they heard the kind of beats he was making. “This kid had the most talent I’d ever seen,” Butch explains. “How could we not take that? We didn’t need any other producer by our side.”
Fast-forward to meeting Daniella at a party and getting her on board as well (“When we heard her voice, we were just like ‘Wow!’" the boys admit), The Age of L.U.N.A are now well on their way to making waves in the UK scene. So far this year, the four young artists have enjoyed airplay on BBC Radio 1 and accumulated impressive co-signs from big name DJs including Huw Stephens and Mistajam – all without releasing a single mixtape or their upcoming debut album.
Given their ‘Living Under No Authority’ mantra and their organic creation, it’s no wonder The Age of L.U.N.A’s rise to fame has thus far been an atypical one. Staying true to their name, this is one group that refuses to be boxed in, told how to dress or to stick with one genre.
“Society is so constricted. People think that they have to go to Uni and then they have to get a job,” Butch says. “They basically need that stability. But we’re all about living our dreams and doing what we enjoy. That’s what it’s about for us.”
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WHERE: North/North West London
WHAT: If 90s hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul and conscious rap had a super-chilled baby…
GET 3 SONGS: ‘Indigo’, ‘Six Feet Deep’ and ‘Memory Lane’
FACT: Sometimes NK picks random names for the beats he produces, which eventually become the concept for the track. For example, the beat dubbed 'Hate' manifested into a song about hate from all different perspectives.
Words: Natasha Nanner
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