Text by Alli Lindsey
Header image by Hotel Party
All other images by Adrienne Raquel
Behind a silvered smile and smooth operator exterior, Lucky Daye is a romantic nomad poised to be one of the greatest R&B artists of his generation. Born and raised in The Big Easy, the New Orleans singer/songwriter is a passenger on the ride of life paying his fare in soulful falsettos.
Beckoning a resurrection of classic R&B, Lucky’s musical inventory is brushed with strokes of Motown grandeur and an early-90s Sade-esqe tilt. A one-man choir with an on-stage energy so kinetic it blows wind in its opposing direction, the Grammy-nominated artist has amassed a multi-generational fanbase transcendent of individual taste. Whether he’s collaborating with Kaytranada or Earth, Wind, & Fire, Lucky Daye’s luxurious voice is suspended in time as an archetype for timeless soul music. Draped in designer, the ever-enchanting Lucky Daye sits down with C-Heads to discuss trends, alternate universes, underrated fashion designers, and more.
Alli: Last night you performed with Alicia Keys at Apollo Theater! Tell us what that was like.
Lucky Daye: I mean, that was epic! It’s Alicia Keys! I feel like Alicia Keys is a legendary person. She’s a goal no one can really touch when it comes to making songs – she makes her own music, she writes it and sings it! So to be able to work with her, do a song with her, and perform with her for the first time in Harlem… That was kinda epic because I’ve never been to the Apollo!
A: And you had a collaboration with Earth, Wind, & Fire. What’s it like to work with legendary names in R&B as an early legend yourself?
L: I think it’s amazing. These guys really are legends. Like they’ve done their time, they’ve put forth their best effort and it worked, it succeeded. So for them to see me and think I’m worthy enough to get on a song with them, it assures me that I’m chasing the right purpose. I’m supposed to be here and it’s never going to stop, because that’s who I am and I’m gonna bleed it forever.
A: Do you get nervous?
L: Yeah I’m always nervous! Because I’m just caring out of purpose and I can’t help my body from getting nervous for anything. I get nervous talking to girls!
“I’m an adventurous dreamer. I like to see where we are, and know it.”
A: I’m nervous talking to you!
L: What!? Then we both nervous.
A: How do you deal with the nerves?
L: I usually just focus on the show, focus on music, or put headphones in and just shut everything else out to find peace.
A: So you work on being in The Now?
L: Oh yeah! It’s all about The Now. I don’t know what else there is really. I live on my construct, I guess.
A: A lot of people struggle with that! Your thoughts can be anywhere, especially when you’re trying really hard to be in The Now
L: Yeah! Because they probably never got to the point where they felt like they ain’t have no choice. That’s all, I ain’t have no choice.
A: So you’re a very fashion-forward artist. In your opinion, who are some of the most underrated streetwear and high-fashion designers right now?
L: Oh! Well, I don’t even know what the world thinks of these people. I just know what I think of these people. I think Rhude is amazing, they make amazing shoes, clothes, everything! I just pulled up at Kenzo and checked those people out, they were some really nice guys. Honestly, I’m into Audemars right now, Audemars Piguet! That’s what I’m into – AP’s!
A: What about overrated?
L: Let’s see… Overrated… Goyard! Overrated! But I’ll buy it anyway! I’ll buy it anyway!
“I’m the trendsetter for myself. If anyone wants to follow, they can follow.”
A: In this scenario, you wake up in the morning and there’s no such thing as music, there’s no such thing as fashion, and there’s no such thing as art. Who is Lucky Daye without the music and art? What’s left?
L: A nomad.
A: A nomad? Like traveling?
L: Always.
A: Where do you want to go that you haven’t been?
L: I want to go to Dubai. I want to go to different parts of Mexico. I don’t go just to see the cities, I go to see the things in the cities, like their wormholes, crystal caves, and stuff like that. I’m an adventurous dreamer. I like to see where we are, and know it.
A: Is there anything specific in Vegas you’re trying to do in Vegas while you’re here? Any wormholes here?
L: What’s funny is that I don’t know anything except for casinos. Is there anything I’m missing?
A: This is my first time here!
L: Really? Then I guess we just have to scour!
A: The last couple of years have been intense for everyone. We’ve had riots, protests, a pandemic, and more recently we had a tragedy at a music festival. When these things happen, there’s a lot of pressure for artists to have an opinion on it. It begs the question, what do artists owe their fans, if it’s anything at all?
L: I think artists owe their fans a lot more than we give them sometimes. A lot of times it’s an even exchange. But other times, when detrimental things happen, it’s tough to say you’ve done enough. So I feel for everybody that was down by that terrible situation.
A: What are some stereotypes and cliches you want to avoid as an artist?
L: I want to avoid being trendy. I don’t really care about keeping up with nobody. I’m myself, so if I try to keep up with somebody else, I can’t be myself. And it’s easy to do that.
A: So you’re the trendsetter?
L: I’m the trendsetter for myself. If anyone wants to follow, they can follow.
A: So it’s not for anyone else. It’s always for you?
L: It’s always for me. I don’t trendset for nobody else. I care about everybody else. I study and look at everybody else to determine what I think is trendsettable.
A: How do you feel when you see people drawing influence from your style and the way you perform?
L: I actually love it. And I’ve seen it a lot of times, so it’s funny you say that. I’ve seen people take my directors, managers… People tried to dismantle my whole first squad. But at the end of the day, you gotta know none of this shit would be going on if it wasn’t for you. And you gotta appreciate everyone that did stick around and the people that are loyal. And understand that it’s easy to put that back together. It’s easy to get another Lucky, but it’s not easy to get another musical icon that will give you what I’m giving you. You can find another R&B artist, but they’re not gonna give you what I’m giving you, because it’s just different.
“I’m not going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. That’s definitely not it. I gotta move with the wind. You know?”
A: You have a new record coming out next year. Are you trying to challenge your sound, or just keep doing what you’ve been doing?
L: Well I’m not going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. That’s definitely not it. I gotta move with the wind. You know? I’m a Libra, I gotta go with the air and keep it moving. When I do different projects, I’m not challenging myself, I’m opening up other sides of me that maybe I ain’t even know about. It be very enlightening, I’m not gonna lie.
A: That’s very hard to do. What are some ways you open yourself up outside of making music? Journaling?
L: Oh yeah I definitely journal! I try to do it every morning in case I have a good dream I need to digest. Other than that, I try to just write out my day to make sure I ain’t crazy haha!
A: Do you have crazy dreams?
L: I have CRAZY dreams! Like insane dreams. I wish I could tell you! I keep having recurring dreams too.
A: Do they mean anything?
L: Not sure yet! A lot of them did do a lot. A lot of my dreams came to fruition. In one of them I was at a festival, it didn’t look like Day ‘N’ Vegas, so I don’t know if it’s this place, probably somewhere else. But I had a dream I was up there [on stage] and I saw some sheep. But I don’t know what it means yet.
A: Well that’s some symbolism right there.
A: Finally, what’s something you want your fans to know about you that they might not already?
L: That I’m looking for love! In all the right places. You just gotta show yourself to me.
A: Where are the right places to find love?
L: Outside!
A: Outside of the music industry?
L: Not really! I’m down for a power couple situation.
www.instagram.com/iamluckydaye
