Freshly Squeezed: LYRICALMAR Deep Dives Into His New EP, ‘MARCHIVES’

LYRICALMAR has blazed into Pride Month with his 5-track EP, ‘MARCHIVES.’

More on the buzzy new name on the rise after the jump…

A boundary-pushing artist whose distinct voice and perspective remain a fresh force in music,  the rising star is blazing quite the trail.

Blending sharp lyricism with a keen ear for production, his sound effortlessly moves across Rap, Pop, and Dance. His songs explore themes such as unapologetic self-confidence, the impact of bullying, and the pursuit of Black economic empowerment.

Since 2020, his work has garnered recognition, including a feature in AT&T’s ‘Turn Up The Love’ Pride campaign and a PopSmashRadio Award for ‘Top Song with a Message’ in 2021 for his powerful track ‘Black Money.’ His music’s resonance within the LGBTQIA+ community has also been championed by GLAAD’s Communities of Color initiative.

We caught up with LYRICALMAR to discuss the new project and the inspiration behind it all:
‘MARCHIVES’ feels both intimate and intentional.

What was your headspace while creating this EP, and how did you choose which five tracks made the final cut?

After my first EP ‘Begin’ in 2020, I had time to discover my own sound and really zone in on the kind of music that makes me happy, music that inspires me as I take the path I believe God wants me to take in my lifetime. ‘MARCHIVES’ is a time capsule of sound and lyrics. Art should be an experience, so for the track selection, I wanted to show different sides of myself and sonically bring something fresh to the table, track by track. I feel each one has its own story, its own outfit, and point of view. These 5 songs will get my listeners’ ears ready for ‘MARCHIVES, Vol. II’ next year.

Your style, both musically and visually, is so defined. How do fashion and aesthetics play a role in your storytelling as LYRICALMAR?

Thank you! That to me is one of the biggest compliments, because fashion and design are woven into everything I do on a daily basis. I have so much respect for fashion designers, their art, and the dedication it takes to create garments meant for self-expression. Fashion and art help me express myself a great deal, especially in my music videos: the concept, the clothes, the visuals. I love the whole process.

As a Black queer artist, does identity and visibility inform the music you make, the stories you choose to tell, and if so, how?

Being a black and queer artist inspires everything I create and the stories I tell. I can’t imagine a life where I am not in a black butch queen body. We have very unique, nuanced stories to tell. Our path can be hard, but it can also be beautiful and inspiring. Triumph is our middle name. To me, visibility matters the most because it creates space for others with a similar path to trust themselves and strive for triumph in their own way.

When you look at your path ahead, are you more interested in mainstream recognition, building a niche world of your own, or something in between?

I’d say somewhere in between. I’m meeting more of my listeners, my tribe, every day. They’re the type that want me to swing big all the time, we speak the same language. The love and support they give me provide this energy to my creative process, which I do believe deserves mainstream recognition. Ultimately, I do it because it makes me happy, so everything else is an added bonus.

What’s something about LYRICALMAR, the person or the artist, that you think people misunderstand or overlook, and how does ‘MARCHIVES’ help clear that up?

I can be very reserved, so I think people don’t see my fun side the way the closest people to me see it. ‘MARCHIVES’ kind of clears that up, but it also gives people more insight into my path and my generally positive outlook on life.

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‘MARCHIVES,’ is available now, and be sure to check out the music video for “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” below.

Your thoughts?

Photo Credit: Laquann Dawson

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