A rapper from Meghalaya, Daiaphi Lamare, better known by her artist name Reble, is an artist who aims to fiercely represent the Northeast Indian talent. With sharp lyrics and unconventional flows, she inspires people to embrace their art. In a conversation with us, Reble talks about her latest release ‘Muse’ and her journey so far.
1. Tell us a bit about your project. How did you begin your journey as a singer-songwriter?
This project feels like I’ve finally met the people that understand my sound. It’s what I’ve always imagined my music to sound like. It’s the sound I’ve been manifesting. I started as a songwriter some 12-13 years ago. For me, I love lyricism. I love nice rhyme schemes and some good but not so complicated bars.
2. Which bands/artists were your first love and who is your biggest influence?
My biggest influences were Eminem, Andre 3000 and Biggie. Eminem because I resonated with his struggle and the hardships growing up in a broken family, Biggie for his flow and his struggle as well and Andre 3000 for his amazing flow and music that also gives me a better understanding of life. Songs like “Sky’s the limit” By Biggie, “Hey ya” By Outkast, “Beautiful” by Eminem really shaped who I am today. Apart from hip hop, I also love multiple genres and some of my biggest influences growing up were RHCP, MGMT, Linkin Park, etc.
3. You just released a single, “Muse.” Tell us a bit about it. What’s the song about?
Muse is about being real. Growing up, I had a hard time trying to be myself because most people around me had the coolest toys, their parents were rich, and I personally come from a broken family, and we had our own share of financial struggles as well. Muse is the song that describes how I feel about the glitz and the glam. Rappers are supposed to have drip and swag, but I come from the other side of hip hop. I come from the struggling end of it. Watching how NWA, Eminem, Biggie, Brother Ali etc made something out of nothing is what inspires me. I have more love for that side of hip hop.
4. What is your music-making and recording process like?
When I write a song, I just pick a beat that I like, and I write about what that beat makes me feel like. Getting to the studio is the next level, what sounds good in your head won’t always sound good when you record it and what doesn’t seem like a good idea might actually sound sick. I freestyle most of my melodies because it just sounds better, and my bars are always written beforehand because I’m not much of a freestyle rapper. I mean, I need time to structure the wordplays, the delivery style, the rhyme scheme and all.
5. Tell us a bit more about your upcoming album.
I think this album is gonna be my best work that best describes me, and it has India’s finest producers. I’m really honoured that these people have agreed to work with me despite me not being as big as them or the artists they work with. It really shows that there’s more to music than just the numbers.
6. Why do you make music? What drives you as a musician and what are your songs about?
Music is my form of expression. It’s the only time I feel like I’m more than what I am. I started rapping to pen down my struggles but music in general has always been a part of me since I was little. It makes me feel things that nothing else can ever do. It’s my dose of dopamine.
7. Which Indian bands or artists do you admire? And why?
If I’m gonna be honest I didn’t grow up listening to any Indian artist and most of my influences weren’t from here. But a few bands and artists whose journey has inspired me are Gutslit, Induscreed, Yashraj, Pacifist etc.
8. What’s your take on the independent music scene in India?
The independent music scene is growing but it’s still not very easy as usual. When you come from a label, you have it easy with getting sick visuals, festival slots, getting play-listed and your marketing is well paid for. With being independent, you don’t have many advantages, you gotta pitch your songs and most of the time, they don’t get play-listed, you gotta make do with whatever you got for your videos, and the list goes on. But these drawbacks of being independent are still not going to stop people from making it out there, the sounds from the underground are making waves and although there isn’t much of a market for the music I make, I will always do justice to its sound. The rest, destiny will figure out for itself.
