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Luke Christopher

Source: Shane McCauley / Getty

HelloBeautiful.com’s “Base Level” column features the hottest new artists we’re buzzing about. Before they make it to the summit of superstardom, we spot them at base level–the beginning of their hopeful journey to the top.

LA native Luke Christopher always knew he wanted to be musician. With a wide range of musical inspirations ranging from Kanye West to The Beatles, the 21-year-old has created a unique sound that he can call his own. And, he’s focused on making timeless and authentic music that will be etched in our ears for years to come.

With an infectious new single “Ms. Holy Water” making a buzz, Luke Christopher is on the brink of stardom.

Check out the basics on the rising star:

Name: Luke Christopher

Hometown: Los Angeles, California – San Frenando Valley

Age: 21 

Musical Inspirations: Definitely early Kanye, Andre 3000, a lot of Outkast, a lot of Frank Ocean – I love Frank. As a kid I was listening to Stevie Wonder and my dad was playing The Beatles and stuff so I all these inspirations. I had a huge spectrum.

Describe your sound: I would definitely say it’s kind of early Kanye. It’s a combination of those cats. It’s soulful but it’s not way too soulful. It’s got soul but it’s definitely modern, it’s new, it’s unique, it’s organic because I’m producing and writing everything myself. It’s definitely fresh. 

How do you tie Kanye’s early rap career into your R&B? Because I’m starting everything from scratch, a lot of it sounds different. It’s stuff that sounds more R&B, it’s stuff that sounds completely hip hop. It’s stuff that sounds off, like you wouldn’t even explain it. But it all kind of has that feel of soul. It changes up. I’ll do a full hip-hop song sometimes just all the way rapping through it and then I’ll do a singing song all the way through too.

Is that what separates you from other artists? I think it’s that but I think it’s also the fact that a lot of artist go to the studio and sing whatever is written for them and when I go into the studio I’m by myself writing and producing, just making a song. So everything that you hear is going to be authentic and fully me. It’s not a puppet scenario where they are formulating how I come out. It’s not like that. It’s real.

When did you know this is what you wanted to do? What age? I was probably 14 or 15. Me and my cousin and my brother were doing garage band like raps. Then they stopped doing it and did other things but I was like “Man, I really want to do this.” So I started really working at it and then I  would not do homework and just work on music all night. At first my parents hated that but now they’re like “Oh snap, it makes sense.” It’s was like I went in and out of phases but I always knew this is what I wanted to do.

What has been your biggest break thus far? I have a song with Common that came out about a year ago called “Sex With You” that played on the West Coast radio. Now, I’m gearing up for the big moments and I’m feeling that energy, like right on the verge.

What do you bring to that pool of new talent? I think it’s authenticity and uniqueness. I want to make timeless music. I don’t want to make something that goes on the radio and it’s like “oh that was the cat that sang that song, you remember that song?” I don’t want that. I want my songs to go down and for people to say that it defined a time in their life. I want songs like that. It’s authentic and it’s real.

If you were the lovechild of two musicians, dead or alive, who would they be? Lauryn Hill and Kanye West. If it was two dudes that could adopt and raise me, it would be Kanye and Michael Jackson. The family situation at home might be a little weird but it would make some dope music.

Behind The Scenes Of Luke Christopher’s Tour
Luke Christopher
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