Back in 2010, in The Back to the Future issue, i-D featured some of UK urban music’s finest, now we introduce one of the unsung heroes behind the beats…
Lewi White is a loyal, humble producer with refreshingly reserved ambition, especially considering what he has already achieved in his early twenties. Owner of ‘Beyond Da Booth’ studios, which he describes as “home to the boys”, Lewi is a key feature in the UK urban music landscape; fast establising himself as a true underground veteran. Recently he has produced a number of tracks on Devlin’s debut top 20 album ‘Bud, Sweat and Beers’, collaborated with Paul Weller, and can often be found in the studio with the stars of tomorrow, including a whole host of UK artists from Ed Sheeran to Griminal, and Yasmin to Ghetts.
i-D Online puts a few questions to the man himself, taking you ‘Beyond Da Booth’.
What do you think about Devlin? It’s just his energy in the studio and the fact we’re always on the same page. We just click. The musical chemistry is something else! It’s ridiculous. When we’re in the studio, nothing but music is going on. That’s why I like Devz, he’s just straight to the point. If he don’t like it, he’ll say it, if he does like it, it means he likes it. We’ve been friends for years, he recorded his first ever tune at my Mum’s house and it just went from there.
What lies ahead for Lewi White? I don’t really have any crazy dreams. Obviously I wanna keep doing music, and obviously I’d like to be the producer that when artists are working on an album they go, “Oh we need a Lewi White beat or else the album isn’t going to be complete.” Like you’d have a Dre, or a Timbaland, or a Swizz Beats, I’d like to be respected in that way.
Who would you love to write for? I don’t know, there are so many good artists. I’d like to do something with Jessie J, she’s by far the sickest female out. But we have linked up a couple of times with Devlin on the ‘Price Tag’ remix and stuff like that. She came down to the studio and she’s wicked man, she’s proper good! I’d also like to do something with Kings of Leon. I’d give them a dubstep track and a half I reckon.
Who would you most like to see on the cover of i-D? I’d say Devlin. I love to see my boy everywhere really but that’s me being biased obviously.
