There’s nothing subtle about catching feelings, and lucidrari makes that clear this time, with a hyperpop-infused anthem straight out of the early 2000s soundscape. LOWKEY arrives wrapped in a visual fever dream: a pink snapback, a Hello Kitty tee, and Hasya Zaki dancing through the neon lights. It’s playful, it’s unpredictable, and it’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Kuala Lumpur-based rapper. If LAMPU BIRU and GADISKU cemented his place at the top, LOWKEY shows he’s doing it on his own terms.
In 2024, lucidrari’s creative collective, MidLyfe, pushed young talents to the forefront of Malaysia’s hip-hop landscape, nurturing a wave of emerging artists like Dannqrack, Eemrun, Heil Nuan, and FITTO. Not only has he spearheaded some of the year’s most exciting releases, but he also hosted his first-ever sold-out concert and landed a track in the Top 10 of Spotify Malaysia Daily Top Songs chart. Yet, for lucidrari, mainstream success isn’t a peak — it’s just a signal check. His upcoming album, Teletext, set to drop in May, continues the sonic blueprint he’s been building while marking an evolution in his music and creative identity.
The release of LOWKEY as a prelude to TELETEXT is a subtle flex — because, in reality, nothing about this track is lowkey. From its NewJeans-inspired music production to its homage to the golden era of KL’s early 2000s hip-hop scene, every detail screams high energy. Over a late-night sit-down with Men’s Folio Malaysia, Lucidrari teases his upcoming album release, his sonic nostalgia, and why the best part of making music is to have fun making it.
What’s the story behind this single? Does it come from a personal place, or is it more of a character-driven narrative?
This track is more of a reflection than a recollection — an interpolation of past romantic moments, some of it is personal, some borrowed, some imagined. When I was writing LOWKEY, I wanted to step outside of my own head and tell the story from her side. I tapped into what she might have felt, how she saw things and let that shape the song.
What’s your favourite bar from LOWKEY?
“I’m not where I wanna be, at least I’m not where I used to be.”
What sparked the idea for this song? Was there a specific moment, a random thought, or even something weird that set it in motion?
A lot of PinkPantheress, a bit of NewJeans, and that late 2000s pop nostalgia. It wasn’t just about the sound but the whole world that comes with it — the way the melodies feel weightless, the songwriting that’s intimate yet detached.I wanted something that felt instinctively myself but still played with that era’s sonic textures in a way that felt fresh.
If TELETEXT had a vibe check, what would it be?
Hmmm… Y2K, girlypop, and early 2000s pop built on what the people want judging by the success of my last album. It’s a buffet of sounds. But at its core, it’s all about not overthinking and just having fun with it.
With this single, what version of lucidrari do you want people to see? How does it evolve your sound or image?
I don’t really care how people see me. The sound evolves because I evolve — every album has its own world, its own identity, and I never want to be boxed into just one. I like to push the edges of what I can do, pull different influences into my orbit, and see how they shape the music.
For me, it’s about breaking out of the usual confines of genre and expectation. At the end of the day, I do this because I love it. This isn’t a 9-to-5 — I don’t make music to clock in and out.
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What mood do you think you put people into when they listen to this song?
I want people to dance to this thing.
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What’s on repeat for you right now? Any music, movies, or weird internet stuff you’re obsessed with?
I’m on some early lady gaga type of thing right now. Charli XCX, Kesha and OG Mizz Nina.
Any last words before you drop the album?
As Timothée Chalamet once said, I too am in pursuit of greatness.
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