INTERVIEW: Experimental Electronic music from Lucid Letters

Lucid Letters is the artistic banner of UK-based singer-songwriter and producer Caryl Archer, who’s always been a creative steeped in thoughtful reinvention and creative exploration. Hailing from the small fishing town of Fleetwood in Lancashire, Caryl has been developing her sound for over fifteen years.

While she initially released music under her own name, she made the bold decision in 2019 to step back from the spotlight, undergoing a significant artistic transformation. The result was her 2020 rebirth as Lucid Letters, a rebranding that marked the beginning of a fresh, electronic-tinged chapter in her career.

Unveiling the Lucid Letters project that year, she released the eight-track record Portmanteau which was followed by the EP, We Are Now and the single “Delighted” which arrived the next year. Now, after three years of quiet preparation and collaboration with other independent musicians, Lucid Letters has returned with her latest single titled “Glittering Dreams.”

The release of “Glittering Dreams” marks not only Lucid Letters’ comeback but also her entry into a new sonic sphere. Inspired by the emerging electronic sub-genre called ‘hit em,’ which recently gained popularity through the work of Drew Daniel from Matmos, the track experiments with the genre’s unconventional elements. Known for its 5/4 time signature and rapid 212 bpm tempo, ‘hit em’ features distorted sounds that lend the music an otherworldly, dreamlike quality.

Lucid Letters takes this framework and infuses it with her own vision, crafting a song that feels like a delicate balance between structured composition and freeform sonic exploration. “The song is certainly a departure from my previous more pop oriented work, but it represents my love of experimental electronic sounds. When I read up on the origins of the track, I just knew I had to make something like it,” she shares.

Brought in by the warbling texture of synth tones as the pulse of drums hints at the incoming drop, the track flows with gliding bass tones, staccato synth stabs and glitching percussion cut with spacey vocal elements. A fluttering, processed voice glides alongside deep bass rumbles and lively, bubbling synth pips as the track drifts through a gripping soundscape, rising with thumping percussion and intense instrumental arrangement, resulting in a sensational outing of experimental electronic music.

Showcasing her creativity, her ability to explore brand new musical styles and her incredible sound design flair, “Glittering Dreams” offers an enthralling listening experience unlike any other. We caught up with Lucid Letters to find out more about her musical journey so far, her new single “Glittering Dreams” and what she’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Lucid Letters below.

Hey Lucid Letters, how’s things?

Busy! In a good way.

Is there a story behind the name?

I’m a person who really enjoys writing on physical paper and sending letters and postcards. I have a massive stationery collection full of colourful stickers and decorative tape, so that’s where the ‘letters’ part comes from.

For the ‘lucid,’ that came from my ability to lucid dream that I discovered as a teenager. I tend to have a lot of weird, long, highly detailed, and recurring dreams. I used to bore my family with them every morning when I woke up for school.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I remember watching The Little Mermaid at around 5 years old and going over to the keyboard in the living room to pick out the melody Ariel sings to the sea witch when she signs away her voice. That’s when my parents asked me if I’d like to have lessons, so that’s where it all began really.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

There’s so many! I’m especially inspired by other producer artists such as Björk, Imogen Heap, and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. I’m also really into J-Pop and K-Pop, in particular girl groups like Perfume and ARTMS.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I’m a very visually inspired person. I love going to art galleries and looking at public art installations. Just having that energy of calm and creativity fills up my inspiration meter and gives me the confidence to try out new things.

My other main source of inspiration is my need to articulate certain feelings and experiences as accurately as possible, so you can often find me with Rhymezone.com open in one tab and Thesaurus.com in another as I try to find the absolute best word to use in each line of a song.

What’s been your highlight of the year so far?

I was commissioned by one of my favourite independent artists to do a remix of a track from their forthcoming EP, so I got to hear the whole thing in advance and choose which one I wanted. Pretty exciting!

What do you love about the UK music scene?

Artists here make a big effort, and even more so in the wake of the pandemic. We lost so many venues and communities, but we are resilient and are rebuilding.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

It’s definitely an advantage to hear the bass, so a good pair of headphones is a must! I’ve heard from people that they like having my songs on when they’re resting or doing things around the house, so anywhere they feel comfortable is probably a good setting.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

I started off as a pop guitar girl, but quickly got bored with the limited harmony I could play on guitar when compared with what I knew through my lessons on piano/keyboard. I had become fascinated with electronic music when I heard dance remixes of some of the rock artists I was into at the time. I knew I wanted to make those amazing sounds I was hearing, so that’s what drew me towards learning to self produce.

Has your production process changed over the years too?

Yes, absolutely. For many years I was so worried about spending money on my music that I didn’t have proper software for production or equipment for recording. My fellow producers would cringe to know I used Audacity and a slew of cheap and free programs to make my first two EPs and all my pre-Lucid Letters material. However, in 2021 I upgraded to Ableton and that has opened up so much for me. It’s a hard lesson to learn to invest in yourself, but I’m glad I eventually took the plunge.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

I’d love to do some behind the scenes songwriting for K-Pop acts, but in terms of an official collab maybe someone like Googly Eyes who was recently signed to Tove Lo’s record label. I think her remarkable vocal agility would vibe well with my earthy alto harmonies.

How did you find making your new single “Glittering Dreams”?

It happened very quickly. The parameters I was working with were simple: 5/4 time, 212bpm, crunchy sounds, so that freed me up to make something without the burden of too many decisions. It was quite freeing really.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

Just create what you want! What does it matter if you were inspired by a post on X? Or by anything for that matter. There’s no better time than right now.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Half my listening time is with independent and smaller label artists that I follow such as Nolo Grace, LÂLKA, Chara Kai-Le, and Izzy Kershaw. The other half of the time I’m on my K-Pop kick with Chung Ha, CL, ARTMS, and Loossemble.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

Some sense that everything is going to be ok, and life is maybe good some of the time, actually.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

I am yet to perform live as Lucid Letters (maybe next year), but when I still went by my real name I was able to perform some of my own songs at a mini festival in a friend of a friend’s back yard. It was so affirming. It was like a little taster of what it might be like to perform as a ‘real act’ and have people come to see me.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

J-Pop girl group Perfume, Korean rapper CL, and Jacob Collier. It would be in my tiny home town because we never get the big acts!

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

I’d tell them not to do what I did and take the best part of 20 years to believe in what you’re doing. Believe what you’re doing is important enough to pursue because you are the only version of yourself that will ever exist, and the art you make has been filtered through that uniqueness. Please make and share your art.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2024?

I’m finalising the remix I mentioned earlier, and I’m also working on my first full length album as Lucid Letters. It’s going to be a concept album with the theme of multiple selves battling with chaotic circumstances.

Listen to Glittering Dreams below