Artist Q&A: Lady Ehepr

Lady Ehepr

Growing up, people tell you not to judge a book by its proverbial cover. That being said, album cover art, even in the digital era, is still a relatively important tool in music discovery and odds are that art will give you at least a small bit of insight in regards to what you’re about to hear. Browsing the Lawrence, Kansas Bandcamp tag several months ago, I happened across Lady Ehepr’s (pronounced eh-pur) album Gloatre and was immediately compelled to give it a listen due to its striking nature. On its six tracks (it originally held more; more on that in a moment), you’ll hear a young Kansas rapper-producer channeling the energy of both black metal and Memphis hip-hop. The lyrics, as you might guess, are graphic -- Ehepr’s Bandcamp bio reads, in no uncertain terms: “I promote violence.” Despite the album’s inclusion in the email newsletter of an NPR Music writer, no local press has covered Ehepr and her catalog that now includes five releases. I shot the Lady an email with a request to do an interview, the results of which you can read below.

Where’d your stage name come from?
I was very inspired by the French black metal collective known as Les Legions Noire. They had invented a language called Gloatre and “Ehepr” was a word in that language. The “Lady” was sort of an homage to Memphis rappers Legend Lady J and Lady B.

Are you from Lawrence originally or did you move there from elsewhere?
I’m from Lawrence originally. I divide my time between Lawrence and Kansas City these days.

You recently re-released your original 2018 demo online. When did you first start making music?
In high school, my dad gifted me his Tascam Porta Studio and I started making beats. I didn’t know anyone who could rap or was interested in the same type of stuff as me, so I just started rapping too. I don’t really like writing lyrics or rapping. I’m more interested in the production side of things.

You were included in Lars Gotrich’s newsletter. Were you excited to be in there? Do you care about getting press or hope to make a career in music?
That was neat. I’m still shocked that people like what I do. I also know that rhyming about chopping up men and lo-fi beats aren’t exactly the fast track to riches.

You wrote that your first project was inspired by Les Legions Noire. Tell me about your interest in that collective.
I’m drawn to artists that create their own universes and work from there. Their music was so evocative in that it seemed more like they had to make it rather than wanted to. When I started to make Gloatre, my first album, I was really obsessed and wanted to make something that kind of showed the similarities I was finding between old Memphis beat tapes and early black metal. Unfortunately, Vordb of LLN took offense and had some of my tracks removed from Bandcamp.

What do you see as similar between Memphis hip-hop and black metal?
Oh man, I could go on about this for days, but primarily it's the lo-fi, the uncommercial nature, the focus on atmosphere, tape culture. It goes deep.

Can you speak with any specificity about what Vordb didn't like about the songs?
No idea, maybe he hates rap, or women, or tributes. He never contacted me directly. Whatever. I still love the LLN.

Do you ever see yourself making more traditional black metal material or starting a band?
I'd love to do a more traditional black metal band. I don't have much interest in working with other people or playing live, so it'd be another recording project. I don't play guitar, so that presents a challenge.

You dedicated Incorrigible Misandry to a couple dozen women -- artists and criminals of note. Are there any in particular that you wish more people knew about or appreciated or that are particularly interesting to you?
I think Valerie Solanas is really misunderstood. The Scum Manifesto is a brilliant work of satire that was sort of skewed due to her mental health issues later in life. Onielar of Darkened Nocturne Slaughtercult and Bethlehem is also a huge influence. She was the first instance I saw of a prominent woman in the black metal scene. The previously mentioned Legend Lady J is another. Her tape Glock In My Hand was huge in pushing me towards making things.

What was up with the “poser ass bitches” at Free State High?
[Laughs] I had written that on the insert of the original demo; I was going there at the time. I don’t think I had any legitimate beef with anyone. I was just trying to be edgy.

Have you performed live before? (If not, do you hope to soon?)
Never performed live -- not sure how that would work. I also like keeping my identity hidden and playing live is something that would just make that more difficult. There have been offers. At the moment I really like staying in, making music, and watching my murder shows.

What are your favorite murder shows?
Right now I'm all about Homicide Hunter. Terrible reenactments and hosted by Joe Kenda. He's quite a character. I Am A Killer is pretty standout too.

What are your plans for the rest of 2021?
I have an EP recorded of covers by French artists that I’m just sort of sitting on until Nocturnal Hustle wants to feature it on their page. I also have a few songs recorded that might be part of another full-length or an EP. Other than that, not a whole lot. Doesn’t seem like the best time to try to make long-term plans, and I’m content to just take on today.

Find her music at LadyEhepr.Bandcamp.com.

 

[This article first appeared in Issue 4 of Shuttlecock's free monthly print edition. Click here to order a copy online, or pick one up for free at locations around KC/Lawrence/JoCo.]