Erik Lenfair: Rhythms, Rio and Romantic Revelations
Dan chats with singer-songwriter Erik Lenfair from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who's working on his first album after a four-year hiatus.
Erik discusses his songwriting process, revealing how his approach has evolved from discovering songs to deliberately composing them, though knowing when to stop remains challenging. He shares his relatively smooth coming out experience while acknowledging Brazil's complicated relationship with LGBTQ+ rights.
The conversation explores how Erik's songwriting has transformed since experiencing love for the first time at age 25. He defends pop music against critics who dismiss it, explaining its value in offering escapism and creating platforms for other expression.
Erik discusses the creative freedom he finds in music despite being naturally shy and candidly addresses ageism in both the music industry and Queer community.
His recommended gateway track "Candy Shop" marks his first explicitly Queer composition since coming out to his parents.
Find Erik on streaming platforms and social media.
Spotify playlist can be found HERE.
The podcast is on Instagram (@inthekeyofq) and Facebook (search: In the Key of Q).
Transcript
Dan
Hi, this is Dan Hall by day. I'm a documentary film maker, but by night, I'm a podcaster that celebrates Queer voices and Queer music. On the show In the Key of Q. I like to bring on musicians to talk about their lives and their songs. Community is such an important thing. And what better way for us to celebrate community than through music?
::Dan
ho started releasing music in: ::Erik Lenfair
Hello. Thanks for having me.
::Erik Lenfair
My life now. It's kind of chaotic. I'm recording my first album. It was supposed to be an EP, but it started out as an album, and I'm just writing a lot of music and recording a lot of music.
::Dan
Do you find that the songs just emerge to you fully formed or are you into this people that sort of creates the songs, or is it more about discovering them?
::Erik Lenfair
It used to be more discovering the songs. Now I feel like I'm actually composing them, like rearranging stuff all the time until I feel like it's perfect, which is kind of exhausting.
::Dan
And so how do you know when to stop? When do you know that a song is finished?
::Erik Lenfair
I don't know. That's the problem. That's why it's taking so long.
::Dan
And so for people who don't know your music, how would you describe it?
::Erik Lenfair
It's pop music. It's a little more alternative. I try to keep it experimental, but it's pop. It's supposed to be fun, make you cry, sometimes. Emotional. But I like to keep it fun.
::Erik Lenfair
First time I fell in love. It actually only happened recently. I was 25. Now I'm 27. I just never really liked anyone. And then we'd sit together. I just sent a message to my mom like. So I'm with this guy. Can I take him home? And she was like, but what? What is he? Is he your boyfriend?
::Erik Lenfair
I was like, no, we're getting to know each other. And she was like, okay, I just want you to be happy. Come bring him home. And that's how I came out to my parents. It was like, super smooth.
::Dan
That's a very different story from a lot of the stories that we hear on the show, and that we hear amongst our friends. We often hear stories of unhappy parents, or difficult siblings, or even difficult friends. It's wonderful to hear that your story is such a smooth one.
::Erik Lenfair
Yes, I come from a very loving family and I think that's how it's supposed to be, and that's how I hope it goes for everyone in the future. It was very easy for me, like I'm very happy. That's how it went.
::Dan
And were you expecting that, as in, did you grow up in an environment where their reaction wasn't a surprise to you? Or were you still a bit worried, a bit nervous before you told them?
::Erik Lenfair
I was expecting a positive reaction, but I was still nervous because it's something I knew, like ever since I was a child, like I knew I was gay ever since I was three years old, I don't know. And I think your parents kind of get little clues, but they're they were sort of hoping it's not because it's a harsh world like like you don't wish that the hard part on your child.
::Dan
Can you tell us where did you grow up?
::Erik Lenfair
I grew up in Rio de Janeiro. I'm still in Rio de Janeiro.
::Dan
And what is the attitude towards LGBTQ people like in Brazil?
::Erik Lenfair
It's not. I wouldn't say it's good. Like, there are places I feel comfortable when. But Brazil, this is a country that kills the most trans people. So I can't say it's good, but I feel safe in some places. And usually those are the places I tend to go to. I think it's important to keep Queer spaces like this is a places where you feel safe and.
::Dan
And I think people can often underestimate how exhausting it is always having to be in spaces where you're aware of what other people think and actually going into Queer spaces can just be a real relief, even if just for one evening.
::Erik Lenfair
Yes, that's I think that's something very common in the Queer community. Like you grew up with this inherent cautiousness in everything you do, and that it kind of takes a while to get that away from you. You know.
::Dan
And if you managed to shake that off.
::Erik Lenfair
I think I still have it like it's way better nowadays. But as a child, I remember it was like very strong. I think it made me shy. Like every time I met someone I knew I had something. I felt like I had something to hide, like I couldn't be myself too much. It definitely leaves some marks. It's like an ongoing journey to get rid of that.
::Erik Lenfair
But yeah, you learn how to manage it.
::Dan
So there's two Eriks. We have. We have Erik, who wrote love songs when he was only guessing what love was like. And we have Erik, who writes love songs, who in real life has known love. How are those songs different between the Erik that is guessing what love is and the Erik who knows what love is?
::Erik Lenfair
I think the songs I used to write were more autobiographical. Now I'm kind of having more fun with the idea of pop songs and the idea of love itself, but, I don't think I'm exploring, like, my relationship in those songs yet. A little bit of it, but I'm kind of doing music for the sake of music, if that makes sense.
::Erik Lenfair
And I think that it has nothing wrong with it. Like art for the sake of art. Like the whole Andy Warhol thing. So I think I'm making, like, music about love, how I want it.
::Dan
So I've just finished making a movie about ABBA, about the Swedish band ABBA, and they came under a lot of attack during their most popular times because people said to them, your music is rubbish. It's just pop music. It's just love songs. You should be singing songs of protest. You should be changing the world with your music. What do you think about that?
::Dan
Do you think the only valid songs are songs that are trying to change the world?
::Erik Lenfair
No. I think you can change the world in many ways and making pop music, music, people can relate to it gives you a platform to do other things and not everything has to be deep all the time. Like with the with meaningful lyrics, super deep lyrics like I think you can bring fun to people and other things they need and you have your platform.
::Erik Lenfair
Like you can change the world silently like behind the scenes, you know?
::Dan
Absolutely. And I think also, there's nothing wrong with pop music. There's nothing wrong with escaping for 3.5 minutes.
::Erik Lenfair
Yes, that's what pop music is for, actually. Like, who doesn't need it? Everybody wants to escape. Sometimes.
::Erik Lenfair
I'm a very shy guy. But I can do that. Like you just, I don't know, play someone else.
::Dan
Isn't that, like, the worst industry in the world? To be a performing musician, if you're shy?
::Erik Lenfair
It probably is. Like, I don't know what happens. Like when I'm making music. I'm terrible at speaking, but I love singing. I love writing. I just go somewhere else, like. And that's what I love about writing music. Like it always allowed me to, like, be more like out of the box.
::Dan
And do you think shyness is something which is Queer people, many of us experience. And so we we fight it by sometimes being very loud and pretending to be confident. Because I remember when I was a child, being very self-conscious, wondering about whether I sounded gay or maybe I walked gay. And sometimes I would find I would try to make myself as small and as quiet as possible, which I wish I hadn't done.
::Dan
But I talk to a lot of people on this podcast, and it seems to be quite a common thing.
::Erik Lenfair
I think it's a common thing for Queer people like, that's what I said. You just learn that you have something that you have to hide, like people are. You have this feeling that people are immediately, immediately not going to like you for being the way you are. And that's a hard feeling to live with. So I think it comes out as shy.
::Dan
And so what are your feelings when, for example, religion says you're disgusting, you're going to hell? All these things. What are your thoughts?
::Erik Lenfair
My boyfriend actually grew up in church and he always says it was a very toxic environment and he doesn't always stand up on anyone. I mean, some things need to be updated right?
::Dan
In the Queer scene where often we go to for safety. One of the complaints that guests have often had on this is that they go to find that community, and then they don't really find a community there. They find the people that they meet, say that they're not attractive enough or they're not white enough, or they're not big enough cock or anything like this, that we are bad as a Queer community.
::Erik Lenfair
Of.
::Dan
Being kind to each other.
::Erik Lenfair
Yes, I agree with that. Like it's a very selective community. it's kind of high. Like, it's not easy being gay. I would say you have to be like in a standard that it's also not healthy in. It's a community that preaches freedom and all of that. But that's not actually how it goes. I'd say.
::Dan
And how do you feel about ageing? Because that is something that people often say that, you know, once you get past 30 years old, you're dead.
::Erik Lenfair
I don't like getting old, but I cry every birthday I have ever since I was like 16 years old, thinking I'm too old now. So it was always something in me. I don't know why.
::Dan
When you think about it, what do you think as a gay man? Ageing is going to be like.
::Erik Lenfair
I think there's this stigma in music business or show business or mostly everywhere that you have to make it before 30. Like 30 is a very big number. Like, I know that's not true, but like, you see, you don't see a lot of artists like in mainstream music. You just see really young people showing up all the time.
::Erik Lenfair
And I'm like, oh my God, I'm going to be 30 soon. I better make it.
::Dan
And if you were to meet Erik, your 15 year old self. So imagine you're meeting 15 year old Erik.
::Erik Lenfair
Yes.
::Dan
What would you say to him? And, do you think he would recognise who you are now?
::Erik Lenfair
I think he would. I think he would be proud. He would be like, oh, my God, you're actually making music. That's fun. We always wanted to do that. And I think I would say to him, like being gay is fuck like, enjoy your life. Don't hold back like it's not worth it. And just be yourself like it's going to pay off.
::Dan
So you said that being gay as fuck. What does that mean in your eyes?
::Erik Lenfair
Just don't give a fuck about anyone. And do you?
::Dan
That's. That's easier said than done, though, isn't it? It's not an easy thing to do.
::Erik Lenfair
It's like a goal to keep in your mind. Always.
::Dan
Now then, Erik, one of my main ambitions for this show is to raise the profile of musicians, of Queer musicians and their music. And I think one of the best ways to do that is for people to listen to the music. And I like to ask the guests if there was one song on their catalogue that was the perfect introduction.
::Dan
What would that song be? What song of yours do you recommend that we listen to? To introduce us to the music of Erik Lenfair.
::Erik Lenfair
I think Candy shop. The latest one I put out marks a new era for me, because the songs I wrote before that, I was kind of, I was not out to my parents, so I didn't want them to know too much. So it's kind of Queer coded, but not explicitly, explicitly Queer. Candy shop. I'm like, having fun with being gay.
::Erik Lenfair
Like sexuality, talking a lot about dick and cock in that song. I think it's a fun one.
::Dan
These are good subjects.
::Erik Lenfair
They are. Most of my album is going to be about dicks and cocks.
::Dan
I think it sounds like an album that's worth listening to.
::Erik Lenfair
Yes, I hope so.
::Dan
Erik, it's been fantastic to have you here on In the Key of Q. It's been great to hear your experiences, and I think you're our first guest ever from Rio de Janeiro. So thank you very much for bringing Brazil into the In the Key of Q family.
::Erik Lenfair
Thank you for having me.
::Dan
Many thanks to everybody for listening and for continuing to subscribe. If you have any comments about the show, please do drop me an email on in the key of Q at gmail.com. And of course, if you'd like to appear on it, write to me at the same email. I really don't mind how popular you are or not, and I don't give a shit about how many Instagram followers you have.
::Dan
All I care about is that you make good Queer music. Please do feel free to reach out. Always on the lookout for new guests. Many thanks to the wonderfully talented Paul Leonidou for our opening and closing theme. Many thanks to Moray Laing for his continued support. And of course, again, thank you to Erik Lenfair.
::Dan
Fantastic guest today, Erik. Thank you very much and thanks for sharing your music.
::Erik Lenfair
Thank you so much.
