.aesthetic talk
The Rebirth of Lester Kamen
Finding Harmony in Chaos
written + interview Chidozie Obasi
Recent years found many artists rejecting “coolness” (a buzzword of the early noughties) for a more introspective approach.
Oxford-based Lester Kamen’s journey of early music pursuits could partially relate to such an example, which has seen him swapping pitches—from the court to the piano—with a somewhat freewheeling vein that’s currently searching its edge.
coat + jacket THE FRANKIE SHOP
shirt QL2
pants CHRISTIAN BOARO
loafers SANTONI
“I'm continuously exploring myself because I have feelings of being tangled, and maybe I don't express them well in words as I do with music, which is my comfort zone where I feel like I can thrive.”
Lester Kamen speaks with Chidozie Obasi
coat TOM FORD
jacket DIOR HOMME
shirt MEIMEIJ
short skirt QL2
long skirt MEIMEIJ
loafers SANTONI
jacket FERRAGAMO
shirt PAUL SMITH
pants + loafers ZEGNA
“I'm continuously exploring myself because I have feelings of being tangled, and maybe I don't express them well in words as I do with music, which is my comfort zone where I feel like I can thrive,” opines Kamen. “My mum's been a piano teacher since I was born, so for the whole time I've had a really deep music knowledge in my house. I've also had guitars, but one thing that my mum never did is force me into learning, or taking grades and all that.”
With early stints as a footballer, Kamen later withdrew from this practice as he was diagnosed with blood clots in his leg, meaning he has to take a particular drug that wouldn’t let him play football full time. “I can have a kick about with my friends, however I can't play fully, and when I was younger my whole life was about pursuing this sport—but I used to sing in my own time while playing guitar and piano just as a thing on the side; and after the doctor told me I couldn't play again, such a decision took a toll to me and I needed something where I can pour my heart into. It eventually happened step by step, and I felt like I started to lean on to music as a way of expressing myself because football was my outlet back in the day.”
Weirdly, it’s interesting how newcomers build up their own obstacles to pleasure. It’s exactly the reason why the scale and complexity of the music industry imply that those with the means to deeply understand and acknowledge the meaning of their artistic practice could lead the way on the long haul. Not only by expressing mere passion. Which pretty much epitomises the discernment between an artist and a singer.
“I feel that it's very important to have a body of work before you jump into things too much,” Kamen offers, who’s currently working on his first compendium of songs to present by the start of next year. “Because if one song does extremely well, and people are expecting a lot more but you don't have a body of work, you will find yourself having to press the breaks on everything whilst you have the pressure of writing something.”
Another reason why he’s taking it slowly, working to ensure he gets it right before pouring his songs out and into the wide world. “Well, I gave myself this period of time to create this body of work that once it's out, there'll be enough songs that are not just a few, but that feel like a whole body of work. And I did have to spend some time just not releasing anything and being quiet so that, again, the bigger the body of work, the more it feels like I'm prepared for what this music industry has in store.”
pants PAUL SMITH
Will his music be ready for his next act? “As I write more songs, I would like my words to be simpler and simpler in a way that I can say a lot with a little,” he offers. “Maybe I haven't said that, but again, when you're left to your own devices, you can write a song that can convey something in as little words as you want.”
All in all, his songs do not have a theme per se, and upon questioning, Kamen was reluctant to “philosophise” over his music practice, which I thought was a shame. In other words, let the lyricism speak for itself, which these could do plenty if honed rather rigorously.
total look MCQUEEN
total look LORO PIANA
“As I write more songs, I would like my words to be simpler and simpler in a way that I can say a lot with a little.”
Lester Kamen speaks with Chidozie Obasi
jacket THE FRANKIE SHOP
sweater CANAKU
shirt GRIFONI
t-shirt DIOR HOMME
skirt THE FRANKIE SHOP
pants ZEGNA
TEAM CREDITS
seen COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via Studio Repossi
fashion director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinator DAVIDE BELOTTI
make up KIM GUTIERREZ via Studio Repossi
hair GAETANO PANE via Julian Watson Agency
talent LESTER KAMEN
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
production assistant ANJA MENEGON
fashion assistants GINEVRA ELISA VITALI + GLORIA MOLTRASIO + VERONICA VAGHI
(c) LE MILE Magazine, Cosimo Buccolieri