Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with St. Levi

St. Levi has quickly emerged as “one to watch” in the industry. The artist, singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist has racked up thousands of streams and views on Spotify and YouTube. His talent to pen a song with authenticity has struck a chord with listeners around the globe. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with St. Levi about discovering his passion for music, his new single “Shitty Times,” and more.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
St. Levi: I remember being very little right when YouTube started. I was obsessed with listening to new music and watching lyric videos and music videos. Then there was an exhibition of classes in my elementary school when I was in fourth grade. There were all kinds of classes represented—basketballs, footballs, and lots of musical instruments—and something about the guitar just grabbed me. I immediately asked my mom to sign me for guitar classes and she did—and from there, after learning the basic chords, I immediately started writing songs and started a band. I was so attracted to this world that it was inevitable for me.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
St. Levi: There are a lot of influences that shaped me and my career. Artist-wise, I’d say that Kanye mainly got me into production and performance. I remember seeing him live in Israel and I was blown away by the sound, the charisma, and the level of the production. I wasn’t producing at the time the show happened but just a few weeks later I started taking production lessons and started producing myself.

Other things that had an influence on my career were my family’s support and love. It’s so important to have a stable support system somewhere in your life, especially when you have an artistic career that is not what you might call “protected” or “secured,” and fortunately it was my home that provided me that safety net and made me comfortable and confident enough to do what I do and be who I am.

PC: There are so many different facets to your talent. Which comes the most naturally to you? Which is the most challenging?
St. Levi: Thank you so much. First of all, I’d say that the thing that comes most naturally to me is the topline melody. I love improvising with my voice and coming up with the melodies that eventually will carry the song.

I think that the most challenging part for me is mixing—probably because I made the whole song and played every instrument in it, so I already have heard the song probably about a trillion times and it’s challenging to come with fresh ears to the mixing process.

PC: CrossFit plays a major role in your life. What have you learned from being an athlete that you’ve been able to apply to your music career?
St. Levi: Wow, that’s truly one of the best questions I was ever asked. It does play a major role in my life, and I’ve learned so much from being an athlete. For everybody who isn’t familiar with CrossFit, I will get this straight. It’s really, really hard. The skills, the volume, everything about it is challenging, just like being an artist, just like being a human. I learned that everything is possible. I learned that with the right practice and the right mentality, you can get to anywhere you wish. I learned about hard work and not giving up. No matter how difficult things can get, every day you give everything you’ve got and that makes great long-distance results.

PC: Tell us about your new single “Shitty Times.” What inspired the song?
St. Levi: “Shitty Times” was inspired by a relationship I was in last year. It ended very badly after she started seeing her ex while we were together. I wrote a lot of songs about it. But there was this thing that happened after we broke up. I knew that they were officially back together after creeping her Instagram and seeing a picture of them two weeks after our breakup.

A few days after I saw this, she texted me saying she wanted to have back a ukulele she gave me when we were dating. It was really odd, and eventually, she didn’t come to take it. I decided I was going to write the most fun and honest song I could possibly write about this story and the ukulele and that I was going to write it literally for the ukulele and call it “The Ukulele Song.” Obviously, the title changed after I wrote the hook. But I think that all of the details are in the song, so you can learn all about this story simply by reading the lyrics!

PC: Of all the music that you’ve released, if you had to pick one song that best describes who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
St. Levi: Wow, that’s a great one. I would say “All My Secrets” because it’s such a bipolar song. By that, I mean that it’s mostly a piano ballad but then the hook comes and there’s this instrumental part that is pretty brutal and aggressive which really fits me as an artist and a human. I want to make different types of songs with different types of sounds. I love exploring and changing, both in my music and in my personal life. I was never one to just stick with one thing that I’m used to. I also love the lyricism in the song, and I love greatly written songs in general and of course in my own music.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2022, what does the year hold for you?
St. Levi: I’ll be a little bit mysterious and say that there are things that I still cannot talk about. But I will say that I’m not slowing down with releasing my music. Loads of music is coming! There are also lots of collaborations and surprises on the way that I’m super excited about, but the most important thing is recovering from my leg injury which will take a few months—and of course, keeping myself in a good and positive headspace.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
St. Levi: Some old Israeli music like Kaveret, Matti Caspi, Shlomo Artzi, and tons of other great artists and bands.

PC: First album you bought?
St. Levi: Bieber’s My World! I was so embarrassed back then, but damn, he was and still is great!

PC: First concert you attended?
St. Levi: Kanye.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
St. Levi: Kid Cudi’s Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven. It’s such a vulnerable, fragile, and honest work of art that I’d recommend everyone to listen to it, despite the fact that it’s very dark and hard to process. After listening to this album dozens of times, I couldn’t write any song that isn’t fully honest and transparent.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
St. Levi: Wembley Stadium. My goal since childhood.

PC: A must-have on the road?
St. Levi: Good books.

To keep up with St. Levi, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream “Shitty Times” today.