Rapper Ludious being interviewed on Digital Music News Podcast, December 2019 (Photo: DMN CC0)
Lucidious is an independent rapper with over 100 million Spotify streams and a steady income. He’s also a guy who helps his fans deal with serious issues like depression and suicide.
What? Not subscribed to the Digital Music News Podcast? We can be reached at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, google play, stapler, and most other podcast platforms. Or just listen to the embed below.
Lucidious is an artist who said fuck it – with the right planning.
He quit his “Plan B” job, packed his stuff in a U-Haul, drove to Los Angeles, and finally reached a point where he could make a living from his music. But he warns artists not to keep their cool — especially since developing a career costs money. Instead, Ludious waited — and worked — until his music career brought in enough money. Then he quit. “I was at a point financially in music where there was literally no excuse for me to have a job,” he said.
But he never intended to resort to his plan B. “If I have to, I will have two jobs. But I’ll never stop making music because it’s not a choice, and I think that’s what makes a real artist.”
“This is my diary, this is my therapy. I have to do this Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be alive now.”
It’s a subtle difference in life planning. In one scenario, plan B is a backup in case something goes wrong. In the world of Ludious, Plan B is only there to make Plan A a reality. And abandoning plan A isn’t a viable option — ever.
Part of Ludious’ success stems from the deep connection he has formed with his fans.
His verses are emotionally raw, devoid of any pretense and absolutely heartbreaking, with personal struggles a ubiquitous theme. It’s not typical rap bravado, it’s a form of therapy, and his fanbase has responded accordingly.
They also turn to him and ask for his help as they recognize a soul mate. Sometimes someone is on the verge of suicide.
Ludious told us that he responds to as many messages as possible. “Now if I open my phone and scroll for less than a minute or maybe even thirty seconds, I can open one of four messages saying you saved my life or you made a significant difference in my life. not just “You lifted my spirits today.”
“It’s almost always to do with, ‘I got divorced after 10 years, lost my kids, thanks for putting me back on the right track,’ or ‘I’m extremely worried and lost a lot of friends, you. ‘” showed me that I can actually get help and get through this, thank you.'”
I asked him how many fans contacted him because he was on the verge of suicide. He said it’s impossible to say but it’s a constant in his daily interactions with his fans. “The actual lives saved, I mean suicide, darkness, I can always open my phone to get a message from someone, a new message from someone to send this to me,” Ludious said.
This includes people right on the ledge. “It’s really hard for me to grasp. I’m like, ‘Oh man, I better say the perfect words now’.”
But getting someone on the phone has a significant chance of saving a life. “The real people who commit suicide don’t come forward,” Ludious said. “Or even threaten it. Usually it’s the people who hide it so well you think they’re happy.”
Unfortunately, in this day and age, Ludious is a much-needed artist.
Lucidious wished that more artists – especially superstar artists – would connect in a more meaningful way with fans and try to influence them positively.
“I wish there was more attention to mental health,” Ludious continued. “I’m not doing this for my career or to advance my music. I do it because I care – I know what it feels like to feel that way and it’s a calling for the soul that goes beyond music. I love music, but I love this whole personal development that helps people change their perspectives. I’ve definitely dedicated part of my journey to this process.”
Here’s our podcast interview with Ludious.
Look at it Apple Podcasts, Spotify, google play, stapleror below.