Offie Mag

Lancey Foux has probably sat on the UK underground throne for the best part of a decade.

His sound has always been more in tune with the US underground, collaborating with Ken Carson as far back as 2020. He has been called a Carti clone and has been on the receiving end of pushback from those who just didn’t really get it. But he has carved out a lane for himself like few others have. He might not have the numbers that some artists do, but I’ve seen him personally fill venues that statistically bigger artists could only dream of — all while remaining independent.

Lancey’s new project FIRST DEGREE : SECOND CHARGE sees him giving back. Released on [untitled], a platform that allows artists to upload music securely and share it directly with selected listeners, the project uses a new feature that lets artists with a paid membership sell access to their work. This isn’t a new concept — artists with an audience have long been able to sell directly to their fans. However, all proceeds from this project will be donated to charities that support independent musicians.

When major streaming services pay so little, even artists with millions of streams can struggle to make a living from their art. The shock factor has almost worn off. The music industry, at nearly every level, is exploitative to some extent, and artists usually feel the worst of it. That’s why it’s important to support those whose art has meant something to you, because without that support we’re going to have less and less to choose from.

Rising costs of living and a lack of funding for grassroots schemes and state schools mean the arts are becoming inaccessible to many. What Lancey is doing should serve as an example to anyone with a platform. Artists should support artists when they can. They know what it’s like to struggle at the bottom, and how hard it is to pull yourself up.

You can buy the album here.

Words by Louis Rowland