Toronto’s The BLK LT$ Is Rising.
The BLK LT$ (Black Lotus) formally known as Andreena Mill is a woman of many trades. More than just a songwriter and producer she’s an artist. Though often overlooked this Toronto native has put in countless years in her craft. From being a member of X-Quisite, a girl group which featured her, Nicole Holness and Melanie Fiona, to working with rappers Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall and Drake her roots in the city remain deep. Her list of collaborators over the years is also quite lengthy with the likes of Matthew Burnett, Rich Kidd, Noah Shebib and Boi-1da as some of her previous producers.
Though she’s been abroad in LA for some time now, some things still remain missed. “The diversity of the food, the people and the culture. Home can never be replicated.” says The BLK LT$.
Well known for songs like “Terminator”, and “Picture Perfect” her tone is always smooth with complimenting melodies. Her lyrics are always narrated in a way that keeps you invested in her story. When it comes to RnB in Canada it’s safe to say she’s one of the most underrated artists that our country has to offer.
Which sparks the question of “What is it about Canada’s Music Industry that has made it so difficult for women who make RnB to find success?” Many would argue that until the development of OVO in Toronto there was a lack of representation across the board. Through OVO’s development it’s created a bridge for many male artists but Canada still has a long way to go for it’s women.
When asked her take on if Canada has built enough of an infrastructure to properly support women who make RnB she says,
“To be totally honest… no. I know we will get there but currently not the way the structure holds up the men. There are so many amazing women coming out of the city who need support [and] guidance… Who need people in media and in corporate positions who look like us and understand where we’re coming from and where we’re trying to go. I hope that at some point in time I can be a bridge within this gap. All we can do right now is support one another and find ways to lift each other up whenever we get the chance.”
For women within the industry, much is still to be developed as a support system but, it’s accurate to say that none of those challenges will keep The BLK LT$ from creating her own opportunities. She’s determined to make her own path.
For more on our conversation seek below.
To start, your name has changed from Andreena Mill, shortened to Andreena and now The BLK LT$. What does the name Black Lotus mean to you? Why was it important to make the switch?
The BLK LT$ was and has always been a buried aspect of my creativity. For a very long time I felt almost pigeonholed in my career, being encouraged and often pushed into only being a songwriter. I feel like this began to not only hinder my overall creativity but, it also added a fuel to the fire for all of the other aspects. As a creative I love to explore. I have always been a producer [and] I have always been a visual artist but it was never pushed to the forefront. The magnitude of my creativity [was never pushed] due to the fear that people would not understand. At least, that’s the impression I was given earlier on in my career.
Around 2016 I released a mix tape called “The Reverse”. That was the first time I had to put together a fully produced project. It was the response to that project that gave me the inspiration to allow myself to fully tap into the depths of my creativity. Allowing The BLK LT$ to begin to take shape. It was like all of the things that I had buried [were] finally coming to the surface and that is why I changed my name to the black lotus. It was something different inside of me, something that I needed to share with my audience.
Following your name switch last year you dropped a cover of “That’s the Way Love Goes” by Janet Jackson. You seem like the type of artist to have a lot of unreleased original material, so, I’m curious why you chose that cover as your starting point? Would you list Janet as a main influence in your career?
I have been doing covers for a very long time throughout my career and someone that I’ve been working closely with had just asked to hear how it would sound. I never intended to put it out but, when it was completed it just brought me back to the feeling of being a young girl and loving music. [It] really reminded me of where my journey began.
For me, I just did it for the love of music, the love of Janet and how much she inspired me growing up. It just felt good to pay homage to such an icon. That’s why we called it “That Janet Joint”.
While on the topic of Janet Jackson, her main producers for most of her prominent albums are Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis whom you’ve happened to work with. Aside from them, you’ve worked with a lot of heavy hitters both behind the scenes and in your own music. Last October you took part in a songwriting camp run by Create Academy. It featured Rodney Jerkins as the main Producer. How would you describe that experience?
OK! For me, I am forever a student of music so, finally being able to work with Jimmy and Terry was amazing. It was actually not too long after we released “That Janet Joint” that I was asked to record some additional vocals for a record [So Hard] with Johnny Gill off of his last album. They are such icons and legends in the game. To be in the room with them and sit back and see how they are still so hands-on with the music is amazing.
Working with Rodney Jerkins was a major turning point for me as an artist. [He’s] written and produced some of my favorite songs. Being able to work with him closely after the camp reassured me that I was doing the right thing as an artist . Not only as a songwriter but as a creative we managed to make a lot of great music and I am looking forward to sharing it with everyone in the near future!!
Out of all the people you’ve worked with so far who’s someone you’d like to work with again and who’s someone you’ve yet to cross paths with?
Pharrell Williams, Beyoncé, Rihanna and Timbaland are definitely at the top of my wish list. I also hope to work with Billie Eilish and The Weeknd.
Before the beginning of the pandemic commenced you released “Concrete”. Really loved your attention to detail. The song discusses being with someone who wants their freedom but showcases contradicting behaviour by assuming you should be exclusive. It ends with you choosing to leave. What was the defining moment for you in that situation that made you realize they weren’t worth it? What would you say is a deal breaker for you in any relationship?
Lack of honesty, dealbreaker. I want to be able to be with somebody who can give me the ugly truth. I want to be able to share the ugly truth. Not everything in relationships are perfect but I believe starting a relationship that’s rooted in friendship, vulnerability and honesty can allow for a healthy relationship to grow with clear lines and boundaries. If a person is afraid of themselves to the point they cannot be honest with somebody else that’s definitely a dealbreaker for me. A level of emotional maturity is very important.
Moving on to your newest single, “Numb”, it describes the experience of watching someone fall out of love with you and reflecting on that love lost. What do you think it is that makes people fall out of love? And what did you find the most helpful to heal after that specific break-up?
For me “Numb” was not just a song that was about falling out of love with somebody but it was more about finding someone in life who is completely irreplaceable. [It] could be a friend or family member, a lover, a sibling, a child… Somebody who leaves a massive space because there is no one that can replace the connection that was between the both of you. Of course this also applies to love and loving relationships. I found that time is the best remedy for healing, self reflection and learning to look at the circumstance from multiple viewpoints. It all circles back to time though, because it does take time to start seeing a break up in a different way.
On the topic of healing and wellness, Covid has caused a lot of people to do a lot of soul searching and reflection on what it means to live. In doing that, many people have had to realign the things that hold priority in their lives. What would you list as main priorities in yours? And how have you navigated creating balance for them?
My spirituality, my overall health [and] my children are my number one priorities. If those things are off-balance it’s hard for me to even focus on my career. I learned when Covid hit and everything began to shut down, “schools included”. It showed how important balance is with life. Having to now balance my work, with teaching my children [while] staying healthy mentally and physically took a lot of time. Re-organizing my priorities allowed me to discover other parts of myself that I had buried and [am] now bringing to the forefront because I have allocated the time towards those things.
Finally, what can we expect on your upcoming EP “The Seed”?! What’s something you’re looking forward to in the present moment?
“The Seed” is definitely something that I want my fans to experience. It’s not just music, it’s a story; it’s a message. It’s a reminder that we are all planted here for a reason. Unless we give ourselves the time to live, learn and grow we [won’t] find our true purpose and witness the physical manifestation of our wildest dreams and thoughts. In this present moment, I am looking forward to enjoying bringing my creative thoughts to life. I have an amazing team and we’re just taking it day by day, building and growing.
I’m looking forward to sharing new music with my fans, in hopes that I can inspire someone to dream bigger because right now my dreams are bigger than they’ve ever been. I’m so grateful to watch them unfold.