Interview: Larry Lambert (Uncle Bubz)
March 30, 2021
Photos by Stanley Collins
For Larry Lambert (Unlce Bubz), feel is a manner of living, a guiding philosophy. Larry got his first lessons on the piano from his Aunt when he was a child. Incredibly, the Aunt that gave him his first lessons on piano was also deaf. Though she couldn’t hear, she taught him an invaluable lesson — music, life, is about feel, emotion, being present in the moment, to be honest and offer yourself as a vessel.
Larry’s spent the better part of the past few years on the road, touring with Summer Walker, Ella Mai, and most recently, Baby Rose. Like many musicians and artists, COIVID-19 put touring and performing on hold. But for Larry, being home offered him the opportunity to spend more time with his daughter, and return to something he’s always prided himself on — making music with his name and his sound.
From doing shows in Atlanta in the early 2010s, to playing alongside him in church, to being a part of his band, The Larry Lambert Project, I’ve had the chance to see Larry’s brilliance up close. Larry’s as generous as he is talented.
This past weekend, Larry released the second volume in his Uncle Bubz Beats mixtape series. This new installment proves that Larry is equally adept as a producer as he is a pianist; a beatmaker as he is a conductor. The credits for Uncle Bubz Beats, Vol. 2 alone are to marvel at showing Larry’s ability to pull on artists far and wide. Uncle Bubz Beats, Vol. 2 features from vocalists Amber Navran (of Moonchild), DaVionne, Remey Williams, Lyric Jones, Mister Vershawn, and Dayne Jordan. And instrumental features from the likes of Derrick Hodge, Adam Blackstone, Thaddaeus Tribbett, Nick Salcido, Tone Whitfield, Jahmal Smith, and Wayne Moore II on bass; guitars from Simon Martinez, Anthony DeCarlo, Sharod Virtuoso, and yours truly; and drums from George “Spanky” McCurdy, Jermaine Poindexter, Taron Lockett, Jerome Flood II, Kwesi Robinson, Josh Thomas, and Blaak Jordan.
I talked to Larry about his new project, fatherhood, touring and more! You can listen to his new project on Spotify, Apple, or Tidal. You can read our conversation below.
The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Stanley: I’m curios about your early days with music. When did you start playing?
Larry L.: I started at like three years old, banging and playing stuff around and going to church and then at preschool, finding a preschool with that music class. I was the only one in my class at two or three years old that was actually doing the stuff that the teacher was telling us to do. So then they noticed and then he told my mom, and my mom was there kind of water the plant.
My aunts were influential for me too. One of my aunts taught me how to play the drums and the other taught me piano. And actually my aunt that taught me piano was was deaf, which was crazy. All of my family is into music and stuff, but I'm the first one to take you seriously, but it was always around me and it was everybody was always just watering it. Just everybody was just they kept me where I could. I always see I always like being around it. That's kind of what helped me. I can’t remember not playing.
Stanley: Wow, your aunt was deaf?
Larry L.: Yeah, she was deaf, and she could play! She played what she could feel. Like, when she listens to music she can’t hear the words but she can feel the beat and the rhythm. She can tell whether it’s a Sam Cooke song or a Bill Withers song. My grandparents gave all of my aunts and uncles lessons, but nobody was really intrigued with it except my aunt. She loved music and she really felt it, she really really felt it.
Stanley: This is your second installment in the Uncle Bubz beat tape series, and I was wondering what difference you see between the music you put out as Unlce Bubz versus the music you put out with your band, the Larry Lambert Project?
Larry L.: My sister used to work at, a daycare that I actually used to work at, and the kids there used to call me “Unlce Bubz.” But I needed to come up with something that would be separate from my band, but still was like for me at the same time. So, I thought of using my nickname, which was “bubba” but my sister called me “bubz” for short.
Also, I just kind of try to detach, especially because, the music is totally different from, like, Larry Lambert Project music. This is heavy production where LLP is heavy live instrumentation, but I’m really showing how I’m able to do two different things, that are both me, equally well.
Stanley: This weekend marked two years since you had your first child! Congrats again! What’s it been like being a dad? Has it changed how you make music/create?
I never could imagine the love, joy, and happiness I have and feel being a father. — Larry Lambert
Larry L.: Becoming a father last year was the best thing that ever happened to me! I never could imagine the love, joy, and happiness I have and feel being a father. Creating music has definitely been more difficult to do but the level of love and passion I’ve endured as a father has transferred to my love of music.
Stanley: You’ve spent the past few years on the road with Summer Walker, Ella Mai, and Baby Rose. What was that experience like working with those artists? How are they different or similar? How’s it been being at home all the time compared to the past few years?
Larry L.: Being on the road with Summer Walker, Ella Mai, and Baby Rose has been a dream come true. Touring is pretty much the same routine, but it’s the people that makes the experience different.
What I like most about working with all three artists is how compact the team is, which transpires into a family environment. I have personal relationships with all of the artists I work with. But there are differences, like the levels of touring. Some tours all I have to do is walk on stage when it’s time to play, others I have to help set everything up. I appreciate the opportunity to do both. One of my favorite differences is the venues. With each artist I get to do all different type of venues from the clubs to the stadiums.
Being home all this time after being on the road for a couple years became very much needed. Having this time to love watch and instill in my daughter has been the best parts of being home.
Stanley: You’ve been releasing your own music for some years now. I remember in Atlanta in the early 2010s, you were one of the few instrumentalists that would play a gig with singer-songwriters. You’ve been vocal about you putting your name on something, rather than you being attached to someone else.
Could you talk about that some — being independent — not just in the sense of not being signed, but in the sense of truly being independently minded? What inspired you to have this approach?
I create music to share my gift to hopefully be a blessings to at least one person, and not for anything else. — Larry Lambert
Larry L.: Yes, I would agree. It’s been my first focus in music to make a name for myself before being attached someone. One of my favorite elements about music is being about to create and share it with others.
Being independent could be tough depending on the approach. I create music to share my gift to hopefully be a blessings to at least one person, and not for anything else. Having that mindset has continued to keep me going in all aspects. Being able and wanting to have complete say over my passion for creating art and music is what always inspired me to be independent.
Stanley: What do you hope people take away from this project?
Larry L.: My purpose with this project is the hopes that people can take something away from it that makes them feel good.
