Meet Lachi | Recording Artist & Founder/President of RAMPD

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lachi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lachi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Conventional wisdom dictates that making a big move or pursuing a big idea is risky and should be mitigated or avoided altogether if one wants to remain safe and secure. I say, BIG NO. I say, Fear is not in the business plan. In my opinion there are no risks; there are only big moves, the big plans and diverse teams to make those big moves, and the clout or faculty to carry out those big moves.

“You’re so brave for doing what you do!” As a black, blind executive, artist and disability inclusion advocate, I hear this all the time; but is sharing my talents or advocating for baseline human rights really bravery? Conversely, Is hiding one’s talents, not exploring one’s innovative thoughts, not pursuing adequate changes…is that what’s normal? As a person with a disability, having to navigate a society that wasn’t built for me, I specialize in problem solving, planning, innovating, and adapting. What I have is not bravery; just an ability to figure things out despite what others may perceive as obstacles.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a multi-award-winning artist, Grammys Board Member and Founder and President of RAMPD.org. I have dedicated my platform, career and craft to amplifying Disability Culture, promoting inclusion and advocating for accessibility in the Music Industry. Named a “dedicated foot soldier for disability pride” by Forbes, I have held talks with the White House, the UN, and the Kennedy Center, and have been featured in Essence, Billboard and the New York Times for celebrating intersectionality through art and for my upbeat and unapologetic brand of disability pride.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Manhattan, so that’s an easy one! Of course folks can check out all the tourist greats; but as a resident, I prefer showing off the little nuggets you can’t find in a brochure. For example –

Pop up Times Square food trucks
Pop up designer or vintage shops
Hidden river-side promenades
Private swanky rooftop spots
Soho Houses are a huge must
Late night drag shows
Public-park grill spots

And too much more to list!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
RAMPD.org! Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities is a coalition of established creative professionals who work to amplify Disability Culture, promote equitable inclusion and advocating for accessibility in the Music Industry. For me personally, RAMPD has not only been a place for me to pursue my passion for advocacy along with peers, but it has been a place for we as disabled creators to come together, collaborate, grow and support each other.

RAMPD helped make the 64th GRAMMYs more accessible with a ramp to the stage, ASL on the red carpet, and live captioning and Audio Description. These kind of moves allow for the disability community to be included in majors events at which they’ve been historically excluded, and also allows for non-disabled people to have mainstream discussions concerning disability and accessibility. Check out and support RAMPD, it’s members and initiatives at www.rampd.org

Website: www.lachimusic.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lachimusic

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lachi

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lachimusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lachimusic

Youtube: www.youtube.com/lachimusic

Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/07D2qGlJUOVf83OM5ujJZD Tiktok – www.tiktok.com/@lachimusic

Image Credits
The Disability:In Photos are (the photos in the blue Naem Khan): Courtesy of Disability:IN 2022 Conference