NINE LIVES
LAWRENCE ROTHMAN HAS NINE PERSONALITIES, AND ONE IS ELIZABETH TAYLOR! MEET THEM ALL ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL DEBUT ALBUM. MARC ANDREWS INVESTIGATES.
I am nine different people. The most authentic and truest form of who I am…
DNA: You’re a cool cat with nine lives, or nine personas, really. Talk us through that. Lawrence Rothman: Yes, they are all the nine sides of myself. We all have variations of ourselves that we show different people. I tend to wear mine on my sleeve. Literally! Who are we talking to now and could it change without warning? Right now you are talking to Orion and, yes, they change with the wind. Do you have a favourite? I love them all and I hate them all. That’s how everyone feels about themselves. You can experience extreme depressive moments and extreme highs along with everyday evenness. Where is the real Lawrence Rothman in all of this? When I am uncensored. I am nine different people. The most authentic and truest form of who I am is all nine of these personalities. I have extreme Gemini Syndrome. Let’s talk about your music. You’ve worked with some big names on your debut album, The Book Of Law. It was a natural progression. I became very insular and isolated, which resulted in this autobiographical music. I love creating art and wherever that leads me I’ll be doing it until I die. Growing up, who were your musical heroes? Kurt Cobain [Nirvana lead singer], Bob Dylan and Tupac Shakur. Elizabeth Taylor is one of your personas – how much do you love her? I love everything about Elizabeth Taylor. Her films are some of the finest ever. She is the most perfect example of glamour that ever lived. She is definitely my diva! You play with gender fluidity on the album. Is this a new thing for you or has it always been the case? I’ve lived my whole life not identifying with a gender binary. My mother was always accepting of this. My father not much. I had a hard time with this in my teens. Were you bullied at school? I had a hard time because of the way I looked and presented myself. I hid in my music and poetry. I wrote many short stories to ease my confusion and pain. On the spectrum of sexuality where do you place yourself? I fall in love with a person regardless of sexual identity. Does having an LGBT audience appeal to you? Is that something you are specifically looking for? I love anyone as long as they are not a Trump supporter. American politics – what’s your take on how we can survive the next few years? It’s such a sad, depressing time. I don’t have that answer other than hopefully we will get lucky and Trump will get thrown out. What’s one thing that might surprise people about you? I can read and speak Hebrew. Are you a spiritual person then? I am a curious person and love diving in and studying all sorts of religions. Does romance play a part in your life? It’s not something I’m focused on at the moment, but I am attracted to people who are strong, creative and dominant. What are your views on gay marriage? People should be allowed to marry whoever they want without permission from some old-school, outdated thinking. And your message to the gay world? Live honestly and authentically, despite what others want from you.