A few months ago, we lost a great friend, writer and all-round creative, Luke Forte. A burning star of musical passion, Luke quickly rose to be an imperative writer for The Pit, delivering weekly reviews brimming with commitment, contemplation and compassion. In addition to his written acumen, Luke flirted with several other creative and media industries. An avid photographer, a striking model and a capable DJ, his wide-spread passion, charm and natural ability is simply phenomenal.

If all of this wasn’t enough, Luke’s budding artistry had began to spill over into songwriting under the alias FORTE. Inspired by the very names that he wrote so passionately about in his reviews, the likes of Lord Apex and Sainté, Luke’s instinctive flow and nimble wordplay throughout the three featured tracks is a joy to behold.

BREEZIN indicates Luke’s love for Leicester’s Sainté, with the chilled instrumental boasting similarly Cali-rap vibes. Luke nonchalantly glides over the smooth instrumental, weaving through bars about relationships, grinding and chilling with his bros. His laidback delivery is the perfect fit for the buttery backdrop, with his distinct tones complemented by the bouncy drums and groove-laden bass. JADORE again sees Luke in his alt rap bag, with a more atmospheric instrumental allowing Luke to use a sharper, snappier flow, which is augmented by the impressive bars and silky rhyme scheme. AWKWARD has the most lighthearted timbre of the three tracks, yet this is where we see Luke look most inward lyrically. He talks of being awkward since his school days, taking his time with the music passion, and love for his friends. Across the tracks, Luke displays his unique delivery, a wide array of flows and a playful yet introspective lyrical prowess.

Quite incredibly, these are the first tracks that Luke ever recorded. They sound like the work of a seasoned performer and writer, so the fact that this was the very beginning of Luke’s musical journey is jaw-dropping, impressive and bittersweet. But, rather than dwell on what could have been, we must fully appreciate and cherish what Luke gave us; the joy that he brought to so many people.

Luke’s amazing mum Rachel added:

“Music was a great passion of Luke’s and through it he was blessed to meet or converse with many amazing people along the way, who encouraged him to flourish and embrace his passion. I will always be truly thankful to you all.”

What happened to Luke is truly heartbreaking, but we at The Pit have no intention of forgetting his vibrant talent, and we will forever cherish him as a friend, writer and artist. As a young man swimming through the choppy waters of life, relationships, work and self-love, I know how hard it can be. If you are struggling, I think the thing to remember more than anything else is that you are not alone. You are loved, you are needed.

Here is a link to the donations page for Young Minds. Please donate if you can. Most of all, I implore you to be kind. You never know what someone is going through.

Rest in power Luke. Listen to the fantastic trio of tracks below.

FORTE - UNRELEASED