Written by Sophie Wyatt
West Londoner Lava La Rue is back with their latest EP ‘Hi-Fidelity‘. While Lava’s voice and overall style is clearly recognisable since their debut back in…, the creative’s sound has leant towards a more upbeat undertone within this project. Aside from being a designer, music producer and founding member of alt-hip-hop collective NiNE8, Lava has been hard at work producing her latest EP. Lava has certainly already solidified her space within the UK-alt music scene, through not only a number of EP’s but also a steady stream of singles and show throughout the years she has been in the industry. But she continues to surprise us with new projects that show her multi-faceted creativity.
Kicking off the EP, track ‘Don’t Trip‘ uses a strong beat and lo-fi sounds to compliment both Lava’s rapping, singing and their verses that’s pitches have been altered between what sounds like a choir break.
Leading on dreamlike into the next track, we took a serious liking to Lava’s second track, ‘Cry Baby‘. Opening with soulful vocals and easing into a hard verse and funky beat – you can’t listen to this song without nodding your head. Close your eyes and you’re listening to your headphones, walking down a street in West London with the sun blaring down on you as it sets. It makes me feel nostalgic for a summer that hasn’t even finished yet.
The third track ‘Don’t Come Back‘, immediately brings the tone down to a lower level. A deep bassline and an edge to Lava’s voice show a variety of sounds within the EP. While Lava sings and raps about how ‘we can’t be together‘, the song transports you to the end a night – the end of a relationship. ‘And I don’t think I’m having any fun no more‘, allows the listener to realise the parallel between this track and the previous two.
Fellow NiNE8 member BiigPiig makes an appearance on the EP’s fourth and title-track ‘Hi-Fidelity‘, adding a layered sound in terms of vocals. With an instant lift in the back beat and general sounds, Lava’s smooth, low falcetto rapping blending perfectly with her higher-pitched singing notes. BiigPiig’s verse stands out with her unmistakable voice, as they lead the song to its last chorus.
Finally, Lava ends on the EP’s final track ‘Motel‘. Diving deep into their vulnerable thoughts and feelings, this track tackles Lava’s thoughts around image and self-perception. The contrast of their rapping and singing almost sounding like its two voices trying to agree on the same thing. A heavy guitar solo breaks up the conversation for a second, and brings the song to a more upbeat, euphoric level.
Ethereal vocals, thought-provoking lyrics and what we can only describe as a of lo-fi-alt-hip-hop, this EP is almost certain to be in the headphones of music lovers around the country this summer.
