Last summer we were introduced to a young songwriter and artist with a refreshing sense of depth, melody, mystique and musical ability combined.
The single no name was organic, unplugged and profound, while also proving atmospheric, and deeply vulnerable. Its censored title was intriguing, and both the lyrics and these cascading voices presented a sense of being fully immersed in unfiltered thoughts and feelings. It was a purity of style that elevated a purity of writing, and the song was incredibly distinct, while maintaining a refreshing sort of humility and heart.
This summer, the artist behind the music – Lauralie – releases the EP but…why?, and, gratefully, it’s everything fans might hope for.
“Been dead for about three or four years now. You moved to my town and the colour just flooded in.”
The project but…why? begins with no name, setting the mood as well as raising the bar from the start, and afterwards, a boy next door is a joy to fall into.
Lauralie’s voice is modest and distinct as ever, and here we get tumbling rhythms, those same almost dissonant, unorthodox melodies, but which engage and satisfy regardless, and another story both revealing and strangely relatable.
The tempo is up, the cascading voices return, along with a level of optimism – not least of all in the excitable build up and harmonised notes that ring out for the rhythmically impassioned final third.
Next we get something like jazz-kissed indie-pop – keys and bass resounding with warmth, effectively contrasting the ache and scorn of the lyrics. you never cared is brilliant, interesting and evocative, again blending major and minor key traits for that mysterious uncertainty and mood.
The song is poignant, vocally bold and with a live-band aura that urges you to seek out a live show. The questions, the reflections, the toxicity and the overcoming, all feels again powerfully relatable, but refreshingly well-framed. The layers intertwine and collide as things build, another key trait of the Lauralie sound, but once more, the diversity is mighty – the sudden solo guitar distortion soulful during the song’s latter half.
The energy peaks, utilising that juxtaposition, before mellowing out again for the more dreamy tones of why – a perfect closing song, and a fine testament to the artistic variety and audience awareness of Lauralie, both when writing songs and arranging them within a conceptually threaded playlist.
Alternative melodies and picking, a quirky rhythm, a meandering voice and supporting choir-like fullness on occasion – something like Imogen Heap amidst a more lo-fi, ethereal and modern alt-pop realm, with a mild kind of darkness, but also, a subtle guiding light in both lyric and performance.
but…why? is wonderful, in short – self-explanatory but not, focused and free; a multitude of moments presenting the complexity of feelings and relationships in a bold and beautiful way. This closing song again lets the passion and layers collide and culminate, amidst this subtly unique soundscape, for a haunting crescendo that leaves you keen to replay the whole project once again.
Just twenty-one years old and already with the introspection, natural voice and substance to highlight her own ideal fusion of production, songwriting and performance. Lauralie’s music delivers a solo venture that’s rewarding, and a breath of fresh air to escape into.
Download or stream but…why?. Find Lauralie on Instagram, Facebook & her Website.
