WATCH: Lala Lala – ‘Water Over Sex’

Stop-motion animation, personal anguish and drifting lo-fi sounds permeate the new visuals for Lala Lala‘s latest single ‘Water Over Sex’. The track is taken from her upcoming album The Lamb, released on September 28th via Hardly Art.

Based in Chicago, Lala Lala (aka Lillie West) says the new track is based on a paranoid feeling that any “good fortune” she encountered would be “subsequently taken away” to “balance the scales” after a home invasion. Whilst this sounds like a sad premise, Lillie’s music feels far from melancholy with its jangly guitar sounds and dreamy vocals.

The video for ‘Water Over Sex’ was co-directed by Matthew James-Wilson and Toronto-based illustrator Ginette Lapalme. Matthew explains the video’s inception further: “I know Ginette from the comics scene in Toronto and, since Lillie is a fan (with her stickers on her guitar case and a few tattoos of her drawings), I wanted to work on an animated music video with her for the new album. We spent a week straight shooting using fabric, photocopies, Ginette’s collection of miniatures and knick-knacks, and stuff we found at 99 cent stores in Chinatown. The video follows a lamb doll (which Ginette made) continually daydreaming about the objects around her while she tries to live a relaxing life. We wanted to sort of indirectly reference the conflict in the song about how your lifestyle changes after you quit drinking. Since we all live in three different cities and couldn’t film Lillie for it, I asked Lillie to send over webcam footage of her singing the song that we could animate over.”

Originally from London, Lillie moved with her family to Los Angeles, where she spent her teenage years and later to Chicago. She started Lala Lala as a way to communicate things she felt she could never say out loud; touching on issues like intense paranoia, deaths of loved ones, and re-examinations of existing relationships.

‘Water Over Sex’ is another exploration of some of these intensely relatable themes. Watch the video for it below and follow Lala Lala on Facebook for more updates.

Pre-order Lala Lala’s new album The Lamb here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

LISTEN: Arc Iris – ‘$GNMS’

Ahead of the release of their third album Icon of Ego on October 12th, Providence’s Arc Iris have shared their new single ‘$GNMS’. The band have carefully crafted analog sounds and seamless vocals to create a complete reinterpretation of ‘Money Gnomes’ – a track taken from their debut self-titled album.

Originally an eight-piece rock orchestra, Arc Iris have overcome industry adversity and line-up changes to become the band they are today. Comprised of lead vocalist Jocie Adams, keyboardist and sample artist Zach Tenorio-Miller, and drummer Ray Belli; Arc Iris create dynamic rhythms and catchy melodies that captivate and soothe their ears of their listeners.

Their third album, Icon of Ego interrogates the notions of celebrity, fame, and idol worship, which the band explore through both their music and their theatrical performance style. Displaying an array of costumes, flare, and light rigs, enhanced by choreographed dance moves, Arc Iris live performances are always a spectacle.

Listen to ‘$GNMS’ below and follow Arc Iris on Facebook for more updates.

Pre-order Arc Iris’ Icon of Ego here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

WATCH: Bugeye – ‘Is This Love?’

Having already received praise and airplay from the likes of Radio X’s John Kennedy and BBC Radio, ‘Is This Love?’ is the new single from Croydon’s (and our) favourite Disco Punks Bugeye.

Accompanied by a homemade psychedelic new video, ‘Is This Love?’ is a twisted play on the theme of love, taking inspiration from Donna Summer’s ’80s club anthem ‘I Feel Love’. Racing with raging, synth-driven hooks and a fierce punk grit, it’s a colourful, and completely infectious, funk fuelled anthem. Guaranteed to get you up and moving on first listen, ‘Is This Love?’ showcases Bugeye at their most animated, with the soaring vocals of front woman Angela Martin at their most powerful, with shades of the likes of Gossip’s Beth Ditto.

Watch the vibrant new video for ‘Is This Love?’ here:

Catch Bugeye live:

15th September – The Camden Mix Up, The Good Mixer, London (single launch)
22nd September – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
28th September – The Finsbury, London
18th October – Lady Luck Bar, Canterbury
27th October – Oxfam Gig, Camden

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Video Premiere: KOSCHKA – ‘The Flood’

No newcomer to the music scene, and already the lead singer of indie-electro quartet Nausica, Berlin-based artist KOSCHKA has now announced her debut album – a collection containing a combination of originals and re-arrangements of classical German songs.

Taken from the upcoming album, new single ‘The Flood’ oozes a sweeping grandeur and haunting, majestic power. Inspired by themes of ephemeral love, acceptance and regret, it flows with twinkling keys as the impressive range of KOSCHKA’s resonating vocals soar across a luscious soundscape with an effervescent grace. Casting its spell over you in an instant, ‘The Flood’ is a truly spellbinding slice of poignant alt-pop, now with stirring visuals to match.

Of inspiration behind her writing, KOSCHKA explains:

“… I became mesmerised by Berlin’s spirit and started writing down everything I observed. Listening through the rich culture of classical songs and enjoying life, I began to start each day at my acoustic piano and just record instantly. No overthinking, just playing. I discovered a new way of composing; to tell relatable tales with a timeless character. Poetic, scary, uncertain, remarkable, direct, fragile and strong.”

Watch the mesmerising new video for ‘The Flood’, for the first time, here:

‘The Flood’ is out now via Part Du Decor Records.