Montreal-born-and-raised singer/songwriter laye first floated onto the scene and released four tracks in 2018. laye’s film noir inspiration, ode to old school 70s horror movies, and gothic-inspired collages perfectly complement her sultry, alt-flavored pop, and guided her 2019 debut album lonesome, which was created over the course of four years with a slew of legendary pop and hip-hop producers, including Lauren Christy(Dua Lipa, Avril Lavigne),Federico Vindver (Jennifer Lopez, Lauryn Hill, G-Eazy, A$APRocky), Ben Harrison & Ibrahim Asmar (Rihanna, Rita Ora), Mike Wise (Ellie Goulding, Chainsmokers,Upsahl), Alex Hope(Troye Sivan), Pomo (Mac Miller,Anderson .Paak), FNZ (Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign,Megan Thee Stallion), and Joel Stouffer (bülow, Dragonette).
In 2022, laye returned with her release “I Could Die,” setting the stage for her new music in spring 2023. “blue” and “touching myself” are the first releases from the new song cycle and continue laye’s foray into the darker aspects of indie pop. Her sultry, playful vocals fuse a light, airy melody with signature somber lyrics, making her interior world sound simultaneously apocalyptic and cheery. Stay tuned for more music from laye in summer 2023.
“blue “is the first single from the new song cycle, released March 24. “blue” continues laye’s foray into the darker aspects of indie pop. Her sultry, playful vocals fuse a light, airy melody with signature somber lyrics, making her interior world sound simultaneously apocalyptic and cheery. “blue” was co-written by Cici Ward (Cheat Codes, Lil Huddy, GAYLE) with production helmed by Stevie Aiello (30 Seconds to Mars, Starset).
Stream blue https://laye.lnk.to/blueIA
laye’s talent for creating atmospheric pop music, never compromising on her vision or a solid hook, is on full display in the new music. For laye, making pop music is a big umbrella full of creative potential and opportunity. “I think people are really redefining what it means to be a pop artist today. When you hear ‘pop’ I think your mind goes to one specific type of song, but ‘pop’ is almost always a mix of genres, and it’s up to you to choose what you want to do with it,” she says.
As a singer and songwriter, laye is coming into her own and exploring the next chapter of her evolution as an artist. With over 11million global streams, and features in FASHION and Paper magazines, laye is one of our most exciting young pop artists, pursuing a vision all her own while creating beautiful, dystopian pop gems.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Hmmm, Bon Iver, Damien Rice, Daughter, SZA, King Princess, there’s also so many more artists I’m just not thinking of right now!
What about your music is rebellious, unconventional, or unusual?
In the past I would have said the visuals only because I’ve always wanted them to make others a bit uncomfortable, but I think I’m pretty tame this round of releases, visually (aside from “touching myself” haha). I’d say sonically the mix of genres I have happening in this next project feels different. It’s a blend of 90s, early 2000s rock, with a mix of my more singer-songwriter background and indie/alt-pop writing. It feels unusual and special.
Has your musical journey had a deliberate direction, or did it simply gradually evolve in whatever direction it found?
It’s gradually evolved over time, but there’s always been direction as well. I think I’ll always write sad music but the sound itself is now going in a different direction than the last project, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been about the songs. It’s still me, it’s even more so me. The music is meeting me where I’m at right now in my life. And I’ve just had the time to home in on my craft and what I really want to be doing and saying in the songs. And I think this next project will show that.
What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Any releases planned? Future gigs?
I can finally say without a doubt that people can expect music!!! I have consistent releases planned for the next few months which might be one of the best feelings ever, I haven’t had that since before COVID. It feels good knowing that I have the music carefully selected ahead of time, and that I get to continuously share it with you. And I’m already back in the studio writing the next project. I don’t plan on stopping.
What are your plans for any future releases?
I can say that the next [single] release was really the heart of this EP. It’s the one that things just felt like they finally clicked for me.
Are you planning any videos for your music?
This next single coming out in July will be the only song on the project accompanied with an actual music video.
Have you written songs for any other artists?
I have! I’ve co-written one with a group called Locals Only Sound, it’s called “Move With Me” (and it’s been out). Then more recently there’s one by Delilah Belle that I co-wrote with Jake Davis (who I did “I Could Die” with that I released last year). It’s called “Nothing Lasts Forever”, and it was her first music release, so that was pretty cool. I have a few others that haven’t been released, with other artists. It’s something I really want to dive into more if I move out to LA. I really do love writing, probably more than singing haha.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your current releases?
Dude, social media. Staying active on social media is a constant battle when I’m also trying to stay in a good headspace creatively. It’s also just tough as an up and coming artist, having the pressure fall mostly on numbers and social media engagement as opposed to the music you’re literally devoting all your time to. Obviously, social media is great too because it does give artists a tool to self-promote and I do want to take full advantage of that, but at the same time it can be daunting to balance both. And I find it tough setting boundaries for myself when it comes to letting the reactions/numbers dictate how I feel about my music as well.
Stream touching myself https://laye.lnk.to/touchingmyself
What is the most useless talent you have?
I can blow bubbles with my tongue. You make the bubble under your tongue and then move it onto your tongue, and you can blow it off and it floats…haha
If you were to write an autobiography, what would the title be?
“I’m tired of being lonely!” I don’t know, I’d want something cleverer though actually haha
You are a new addition to a crayon box. What colour would you be and why?
Ash gray cause I think that would look cool as a crayon, like little dots of darker gray within a lighter gray crayon. I would be the color of the contents of an ashtray! Or a forest green!
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
No and I’m still upset about it. I go through these episodes of wanting to purge everything I have and during one of those I got rid of my two favorite childhood stuffed animals and I haven’t recovered.
What would be the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?
If someone hand rolled me some sushi, I would be theirs.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Okay this might not make sense at all, but I’m going to say Mia Goth only because I keep seeing that crazy scene of her everywhere and that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. And also, because her eyebrows are so light so it looks like she has none like me and ya, I think it could work haha.
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