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Songwriter's Block: Inspiration Tuning in From Around the World

January 26, 2023

Writer’s block is real, and it’s not just authors, but also songwriters and composers. Thinking of top hit songs can be difficult, so how do the pros do it? Where do they get their inspiration from?

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Arcane: How A Video Game Adaptation Ended Up With A Banger Soundtrack

January 26, 2023

What does a TV show based on a video game and the music industry have in common? Near the end of 2021, Arcane took the world by storm after debuting on Netflix. Not only did it dazzle us with its...

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How Black Pink Should Negotiate Their New Contract with YG Entertainment

January 23, 2023

As the contract between Blackpink and YG Entertainment nears its end, fans of the popular South Korean girl group are wondering if the group will renew their contract with the agency...

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Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

January 19, 2023

Rapper J. Cole has recently announced that he had been struggling with writer's block, but found a way to break free from it by using a type beat from Youtube music producer BVTMAN's YouTube...

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Hania Rani: A Virtuoso in the World of Classical and Electronic Music

January 19, 2023

Hania Rani is a Polish pianist and composer whose music has been described as "hauntingly beautiful" and "evocative." She is known for her unique blend of classical and electronic music, which she...

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Ryan Tedder’s Studio Review: Writing Three Songs From Scratch

January 16, 2023

Ryan Tedder is a highly accomplished and sought-after music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work with a wide range of artists including: Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and OneRepublic...

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Quentin Miller only got paid $30,000 for writing 6 Drake songs.

January 6, 2022

Drake's ghostwriter controversy has been a topic of conversation since the rapper's feud with Meek Mill in 2015. Quentin Miller, a lesser-known rapper from Atlanta, was named as the ghostwriter....

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Timbaland’s Beatmaking Masterclass Review: A Class on Feeling the Flow

December 28, 2022

Many artists are using their personal brand and influence to educate artists, from beginners to fellow professionals. Timbaland has partnered with Masterclass to teach musicians how to make unique...

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Rina Sawyama -- The Voice of a Genre-Spanning Pop Star

December 7, 2022

Rina Sawayama has burst into the consciousness of queer music listeners in recent years. My first time listening to her work was Cherry, a track that is bubbly ...

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YouTube Announces New “Creator Music” Platform

October 4, 2022

In the wake of Tiktok’s rapid expansion and growing dominance in the short-form video market, YouTube has felt the pressure to adapt to keep up with the shifting demands of its audience...

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Deep Dive: How Conan Gray Writes His Songs

October 5, 2022

Conan Gray is an American YouTuber turned singer-songwriter, most well-known for his songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. Throughout his career, Conan has written songs like “Crush Culture”...

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Phoebe Bridgers: A Deep Dive into Songwriting

October 17, 2022

Phoebe Bridgers is an American songwriter, singer, and producer who has, in recent years, gained mainstream recognition with the release of her sophomore album “Punisher” in 2020...

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Lava La Rue Announces Debut Album ‘STARFACE’

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Lava La Rue, former Dork cover star and acclaimed London-based artist, has announced the release of their debut album, STARFACE, set to drop on June 21st, 2024, via Dirty Hit. This announcement is accompanied by the release of a new single, “Push N Shuv,” offering a tantalizing glimpse into the much-anticipated album.

A Five-Year Journey Culminates in 'Push N Shuv'

The lead single, “Push N Shuv,” is a track that Lava La Rue wrote five years ago, pre-COVID, at the age of 21. Reflecting on the song's journey, Lava shares, “I wrote ‘Push N Shuv’ 5 years ago before COVID (the vocals you hear on the song are still my 21-year-old voice) and I knew when I wrote it in 2019 that if I made an album, that’s what I wanted it to sound like. It’s literally been years in the making and honing in on that sound and it only feels fitting that this is the song that I announce the album with.”

The single, produced by Karma Kid (known for his work with Dua Lipa, Aminé, and Shygirl), pays affectionate homage to iconic ‘80s new-wavers Tom Tom Club. It features a bubbly funk groove reminiscent of “Genius of Love,” with colorful instrumentals including flute loops, old-school synths, subtle horns, and an active bass line anchoring the track’s tumultuous romance.

Visual and Sonic Extravaganza

Accompanying the single is a vibrant music video co-directed by Lava La Rue and Claryn Chong, produced by MrMr Films. The video embraces a ‘70s/‘80s aesthetic, evoking infomercials and late-night talk shows through a retro-grainy lens. It culminates with Lava’s STARFACE alter ego donning a helmet and reaching out towards a spaceship, hinting at a continuing story with a “TO BE CONTINUED” message.

The Concept Behind STARFACE

STARFACE is a conceptual psychedelic sci-fi romance album that follows the journey of a gender-fluid musical space alien sent to Earth to study human self-destructiveness. This thematic exploration adds depth to the album, promising an immersive experience beyond conventional music storytelling.

Lava La Rue describes STARFACE as their most personal and ambitious project to date, bridging their past and future musical identities. The album is expected to resonate with fans of alternative indie and psychedelic rock, featuring collaborations with artists such as Cuco, Audrey Nuna, and tendai.

Lava La Rue's Artistic Evolution

Lava La Rue's artistic vision extends beyond music; they have directed creative projects for the Tate Modern, headed talks at the BFI, and creatively directed a live TV performance for the 2023 Brit Awards.

With STARFACE, Lava La Rue is set to embark on an epic sci-fi-inspired adventure, exploring what it means to be human through a diverse range of genres, from funk and dance to alt-rock. This debut album marks a significant milestone in their career, signaling their arrival as a major force in the music industry.