Lava La Rue has released their highly anticipated debut album STARFACE, with focus track “Better” ft. Cuco, out now. It’s an expansive indie album, where Lava brings in multiple featured artists from across the globe, blends and bends genres and co-directs an entire universe of visuals.
“Making this album felt like making a movie,” they say. “It felt like I’d assembled a team that I’d wanted to assemble for ages.” STARFACE is not only a concept album but a reintroduction to Lava as an artist. All roads have led them here. With collaborations with the likes of Cuco, tendai, Audrey Nuna, Nine8, Feux, So!YoON!, yunè pinku, and bbsway, Lava even went on to curate the incredible “Change”. Following a chance meeting, the legendary icon, Courtney Love, offered her voice for a spoken word intro, while Rhian and Hester of Wet Leg provided BV’s.
Following the success of the previous singles “Poison Cookie” and “LOVEBITES,” the highly anticipated project lands with the news of two further tour dates in America - supplementing the STARFACE… Live on EARTH, which will now see Lava playing six shows. Later this year, Lava will also join Remi Wolf on her “Big Ideas” tour in the USA this Autumn.
STARFACE… LIVE ON EARTH TOUR
Tickets here & via Lava La Rue (lavalarueofficial.com)
30 October - Manchester Academy 3 - Manchester
01 November - Mama Roux's - Birmingham
03 November - Strange Brew - Bristol
06 November - Bush Hall - London
On “Better”, falsetto vocals flit over horns, hand claps and crisp live drums, adorned with vocals from Mexican-American musician Cuco. The single transports you back in time towards the 1970s. Lava reframes the idea of what an alternative album can be. “I approached it in the way I learned through coming up in NiNE8: making it feature-heavy,” they say. “I’ve gone out of my way to get a featured artist that is a part of every continent or culture that’s influenced my music taste, from alt K-pop in Korea, to psychedelic Chicano music, to the Irish music scene, to my London family.”
Lava sees STARFACE as a group effort. “The whole project is such a labour of love, even if that sounds corny,” they say, grinning. “Everyone got to indulge in their biggest musical fantasies.” They joke that they scouted musicians for STARFACE “the way you would in a heist movie”, moulding it into shape in studios across south London, west London and LA. The album sees Lava express themselves with more confidence than ever, beautifully deploying the cross-genre references that make STARFACE so vivid.
In the Spring of 2024, Lava La Rue made their TV debut on Jools Holland, performing the fan favorite “Push N Shuv.” This performance marked a significant milestone in Lava La Rue’s career, showcasing their unique talent to a wider audience and further building anticipation for the forthcoming album.
‘STARFACE’ is a groundbreaking project that pushes the boundaries of conventional music storytelling. Lava La Rue’s unique artistry and bold creative vision are evident throughout the album, making it a must-listen for 2024. With themes of love, humanity, and self-discovery, ‘STARFACE’ is poised to resonate with a diverse audience, solidifying Lava La Rue's place as a formidable force in the music industry.
Lava’s debut record is the journey of the gender-fluid musical space alien protagonist sent to Earth. The narrative intertwines personal experiences with speculative fiction, offering listeners a deep dive into Lava La Rue’s imaginative universe.
'STARFACE' Tracklist:
A Star Journey Begins…
Better ft Cuco
Manifestation Manifesto
Push N Shuv
STARFACE’s Descent ft tendai
Aerial Head
Poison Cookie ft Audrey Nuna
Friendship’s Death (1987)
FLUORESCENT / Beyond Space ft NiNE8 & Feux
INTERPLANETARY HOPPIN ft So!YoON!
LOVEBITES
CHANGE
Humanity
Second Hand Sadness ft yunè pinku
Shell Of You
Sandown Beach
Celestial Destiny ft bb sway
