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Solving the Issue of Buried Crash Cymbals in the Mix

October 1, 2024

Crash cymbals often get buried in the mix, especially when using complex miking techniques like Glyn Johns, which balances close mics with overheads. While re-recording with higher cymbals may be a...

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GarageBand Hacks: Creating Professional-Sounding Tracks Without Expensive Plugins

October 1, 2024

GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...

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Solving the General MIDI Program Change Dilemma in Ableton

October 1, 2024

When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...

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Escaping 'Tutorial Hell': Stay Motivated and Actually Progress in Music Production

September 21, 2024

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Should You Write Music or Lyrics First? Solutions from Famous Creators

September 20, 2024

One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...

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How to Plan the Perfect Release Day for Your Single or Album

September 20, 2024

Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...

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Mastering the Low End: Compression Tips for a Tight Mix

September 20, 2024

When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...

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How to Turn a Bedroom into a Professional Home Studio on a Budget

September 19, 2024

For many aspiring musicians, the dream of creating a professional-quality home studio seems out of reach due to costs and space constraints. However, with the right strategies and tools, it's...

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Remote Music Collaboration: Tools and Tips for Seamless Production

September 18, 2024

Collaborating on music remotely has become more common, but as you’ve experienced, it can be a challenge to get it right. Audio latency, control sensitivity, and lack of real-time feedback are...

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How to Build a Loyal Fanbase Using Social Media in 2024

September 18, 2024

In today’s digital age, building a loyal fanbase is essential for musicians to thrive. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for connecting directly with fans, sharing music, and...

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Best Apps and Websites for Creating Instrumentals When You Don’t Play Instruments

September 18, 2024

As a songwriter, it can be frustrating to have melodies or lyrics in your head but no way to bring them to life without instrumental skills. Thankfully, with modern technology, there are apps and...

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How to Match Chords to Your Singing – Overcoming the Struggle

September 18, 2024

Creating music often feels like an intricate puzzle. You might have a melody that you love, but when it comes to pairing it with chords, you feel stuck. If you're in this situation, you're not alone.

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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.