Music Industry News

Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Lola unveils her latest single, ‘Under’, an ethereal call that blends the ambient spirit of ‘90s trip-hop with desert-tinged soundscapes. Exploring the tension between yearning and uncertainty, an enduring theme in her work, ‘Under’ captures the feeling of inertia, anchored by a dark driving rhythm.

Self-produced and written by Lola, ‘Under’ emerged from a moment of personal solitude and unease. “I was feeling very alone and somewhat nihilistic, wondering what my life might look like if I couldn’t catch the dreams I’m chasing,” she shares. To bring live textures to her electronic production, Lola collaborated with local musicians Kédu Carlö (Carly Gill and Jess Penson), who added drums and piano. Lola turned to Tiare Kelly’s sitar to seal her enchantment. “The track needed something to take it to an otherworldly place. Tiare plays with such skill and reverence, and it made the track feel almost magical in its final form,” Lola reflects.

‘Under’ is Lola’s third release this year, following the success of ‘Portal’ and ‘True’. Each single has highlighted her versatility as an artist, with ‘Portal’ finding a strong foothold on alternative radio across Aotearoa, including a peak at number 4 on the Alternative Radio Scope Charts. Outside of her solo work, Lola takes on a production role for alt-pop artist Isla Noon, folk-pop’s Toy Shaw, and the experimental dance duo Kédu Carlö. She’s also deepened her creative collaboration with stylish and designer Zheyi Ruan, most recently scoring the i-D finalist film ‘Revenant’. With each new release, Lola continues to study in contrasts, weaving together the transcendent with the visceral, the delicate with the unyielding.

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Photo credit: JJ Farry