Since releasing her debut album ‘Believer’ in 2021, LAU – real name Laura Fares – has gone from strength to strength creatively and artistically. Her growth and development as an artist are highlighted in her latest LP, ‘Digital Dream’, a collection that addresses moments and experiences that so many of us have had and will have in our own lives: love, heartbreak and friendship, to name just three. Here, she tells XSNoize where she finds inspiration for her music, reveals her favourite song on the new album, and shares her delight at playing in New York and California next year.
Who is LAU in five words?
I write 80’s infused Synthpop.
What would you say is your unique selling point as an artist?
I’m a drummer and producer turned singer, so I think I’m rhythmic when singing and composing. I love to include tons of harmonies in my songs. I draw inspiration from the golden era of pop: the 1980s.
Every band and artist is compared to a band or artist from the past—who do you compare yourself with, and do you mind said comparisons?
I’ve been compared to Pat Benatar and Gloria Estefan, and it is an absolute honour. I don’t mind at all, and they’re both awesome.
Who or what most inspires your music?
I am inspired by life situations, memories, love, heartache, and change. My lyrics are mostly autobiographical, and they often help me deal with a situation I have to process. It’s like my therapy, in a way.
Tell me a little about your new album, ‘Digital Dream’. Is there a particular theme or message that runs through the collection?
This album touches on love, attraction, heartache, technology and friendship. They are all situations I’ve found myself in, and they also portray appreciation for the people closest to me. But the album title ‘Digital Dream’ refers explicitly to the burnout we feel as musicians to ‘feed the monster’ that is social media, having to constantly create content to be seen and heard. It’s quite taxing, and we need to learn to switch off and step away from the computer/mobile phone at times. It’s a reflection on all the good and all the bad that technology and AI represent nowadays.
Which of the songs featured on the album are your favourites and why?
“High and Low” is a super pop song that nearly didn’t make it into the album, but I’m glad I included it in the end. People love it on my live sets (they usually join in with the clapping). It’s a simple but uplifting song and probably one of my favourites, as it’s fun to perform.
Can you describe the creative process? How long did writing and recording this album take, and how easy do you find those processes?
This album took two years in the making. I worked remotely with producers worldwide (USA, UK, Italy, Finland, Netherlands/Switzerland), which was great, but I can’t wait to meet them in person one day. That’s the good side of technology, you can write albums remotely 100% sending audio files or doing video calls. It was a long process, as I originally had an entire album written that I discarded, as I felt I could do better. So I started all over again. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I’m very grateful for how patient each producer was with me in this lengthy process.
Considering this is your third LP, how does this album showcase your growth as an artist?
I’ve mixed a couple of tracks on this album, a first on this solo project. I’ve added synths and percussion to some songs, returning to my producing days. I’m very proud of each song on this album, I was picky when choosing these final nine tracks and took my time to produce this record alongside each producer. I’ve also included various styles in the album, from nu-disco to pop to synthwave, representing me as an artist.
You’ve had plenty of positive coverage and comments from media outlets over the years, but what’s the nicest thing anyone has said or written about you from those you can recall?
I quite liked this quote by MIXMAG: “Despite its danceable neon-lit front, LAU’s music has a deep background that invites reflection.” I feel it’s pretty accurate as most of my songs are danceable, but they also have a deep meaning (and often sadness). I’m not shy about my music’s “crying at the dancefloor” vibes.
Given society’s ‘obsession’ with social media, how do you feel about the power and influence the likes of X and TikTok can and do have when it comes to helping an artist boost their profile and further their career? Do you enjoy being interactive and online, or is it something you accept as part of the job and our world?
I feel like it’s a necessary evil. Social media can make or break you nowadays. We all have to play the game to be seen, but we also need to learn to switch off at times. We can’t have social media taking over our lives; it’s unhealthy. Suddenly, musicians had to become content creators, which we never really signed up for. It’s ok, we do it (I do it), but it’s quite stressful being in an industry that constantly changes the rules, so we have to continually re-learn to market ourselves as independent artists with the newest trends, tools and platforms.
I’m not someone who gives up easily, so I feel I’m constantly learning new things every day. But if I’m honest, I would much prefer to use my energy to create bigger live shows and record albums/tours rather than filming and editing so much content for social media. The amount of time social media requires is immense. We’ll see where all that “digital dream” goes from here.
Do you have any shows coming up?
I have some shows in the States around April, and I can’t wait for them to come! I’ve toured the USA before with different projects and bands, but this will be my first time at LAU playing shows in California and New York.
The end of the year is fast approaching, so, looking back, what have been your particular highlights of 2024?
I recently did my first DJ set in over a decade (I used to be a DJ many moons ago), and it was great to see my friends and fans in Barcelona coming to support me. It was also my album launch, so it had double importance. I was a little nervous, as technology has changed a lot in recent years, but I love a challenge and had a blast! I also played an amazing show in Argentina in March with my full band, which was incredible. Great energy and a packed, sweaty room full of fans, friends and family singing the songs with me.
Finally, after a busy year, what can you tease about what 2025 has in store?
I’m preparing a deluxe version of the album with some exclusive new songs and some exciting remixes in the making. I’m planning to do some shows in Spain and the USA, and perhaps I’ll get to Argentina, too. We’ll see!
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