LAL is a Toronto-based collective of musicians representing Uganda, Bangladesh, Barbados, and India featuring vocalist Rosina Kazi, laptop musician Nicholas "Murr" Murray, and bassist Ian de Sousa.[1] The group's sound fuses South-Asian roots, West Indian fruits, and melancholic vocals with jazz and hip hop influences, down tempo grooves, broken soul, and electro. Their song lyrics are socially conscious poetry.[2]
LAL | |
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| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Website | lalforest |
History edit
LAL formed in 1998.[3] LAL has produced four studio albums, including Corners (2002), and Warm Belly High Power (2004), which was named the best soul album of 2004 by Exclaim!.[4]
LAL have also performed in a variety of festivals and venues across Canada, Europe, and Pakistan. They received support from the Canada Council for the Arts for composing and recording in 2006/2007. LAL's third album is Deportation;[5] the album featured 20 guest artists.[6]
LAL released the album Find Safety in 2016.[3] LAL announced the release of a new album titled Meteors Could Come Down which will release on 6 November 2020.[7]
Discography edit
References edit
- ^ Sylvester, Daniel (3 May 2012). "LAL". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017.
- ^ "LAL Returns with a Passionately Political Sound, and Yuka Introduces Mighty Vocals". Torontoist, By Ryan B. Patrick
- ^ a b ">>> LAL Find Safety". NOW Toronto, by Benjamin Boles 27 April 2016
- ^ "Toronto Quartet Lal Dodges Trip-Hop Label". straight.com. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
- ^ Rayner, Ben (22 May 2008). "LAL shines a light on darkness". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
- ^ "Lal The shape-shifting Toronto group finds its focus 14 years in". Now Toronto, by Benjamin Boles 17 May 2012
- ^ Gregory, Allie (20 August 2020). "LAL Announce New Album 'Meteors Could Come Down'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ Sylvester, Daniel (27 April 2016). "LAL Find Safety". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017.
- ^ "'The world is not safe, so let's create our own spaces': Toronto band LAL finds power in community". CBC.ca. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017.