Listen: Saint — Ladysse

Having previously appeared on BlackPlastic with her chugging anthem, Heartbreak Hollywood, and the warm blanket of Dopamine, Ladysse is once again back on these pages, and in my ears.

Where Ladysse, real name Stephanie Lauren, has generally stuck out for St Vincent style sophistication, here on Saint she is channeling something different. Saint feels akin to the quiet-loud-quiet of Kim Deal meets the modern-alt-rock of Metric. Opening with some seriously low-slung bass guitar, kick-drum and snares, the song initially leans heavily into Stephanie’s attitude-heavy vocal delivery.

It is Saint’s chorus that really lodges itself in my memory, however, kicked off by Lauren crying “I give up…” as the instruments let loose around her. Fuzzy guitars join that bass guitar to create a wall of noise, and the drums keep kicking like a hole punch sliding in-and-out of my mind. The whole performance wreaks of confidence, Ladysse on top of her game and throwing down so much more than expected on this track.

Listen: Dopamine - Ladysse

Listen: Dopamine - Ladysse

Dopamine arrives like a warm blanket, Ladysse’s vocals hushed against bubbling bass and soft melodic synths. If the verse is a blanket, the chorus is a rush - an upbeat hook that lands a vocal about wanting to “drown in happy” with exactly the sublime darkness you would expect.

Dopamine is a song about the need to constantly chase the high of feeling satisfied… Something that can almost become it’s own driver of unhappiness.

The song was written in Nashville by Ladysse, real name Stephanie Lauren, in collaboration with producers Andrew Hansen and Aaron Ruiz (aka Skyline Brigade). Together they have created something that claims to land at the midpoint between Robyn’s dance sound and St Vincent’s attitude. Lauren’s likeness to St Vincent was something I touched on when Ladysse last appeared on BlackPlastic.co.uk. Overall Dopamine sounds wonderfully fun and approachable, but ultimately has something real to say.

Talking about the song, Lauren says:

“I’ve had a lot of people in my life turn to drugs or substances of some kind to deal with depression and mental health. It’s so hard to watch the ones you care about go down this road. I’ve definitely had my battles with depression and mental health, honestly who hasn’t? I think the message I want this song to bring is that it’s ok to reach out when you need help. It’s ok to be alone and try to deal with your thoughts if that’s what you need. What’s not ok is to turn to things that will ultimately cause more harm than good.”

Listen: Heartbreak Hollywood - Ladysse

Ladysse is the name for the new musical project from Stephanie Lauren, launched from the ashes of her previous act, Golden Youth. The focus for Ladysse is creating music that sounds like her personality - outgoing, cheerful and a little bit weird.

Heartbreak Hollywood is about a city that can ultimately swallow people up, “It’s basically a playful way to stand up for friends who have fallen into the drama and stresses that can stem from the lights of Hollywood”, says Lauren.

With an appropriately cinematic feel, Heartbreak Hollywood sounds like late night drives down Mulholland Drive and long days waiting for your moment to come as you dry up in all that west coast sun. If St. Vincent had a post-Electroclash period, this is what it would sound like. It’s a feeling Lauren addresses in her description of the intention behind the song:

“I used very playful and descriptive words in Heartbreak Hollywood. I try and paint a vivid picture of what comes to my mind. I wanted people to get a feel of the dim lit bars of perfect people enjoying fake conversations haha! It sounds so dreary but that’s the point! Behind the glamour, show and beauty of the west coast dreamland is a lot of struggle, competition and crushed dreams. I wanted people to feel the darkness in this as well as the hope that no matter what your struggle is, you’re not the only one.”