We caught up with our favourite pop multi-hyphenate-creative-genius, Lava La Rue, to find out about their 2024.
Lava, hello! What have been your defining moments of 2024? Is your album 'STARFACE' at the top of the list?
Yeah, particularly touring a “concept” album is deffo top of the list - it completely actualised this narrative I had sat with in the studio for a few years… seeing it out in the world and people coming to the shows dressed as the protagonist character from the album is so cool.
What’s been the most unexpected inspiration for you this year?
Watching pub cover bands that have just as much stage presence / charisma as arena touring artists. Also, the creative bond between Ti West and Mia Goth, Julia Fox’s biography, the Japanese film Perfect Days.
Looking back, what was your biggest lesson from 2024?
That my biggest source of happiness is staying connected to my underground UK DIY creative scene. I think as my career has grown, there have been moments where I’ve been travelling, working in LA, fulfilling contractual commitments, and it's nice, the fancy flights, the posh hotel rooms… but I quickly become homesick for the London warehouse parties, making creative friends over pub karaoke, pools and pints, hopping on the train for last-minute raves in Bristol. Taking in all the amazing fashion strutting down Portobello Road. It’s so important for my mental health to stay close to it all. To be grounded I need to be on the ground, and I might have forgotten that entering this year.
If you could revisit any concert you attended this year, which one would it be?
Atashari Gakko in North Greenwich last July. mary in the junkyard secret set at Crows Nest, Glastonbury.
What do you think has been the biggest music-related news story of 2024?
Chappell Roan discussing boundaries between “fans” has been really important, and the discourse made me realise how dehumanised musicians can become. Some people think that if you want to be successful, then you can't complain about being stalked / harassed. It’s really toxic how the media / social media creates a perspective where some fans can’t separate the artist from the product and deserve to be able to clock out of work like anyone else.
Where will you be this Christmas?
Tokyo with my chosen family.
What's a non-music project you’re excited about for 2025?
Been working on some sick LAVALAND clothing designs as the track jackets I put out this year have gone down.
Taken from the December 2024 / January 2025 issue of Dork.
