Lava La Rue - STARFACE

‘STARFACE’ is a conceptual psychedelic sci-fi romance album, centered around the narrative of an eponymous gender-fluid musical space alien sent to planet Earth to study the reasons why humans are so self-destructive. This thematic exploration adds an intriguing layer to the album, promising listeners an immersive experience that goes beyond the boundaries of conventional music storytelling.

This album could only have been born from Lava, a one-of-a-kind artist with little interest in retreading familiar ground. “The thing about debuting young is that I’ve gone through puberty publicly,” they reflect. “I feel like now I’m debuting my actual career. With albums, the conversation’s different.” They’re setting out a true statement of intent. Creatively, they’re thinking ahead, too. “I’m just pushing everything,” they say, plainly. There’s always the impulse to try, to strive. There’s always the plan. “I don’t know what the reason to life is, but all I know is that in this time I want to learn as much as possible and live as many lives as possible. And maybe this album can help me do that.”

‘STARFACE’ is scheduled for release in July 2024. As Lava La Rue’s debut LP, it is undoubtedly set to make a significant impact on the music landscape, solidifying their status as an ever-growing artist to watch in 2024.

A defining talent on London’s music scene – and a founding member of NiNE8 Collective – West London native Lava La Rue is a true creative powerhouse. Equally recognised for their artistic vision, Lava’s directorial work has ended up with them being co-signed by the Tate Modern, heading talks at the BFI and creatively directing a Live TV performance for the 2023 Brit Awards. Since their 2018 online debut performing single “Widdit” on Colors Berlin they’ve released four critically-acclaimed EPs, each navigating their upbringing and influences that range from Gorillaz to the Clash and David Bowie. In 2022 with the genre bending “Hi Fidelity EP” Lava began transforming their sound into something more guitar driven, a transitional project that features collaborations with Foster The People’s Isom Innis and Biig Piig. “I wanted to drop one last project that acts as the bridge between the Lava that debuted, the one everyone knows, and the person I’m becoming,” they explained, and this year they’re finally fully diving into a blend of alternative indie and psychedelic rock; binding together a generation of listeners who’ve long sought something queer and gear shifting in that space. Lava La Rue’s long awaited debut album STARFACE is an epic Sci-Fi inspired adventure that at its lyrical core is concerned about what makes us human. Exploring various genre influences from funk, to dance, to alt rock, and featuring collaborations from Cuco, Audrey Nuna, tendai, and more, Lava La Rue has marked their arrival, with their eyes set on world domination.