Voir recently had the pleasure to interview Sophie Castillo, an up-and-coming Latina indie musician before she jetted off to Miami, on her US tour. Sophie grew to fame after a viral TikTok of her song went viral and since has opening for the likes of J Balvin last summer. Sophie draws upon her Latina heritage and London upbringing to fuel her musical artistry as well as being influenced by singers like Lana Del Rey and indie 2000s rock bands. She has an EP coming out soon – the first single will be released on 28^th February, followed by the full album in April.

One of the big things about your music is how you are inspired by your multicultural background. How has being a Londoner influenced your artistry?

Oh, I love that question as most people ask me about my Latin heritage! Growing up in London I listened to all the British music we like as teenagers especially rock and indie bands like The Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines and The Kooks. It was the Tumblr days, that indie-sleaze era. But that at home we always had Latin music playing. 

Lana Del Rey has been my favourite singer since I was 13 when she released the Video Games music video – everyone was talking about it at school and I become obsessed with her lyrics.

You started singing at just three years old and performed in musical theatre early on. Do you think your theatrical background has shaped your stage presence as a performer? 

I did musical theatre from 5 to 13 and it really helped me train my ear through singing in a choir and practising harmonies. This has been essential when I am in the studio and am recording vocal production and harmonies in my songs. In terms of performance, it helps me views things from a more theatrical perspective in how to bring my performance to life. I can be a bit of a critic of myself but it’s important to analyse your performances and really put on a show.

What was it like gaining recognition through TikTok? How has this platform shaped your audience and the way they engage with your music?

TikTok for me has been a total game changer. It kickstarted my career. It was the most ridiculous TikTok that went viral. I was using a Cap Cut template and it was all blurry. I just posted it, like whatever, then it went super viral! It was the start of my career and helped me connect with lots of people all over the world. I was really D-I-Ying the whole music thing before that video.

You often blend languages in your songs, seamlessly switching between Spanish and English. Was this inspired by other Latina artists or was it a natural reflection of growing up in a bilingual household?

It is quite symbolic of my life to be honest. When I do English and Spanish it feels quite authentic to me, and it embodies this fluidity between culture and language. I quite like to make a point of using both languages – I feel more engaged with my audience. I prefer a Spanish chorus because the words have a nice and lively sound to them, and then a verse or pre-chorus in English.

How do you want people to experience your music? Where do you imagine them listening to it, and what kind of emotions do you hope to evoke?

I would definitely say in the car. My fans send me a lot of pictures of them listening in the car. I get so much inspiration when I’m travelling, on the tube or on the bus. I think because our lives are so busy, travelling is the only time we get to properly listen to music. 

You’ve already worked with some amazing artists, but who is your dream collaborator? 

100% Lana Del Rey. I love her so much. That would be a dream come true.

You are a key musician in the indie Latina music scene, but how do you see it evolving and changing over time and you yourself within it?

I find myself going through a bit of a sound evolution – I am getting older and more confident, and I’ve really enjoyed making some darker pop songs. I think major Spanish and Latina artists will start tapping more into salsa than reggaeton. I want to help bring more Latin genres to the front like salsa and bolero. 

If you weren’t a singer, what path do you think you would have pursued?

I really like fashion. During lockdown I was making clothes and selling them at home. I would have loved to have been a fashion designer. If not, then a doctor. I find medicine really interesting, and I love tv shows set in hospitals. I was watching The Good Doctor recently and loved it.

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Lana Del Rey – ‘The Grants’

Angelic Lana dwells on death, memory, and family on the third single from her forthcoming album Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. In the touching single Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, aka Lana, carries memories of her loved ones both past and present promising that she will always take them with her – even into the afterlife. Her previous single ‘A&W’ has already become a sensation on TikTok with all the it girls lip-syncing “Your mom called…” whilst showing off the best coquette fits. The wait for Lana’s ninth studio album is almost: we’ll be able to stream it on 24^th March. At 16 tracks long and a whopping 77 minutes, it will be a treat for all Lana lovers. Until then you know we’ll have ‘The Grants’, ‘A&W’, and the title track on repeat.

JPEGMAFIA x Danny Brown – ‘Lean Beef Patty’

On the first taste of the Peggy X Danny Brown collab album, Scaring The Hoes Vol. 1, the rappers are taking no prisoners. ‘Lean Beef Patty’, the title referring to the username of a popular online fitness content creator, discusses some of the darker aspects of internet culture with a scathing yet teasing tone hitting out at Drake, Elon Musk, Lil Yachty, Hulk Hogan, and Kanye. Fans have taken to the comment section to voice their praises of the experimental hip hop track that twists a sample of P. Diddy’s ‘I Need a Girl (Pt. 2)’ (the same song Ice Spice samples on ‘Gangsta Boo’) to create a squeaky contagious melody. The album that has been teased for over a year will be out on the 24^th March. 

Róisín Murphy – ‘CooCool’

Róisín is back and she’s got a new sound up her (no doubt glittery) sleeves. Bringing us a warm house and downtempo fused track, the eccentric disco star seems to have taken a chill pill since her last release, 2020’s high energy Róisín Machine. Poetically Murphy calls the song, “Ostensibly a fragile little flower yet it has great hidden strength at the roots”. We can expect more mellow music from the singer with her album Hit Paradecoming at some point later this year.

DJ Koze – ‘Blissda’

Producer of ‘CooCool’ and long-time collaborator of Róisín Murphy, German techno DJ and producer DJ Koze’s solo projects should not be overlooked. Foggy and soothing, on his newest single ‘Blissda’ echoey synths and electronic beats seem to be gradually growing closer to the listener through a misty landscape. This twilight track is one for the after-party playlist for sure.

Miley Cyrus – ‘River’

The soundtrack to our summer is here. Endless Summer Vacation Miley’s eighth studio album was released this week on the 10^th March and as expected it’s jam-packed with bops. The love letter to LA contains a mix of country-inspired ballads, summery pop anthems, and experimental pounding electronica. All different but all ever so Miley. According to the singer ESV “feels like an intimate honest conversation” and “really represents who I am”. Can we look forward to a tour announcement from the wild child of pop soon? In the meantime, you can watch the brand-new video for the electric single ‘River’ and the Backyard Sessions of performances of songs from the album on Disney +.

‘Fool’s Gold’ – Yazmin Lacey

The debut album, Voice Notes, from R&B soul singer Yazmin Lacey has so many gorgeous tracks it was difficult to pick just one. Her performance on the COLORSXSTUDIOS channel gained her a following after receiving over 1.3M views and she’s on track for success with her stellar new album. The London-born Nottingham-based 33-year-old’s album was released on the 3^rd March and is full of smooth guitar licks, snappy drum beats, and Yazmin’s luscious vocals. Relax to the bongo-filled ‘Fool’s Gold’.

‘Kiss the Ring (freestyle)’ – Maiya the Don

Maiya Early, better known as Maiya the Don, says she makes music for “all the pretty fly bitches”. With her crazy unique vocals, stylish fits, and infectiously fun energy it’s no surprise that her fanbase is growing. Her biggest video ‘TELFY’ now has over 1.3M views and Pitchfork has praised her song ‘Dusties’ released earlier this month. The latest from the rapper from Brooklyn is her freestyle ‘Kiss the Ring’, which dropped on the 15^thMarch, Maiya’s 21^st birthday. It’s full of swagger and will have you feeling on top of the world. As the up-and-comer says, “fuck being humble imma put it i they face”!

‘Love You’ – flowerovlove 

Joyce Cissie, better known as flowerovlove, is the 18-year-old growing cult following among Gen Z Lo-Fi fans. The teen from London has already featured in a Gucci campaign, sold out tour dates, and walked in Paris Fashion week for XULY.Bët – she’s one to watch out for. Her newest track ‘Love You’ is a bedroom pop bop that radiates youthful energy with a psychedelic flare. The positively adorable music video for the song, directed by the talented artist, was released on the 10^th March featuring flowerovlove serenading herself with love and positivity.

‘Miracle’ – Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding

Everyone loves Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding, and a good old throwback 90s trancey track. It seems like ‘Miracle’ is a match made in heaven. The pair previously landed hits with 2012’s ‘I Need Your Love’, which reached number four in the UK, and 2014’s ‘Outside’, which reached number six. Featuring a thumping beat from the Scottish DJ and fairy-like soprano vocals from Ellie, it already feels like a certified club classic and is dripping with nostalgic warehouse-rave energy.

_{Words by: Molly Sutherland}

^{Header Graphics by Magdalen Manning}

The post Want New Music? Check Out This Week’s New Releases! appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Aries

21^st March – 19^th April

A true Aries, Lady Gaga is known for her high energy, passionate, and fiery songs that dominate the charts. Born This Way (2011), Gaga’s iconic second album, just screams Aries – just look at that rocker cover with Gaga as a motorbike! On this dance-pop album, Gaga dips her toes into metal, disco, house, rock, and opera to create an outrageously fun experimental piece that challenges what traditional pop is. It’s a feminist album that delights in freedom and equality. Gaga doesn’t care what the haters think and you shouldn’t either. Enjoy this nostalgic party and sing along to ‘Born This Way’, ‘Judas’, ‘The Edge of Glory’, and all the other Aries anthems.

Taurus 

20^th April – 20^th May

Full of absolute bangers like ‘Boyz’, ‘Jimmy’, ‘Paper Planes’, and ‘Come Around’, Kala (2007) is arguably one of the best albums of the noughties. Tenacious, hard-headed, yet down-to-earth, M.I.A. embodies many of the admirable traits of Taurus. Full of memorable bars, eclectic yet danceable beats, and M.I.A.’s plucky energy oozing through her gritty vocals, Kala will enthuse Taurus will energy to tackle the day.

Gemini

21^st May – 21^st June

Lively Geminis start your night out right with a playful house album with energy that matches your love of fun and sass. For those not in the know Deee-lite were a popular New York trio in the early to mid-90s best known for their hit song ‘Groove is in the Heart’. The supremely cool Miss Lady Miss Kier fronted Deee-lite influencing generations to come with her outlandish outfits, soulful sound, and activism. This larger-than-life group fused their colourful psychedelic 60s style with acid house, dance pop, and a hint of hip hop to create a kitschy camp hedonic potion of sound perfect for partying to. Their finest work is Dewdrops in the Garden (1994) features repetitive thumping beats, super cutesy vocals, and fabulous piano – it’s sure to pack the dance floor at any house party.

Cancer 

22^nd June to 22^nd July

Cancers are drawn to soft, creative music often with a romantic quality. A fellow Cancer herself, Kali Uchis makes emotionally nurturing music for the highly intuitive among us. Cancers treat yourselves to a bit of healing and romantic passion with Kali’s newest record Red Moon in Venus (2023). Reflecting “the divine femininity of the moon and Venus” the warm laidback R&B album features a mix of passionate love songs and Kali’s heartbroken yearnings that will entrance Cancers. Hop into a warm bath and soak up the good vibes like a true water sign.

Leo 

23^rd July – 22^nd August

Though Lana Del Rey is a Cancer, her third studio album Ultraviolence (2014) gives off Leo energy. On the album, Lana is confident playing up the ultimate femme fatale image that she had been typecast in presenting the image of a drama-adoring, ambitious, but loyal to her lover diva – just like a true Leo. Any Leo’s melodramatic tendencies will thrive whilst wallowing to ‘Cruel World’, strutting to ‘Florida Kilos’, and crooning to ‘Shades of Cool’.

Virgo

August 23^rd – 22^nd September

Hardworking, creative, reliable, patient, kind Virgos – you deserve an album as good as your character. Mama’s Gun (2000) by psychedelic neo-soul goddess Erykah Badu is the ideal album for you. Incorporating elements of funk, soul, and jazz styles and dabbling in themes of love, philosophy, and religion, it’s a great album for chilling out with your friends and reflecting on your day of putting good energy out into the world.

Libra 

23^rd September – 23^rd October

British singer-songwriter Joy Crookes, a Libra, always sounds poised and in control even when singing about vulnerable themes such as heartbreak, mental health struggles, and identity. Libras will fall for the neo-soul singer on the rich and luscious Skin (2021). Despite the heavy subject matter, Joy’s honey-toned voice and jazzy melodies will soothe Libra’s soul and help them restore the balance they crave after a long day.

Scorpio

23^rd October – 21^st November

The mysterious and passionate Scorpio crave meaningful complex music to match their intense personalities. Rosalía’s MOTOMAMI (2022) will be right up their alley. The concept album detailing the Spanish singer’s struggles with homesickness and isolation during the past three years blew away critics last year and reached the top ten in seven different countries. This electric mix of art pop, flamenco nuevo, and neoperro will ignite the fire in Scorpio whilst satisfying their urge for deep meaning.

Sagittarius

22^nd November to 21^st December

The masked villain MF Doom was an innovative artist who inspired many of his successors with his impressive ability to weave samples from retro cartoons, snappy beats, humorous lyrics, and gorgeous flows to create masterful hip hop tracks that never missed. Adventurous Sagittarius who love the witty and tongue-in-cheek need to listen to MM FOOD… (2004) – a concept album “about the things you find on a picnic, or at a picnic table”. Undoubtedly those who haven’t listened to MF Doom yet will still be familiar with the TikTok-adored tracks ‘Hoe Cakes’ and ‘Rap Snitch Knishes’.

Capricorn

22^nd December – 19^th January

The overachieving, persistent, and sensitive Capricorn will feel inspired by many of the themes on Little Simz’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021). On this ambitious album Little Simz tackles the injustices black people face to this day, the government’s corruption, as well as her own insecurities, hopes, and dreams, and praises women and other strong people of colour. It’s a bold album that at times is triumphant with Simz’s lyrics surrounded by uplifting fanfare and in other moments more vulnerable and reflective. Either way, it’s an empowering hip hop album full of smooth melodies that will motivate Cancer in whatever endeavours they’re pursuing.

Aquarius

20^th January – 18^th February

Miley Cyrus has always been original and one step ahead of the trends throughout her career – she wowed us as Hannah Montana, reinvented herself with ‘Wrecking Ball’, gave us all the rocker glam with ‘Midnight Sky’, and her new album Endless Summer Vacation (2023) will be the ideal summer soundtrack for Aquarius. Clever, self-reliant, and creative, Aquarius embody many of the traits Miley stands for. You’ll be obsessed with Miley’s spunky new tracks like ‘Handstand’, ‘River’, and ‘Rose Colored Lenses’.

Pisces

19^th February – 20^th March

Synthpop duo Magdalena Bay shook up the music world in 2021 with their futuristic debut album Mercurial World (2021). Its surreal cyber sound sucks the listener into a pink-tinted electronic world – the whole album sounds like if an MS Paint drawing of a unicorn could sing. Mercurial World will appeal to whimsical Pisces with their love for daydreaming. Hypnotic and melodic, lose yourself to the airy ‘Dawning of the Season’ and dance yourself stupid to ‘Hysterical Us’.

_{Words by Molly Sutherland}

^{Header Image: Miley Cyrus, Kali Uchis, Little Simz, Joy Crookes, Rosalia}

The post A Full Tracklist Based on My Star Sign? Yes Please! appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Caroline Polachek – ‘Pretty Impossible’

The current it girl of alt-pop Caroline Polachek brought us the soundtrack to the latter half of February with her album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You. Fusing electronica with garage and a touch of house, she’s created a downtempo masterpiece that is an early candidate for album of the year. ‘Pretty Impossible’ is the song Caroline said she was most proud of in an interview with Crack magazine. Inspired by the string section on Massive Attack’s ‘Unfinished Sympathy’, it’s a dreamy trip-hop track full of lush violins and scatty beats. And that spoken word section is to die for.

Paramore – ‘Running Out of Time’

Paramore made their much-welcomed comeback after a 5-year hiatus this February with This Is Why. Anxious and introspective, the album deals with a myriad of global issues such as war and the pandemic and explodes with nervous energy providing a cathartic experience for the listener. ‘Running Out of Time’ is one of the best tracks from the album. Singer Hayley Williams wittily jests at her poor time management in this light-hearted melodic track that proves that the post-punk revival isn’t dead. Feel the tension slip away as you dance to those stabbing guitar riffs.

Janelle Monáe – ‘Float’

You’ll ‘Float’ to Janelle Monáe’s triumphant new track that’s “light as a feather”. The single is the first new release from the singer from 2021 and features Fela Kuti’s youngest son, Seun Kuti, as well as his band, Egypt 80. Janelle showcases her rapping skills on dub influenced track featuring a rich brass section and groovy guitar riffs. We’re hoping that this chill uplifting song could be pointing to a new era for the R&B singer and that more new music might follow!

Lizzo & SZA – ‘Special’

The dream team-up of course is in our playlist. This month Lizzo and SZA dropped a remix of  ‘Special’ featuring SZA providing stunning backing vocals to the fantastic tune. Motivating, uplifting, and comforting – it’s the ideal song for turning a rainy day to sunny.

PinkPantheress & Ice Spice – ‘Boy’s a Liar pt. 2’

PinkPantheress’ TikTok hit ‘Boy’s a Liar’ got a revamp this month when the singer collabed with our favourite new rapper Ice Spice this month. The suitably titled ‘Boy’s a Liar pt. 2’ brings us everything we loved about the original plus an outrageously catchy verse from the orange-haired baddie. We dare you not to sing along.

Lana Del Rey – ‘A&W’

‘A&W’ is the most exciting piece of work Lana has released in some time. The seven-minute-long song, which was released on Valentine’s Day in the Americana queen’s typical romantic style, is broken into two parts and manages to refer to personas Lana embodied throughout her impressively varied career. It starts with a piano-driven melancholic melody before plunging the listener into an electronic R&B beat with distorted vocals reminiscent of tracks from Ultraviolence. We can’t wait for when Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd hits streaming next month.

Jessie Ware – ‘Pearls’

The ever-classy Jessie Ware gave us a taste of hazy luxury this month with her latest single ‘Pearls’. Bringing us a funky nu-disco moment, ‘Pearls’ is full of the singer’s usual uplifting energy packed with lively keys, great backing vocals, and whispery addressals.If ‘Pearls’ is anything to go by we know we’ll love Jessie’s fifth album That! Feels Good! dropping on the 28^th April.

Kelela – ‘Enough for Love’

Warm and full of longing, the R&B track ‘Enough for Love’ is the fifth and final single from Kelela’s album Raven, which dropped earlier this month. Kelela’s second LP is another early contender for album of the year. The angelic-voiced singer expertly shapes a hypnotic nocturnal soundscape that’s desire-filled, mediative, and utterly rich – its sound and energy is unmatched. 

Maisie Peters – ‘Body Better’

Maisie Peters voices her anxiety over body issues in ‘Body Better’ which every woman can, unfortunately, relate to. Although the lyrics touch on a sensitive spot for many the track is a refreshing sway-inducing pop tune. Featuring frills, cake, and um… blood, the music video for the track sees pop’s newest sweet-faced princess getting her hands dirty whilst on a picnic with her friends. It’s sugar-sweet with a dark twist and we’re here for it.

Princess Nokia – ‘Closure’

Princess Nokia gets angsty on their newest single ‘Closure’ switching their signature pop rap style for noisy alt-electronica. With boisterous drums and raw riffs, Nokia channels her sadness and anger over a failed relationship into a catchy breakup anthem that will heal the heartbroken. 

Yunè Pinku – ‘Night Light’

A twilight set electronic maze of twinkling sounds, Yunè Pinku’s progressive house track ‘Night Light’ sparkles as an endlessly replayable unique dance track. The London-based artist never fails to produce interesting, dreamy tunes that have us dancing the night away in a trance.

Nia Archives – ‘Conveniency’

Jungle heads will love Nia Archives’ liquid D’n’B and neo-soul fusion. As expected from the fun-loving DJ, singer, songwriter, and producer ‘Conveniency’ brings all the good vibes for pre or post-club antics. With scatty beats and gorgeous layered harmonies, it’s a sunny track that will put a smile on your face. The track is a single from Nia’s forthcoming EP Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall set to come out next month – keep an eye out for more playlist-worthy tunes.

Yaya Bey – ‘Exodus the North Star’

Vulnerable neo-soul will always have a place in our hearts and playlists. Brooklynite Yaya Bey’s ‘Exodus the North Star’ fuses neo-soul and reggae to create something special that we can’t stop playing. Yaya’s unique vocals pack a punch starting soft and then crescendoing into a powerful performance as she begs her lover to take her to paradise. It’s an ultra-romantic track that we’re goo-goo for.

_{Words by: Molly Sutherland}

_{^{Header Image: artist collage}}

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Del Rey first gained high commercial success with her 2011 release ‘Video games’, which went on to be renowned as the best song of the year according to The Guardian. Ten years on, she is still dominating the Singer-Songwriter genre, with a sound so distinguished and recognisable, dubbed as ‘Hollywood Sadcore’ by many critics.  

Earlier this year, Lana previewed ‘Blue Banisters’ by sharing a few tracks with fans, including ‘Arcadia’. The song told the tale of Lana’s love for Arcadia, a city in Los Angeles which she moved to when pursuing her music career. Throughout the track, it is implied that Lana has somewhat fallen out of love with the city, and the harsh side of the music industry. ‘Arcadia’ came with a beautiful self directed music video, showing Lana in a candid space whilst singing the song’s lyrics.   

Now that we have ‘Blue Banisters’ in its entirety, we can feel Lana has stepped away slightly from the metaphorical style of songwriting we have been used to. She directly sings about controversy she has faced on social media in past years, and acknowledges how many have concentrated on how Lana appears sad in her music, singing the following lyrics on the track ‘Beautiful’;

“What if someone had asked Picasso not to be sad?” 

“Never known who he was or the man he’d become, There’d be no blue period.”

“Let me show you how sadness can turn into happiness, I can turn blue into something beautiful”

Speaking on the album and criticism faced in the past few years, Lana said: 

“As much as the ongoing criticism has been trying, it at least has pushed me to explore my own family tree, to dig deep, and to continue to exhibit the fact that God only cares about how I move through the world. And for all of the skepticism about feigning fragility and unreasonable explanations of not showing general accountability – I must say I’ve enjoyed moving through the world beautifully – as a woman with grace and dignity.“

Ten years on since her major label debut, Del Rey’s voice still has the power to draw you in and have you hang on to every vocal phrase, matched with gorgeous poetry which can captivate your every thought. It is also apparent that Lana hasn’t strayed away from her original influences, with the sound of Old Hollywood brought to life through her classic cinematic style of accompaniment and production.

Words By Nadia Clasper

_{Photo Credit: Lana Del Rey Blue Banisters Album Cover}

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For a decade now, Lana Del Rey has mystified listeners with romantic ballads of retro Americana and glorified gangland. Even before that, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Grant was circling clubs and small gigs with the same strong, nostalgic voice. Over the span of her career, the artist has become an influence in sound and style.

Teased since January and released last week, Lana Del Rey’s seventh studio album, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, is a continuation of past sound and melodrama, without any tedious or repetitive feel. At 35, Lana’s music still portrays a level of devil-may-care, something that’s always been a part of the persona, yet somehow the sound and themes of the album feel a little more mature, probably because of it’s intimacy and subtlety in the place of Del Rey’s usual grandness and splendour. There’s already confirmation of a follow-up album, one we’re just as excited for.

For most of her career, Lana’s music has often faced controversy for it’s provoking sense of glamourisation and this recklessness. Creating escapism and fantasy out of a mythical American underworld, songs about loving bad men have frequently been at the centre of the Lana Del Rey character, and have made it what it is; Born To Die, Del Rey’s 2011 portrait of Hollywood gang age and the epitome of this criminal glorification, was the breakthrough that made her career, and sits as phenomenal nostalgia from the first years of the 2010s.

These infant years of Grant’s career as Lana Del Rey influenced a short era of indie youth culture, embodied by Tumblr and American Apparel-esque aesthetics, a trend that Ultraviolence and Born To Die complimented so well, with Lana’s vintage iconography and care-free sensibilty. The albums are still considered at the top of her discography and career.

With clear influence from American legends, like Nancy Sinatra, Springsteen and Julee Cruise, Lana’s become a modern portrait of another era – or several of America’s best.

Lana’s patriotism has always been a big part of the persona, with retro American culture threaded throughout her concept. Up until 2017 the artist used the American flag as a motif in her visuals, but at the time of Donald Trump’s presidency and the country’s direction under his administration, the image of American pride had become very different and was no longer something to be flaunted, in the eyes of the singer. Despite the Americana identification tainted, Lana has continued to appeal to her image of 20th century nostalgia, just with less of a focus on it’s American-ness.

There has always been a conflicting narrative around Lana’s concept – the beginning of her career saw some critics brand her as some glorified groupie, a fraud reaching too far for retro sound, but years in her dedication to grandiosity and sepia-tinted melancholia is more praised than put down. Recognised for her ability to capture past and present, Del Rey was the only musician on the Washington Post’s ‘Decade Influencers’ list for the 2010s.

This narrative has shown that the further Lana Del Rey delves into her songbook, the clearer it is that her impression on pop music as we know it is here to stay. 

Words By Daisy Greetham

The post The Influential Sound And Style of Lana Del Rey appeared first on Voir Fashion.

To say 2020 hasn’t been the best of years would arguably be the biggest understatement of all time. However, one shining light coming out of all this has been music. So far, 2020 has provided us with albums from megastars such as Dua Lipa, Lil Uzi Vert, Taylor Swift and even a visual album from the queen, Beyoncé herself. As we still have around a third of the year left, we thought we’d take a look at some of the most anticipated albums which have been, confirmed or heavily speculated to drop in 2020.

Rihanna

It seems like decades ago we got the masterpiece that is Anti and ever since then fans have been, not so patiently, waiting for another Rihanna album to bless our speakers. While there have been some high profile features to quench our thirst such as her show-stealing appearance on PARTYNEXTDOOR’s comeback album, fans are itching for something more substantial and it seems like it’ll be coming sooner than later.

Lana Del Rey

Release date: September 5th

Lana Del Rey has had somewhat of a resurgence recently, her latest album Norman fucking Rockwell was critically acclaimed and received two Grammy nominations and was featured on the incredibly successful lead single for the Charlies Angels soundtrack. Lana’s 7th studio album will be titled Chemtrails over the Country Club.

Cardi B

Cardi B’s debut album showed that she’s a force to be reckoned with and exceeded all expectations by mixing her typically braggadocios style with some truly vulnerable moments. Cardi has managed to keep her relevancy at an all-time high and with the recent release of her single “WAP” with Meg Thee Stallion, it seems as if an album rollout is about to begin.

Billie Eilish

While Billie Eilish doesn’t have to drop an album anytime soon, it definitely would be welcomed considering how incredible her debut effort was. Her most recent single “My Future” showed a more hopeful and uplifting output from the 18-year-old and could indicate an intriguing change of pace for her next album. If this is the lead single for her next project we expect it could be dropping a lot sooner than people think.

Katy Perry

Release date: August 28th

Although Katy Perry seems to be entering into the twilight phase of her career, it doesn’t discredit her as one of the biggest and best pop stars of the last decade. The level of consistency she showed for over a decade is quite staggering and while this album may not reach the dazzling heights we usually expect from her it will still be a welcome release nonetheless.

Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean epitomizes the idea of a reclusive artist. He doesn’t do interviews, he’s barely seen in public and there’s never any promo for anything he drops. Considering it’s now been over four years since his last album, it’s safe to say that it’s likely we’ll all be shedding more than a few tears to Frank’s voice again at some point in the near future.

Alicia Keys

Incredibly, this will be Alicia Keys’ seventh studio album. Titled ALICIA, the singles that have been released so far for the album has featured quite an interesting and unique take on the modern soul. The latest release features Khalid and is a pretty solid effort so we hope to see a few more high-profile collaborations like this one on the album.

Kendrick Lamar

After it was revealed he was supposed to be headlining Glastonbury and BST Hyde Park this summer, many thought it would be in conjunction with an album release. However, there have been numerous rumours that the album is coming this year and Billboard columnist Bill Werde tweeted that recording of the album was finished in January.

SZA

Labelmate of Kendrick Lamar, SZA has spent a similar amount of time without dropping her next album. When SZA burst onto the scene in 2017 with her larger than life album, Ctrl, her songs were played everywhere. You couldn’t go on Instagram or Twitter without someone quoting her. It’s well noted that TDE (her label) likes to take their time with their releases but now seems like a better time than ever for more SZA music.

Words by Chris Saunders

Graphics by Georgia Walters

The post Billie, Cardi, Rhi-Rhi: Our Most Anticipated Album Predictions for the Rest of 2020 appeared first on Voir Fashion.

In the video for her hit single ‘Doin’ Time’—a cover of Sublime’s song about the pain of being cheated on—Del Rey pays tribute to the movie classic Attack of the 50 Foot Woman

Amidst the recurring images of California, rock’n’roll, and most of all the theme of romance —Lana Del Rey’s new album ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell’ does not disappoint. The tone, however, is what makes this album so unique. The singer is as unfiltered as ever, delving into the depth of her heartbreak and her subsequent nostalgia for better times. Since ‘Born To Die’ in 2012, Del Rey’s lyrics have been defined by wild romances and daring adventures; a spirit which she clearly misses in this new album.

Perhaps invoking past eras of pop culture is the closest she can get to going back to the past happier and easier years of her life.

Del Rey is famous for her fascination with vintage culture and aesthetics, and more so than ever, this album’s lyrics and music videos imitate pop culture of older periods such as the 1920s, 50s and 90s. In the video for her hit single ‘Doin’ Time’—a cover of Sublime’s song about the pain of being cheated on—Del Rey pays tribute to the movie classic Attack of the 50 Foot Woman as she walks around Venice Beach in a giant-sized version of herself. Nostalgia is evident in the pain that Del Rey expresses about the present in the song: she longs for a time before her heartbreak.

‘California’ also loosely alludes to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic The Great Gatsby to express the singer’s change of heart towards California. A place she used to view as dream-like now feels empty without her lover. In the likes of Gatsby, the singer promises to throw a party for a man if he comes back to California. In addition, Gatsby was obsessed with the past, and that might be one more thing the singer has in common with the iconic literary character. Perhaps invoking past eras of pop culture is the closest she can get to going back to the past happier and easier years of her life.

Del Rey is perhaps most upfront about her feelings of nostalgia in the song ‘The Greatest’. The words “I miss” are repeated throughout

While Del Rey’s music has always had gloomy undertones, it also highlighted the singer’s rebel side. The ‘Venice B*itch’ video appears similar to older music videos like ‘Ride’ and ‘West Coast’: images of American landscapes and Del Rey laughing, playing around by the beach and driving away from the police, and overall living a carefree life. But the melancholy in her voice and the grainy effect of the clips suggest that these are flashbacks of a lifestyle that the singer misses. Similarly, she pours her heart out in ‘Love Song.’ She paints a picture of being in the backseat of a fast car, just as she did in the song ‘Born To Die.’ The callbacks to her former albums in her latest one puts them in juxtaposition: while the visuals are similar, the music has developed into sadder melodies and pained lyrics.

Del Rey is perhaps most upfront about her feelings of nostalgia in the song ‘The Greatest’. The words “I miss” are repeated throughout; she longs for New York, rock’n’roll and nights that “were on fire”. The lyrics are simple and straightforward because her emotions are: she misses the life she used to have. In the video, she wears neon green eyeliner and sparkly eyeshadow—her make-up is bold but there is a sadness to it. She is alone, singing about her nostalgic feelings. Perhaps the heavy make-up is to make up for how bare the singer appears in this album.

Just like the past eras that she borrows from in her album, the wild, romantic and spontaneous years of her life are gone, and she is left heartbroken.

Words by Carla Pelosoff

Graphics by Katie Janes

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The post Lana Del Rey: From Rebellious to Nostalgic appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Coach jumped into 2019 by showcasing their graffiti inspired trainer (sneaker) collection/collaboration, with a nod to 80s street culture and vibrant colour.

Fendi uses its witty and retro filmic style to showcase a collection of Baguette bags, known only to a small group of friends.

And the inimitable Glen Luchford whisks us away into Lana Del Rey territory; Americana through a Gucci lens and Gucci Guilty fragrances of course.

Delightful

Credits

Gucci

Starring Jared Leto and Lana Del Rey

Photography Glen Luchford

Creative director: Alessandro Michele

Art director: Christopher Simmonds

Track Title: “The Swag”

Artist: Link Wray & The Wray Men

Composer/Arranger: Mark Cooper (aka Milton Grant) and Fred L. Wray Jr.

Fendi

Starring Taiwanese DJ Dizzy Dizzo,

Singapore-based fashion IT-girl Yoyo Cao,

Japanese model Hikari Mori and

Korean DJ Peggy Gould

Coach

Starring Coach C118 limited-edition sneakers

Graffiti by Dong Jin,

Eric Inkala,

GIZ,

Michael Ng and

Sawako Kageyawaka.

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The post Fashion Campaigns That ‘Wanna Go Back’ appeared first on Voir Fashion.