Sound Of The Week: LVRA


Chinese-Scottish artist and producer LVRA unveils their much-anticipated EP soft like steel via Eastern Margins. Laid over 7 tracks, the expansive and unrelenting project is a submergence into the frenetic world of this singular talent. The Opener ‘welcome’ sets the tone for the project with fractured, intergalactic elements woven between LVRA’s urgent, hypnotic vocals. The new single ‘clones’ is a collaboration with Atlanta’s rising industrial pop artist girl_irl that smacks with intensity. Over a pulsing beat, LVRA and girl_irl work out their frustrations on living in the age of social media.

It always crosses my mind that I’m already living in the dystopia – it’s that movie-like moment, staring out the bus window in the morning watching swarms of people on their morning commute – determined and focused. And then I realise I am one of those people. I think about what I’ve sacrificed in my own life for the sake of efficiency, speed and achievement – to earn my place in the rat race, and how unnatural this way of living seems in hindsight. ‘clones’ is my expression of frustration at these times; we live in an age of populism, cancel culture, hyper-validation through social media – a world where we let ourselves be influenced, whether or not into the mainstream or onto the fringes. I don’t think I’ve ever truly had the confidence to move completely against the grain, nor do I think anyone has to, but it is frightening to see how far we’ve gone in the other direction.

– LVRA

Tackling complex lyrical subjects with aplomb, ‘god is dead’ sees LVRA dissect their experiences of religion in the modern world. Recent single ‘anxiety’ nods to LVRA’s struggles with mental health, as the single moves between undulating, ethereal whispers and LVRA’s trademark industrial, dark, synth-driven production.

Spent collaboration ‘venom’ (Misfits 2.0 Spotify Cover) is a powerful, bassy cut co-written and co-produced by Taahliah and inspired by the confidence LVRA has found in exploring the London queer club scene. The high-voltage single dropped last month to acclaim from the likes of DAZED, CRACK, Mixmag Asia, CLASH, BBC Radio 1 and more.

The title track ‘soft like steel’ shudders with sonic energy, blending intense rhythms with LVRA’s silken whispers. Vibrant closer ‘rising’ bewitches with all-encompassing harmonics interspersed with LVRA’s triumphant lyricism. From beginning to end, soft like steel is an encapsulation of the dizzying talents of this rising star.

As visually compelling a storyteller as they are sonic, the release of soft like steel arrives with an accompanying three-part short film shot by frequent collaborator Oscar McNab. The film follows a central character as they journey through different mental and physical states, inspired by LVRA’s struggles with mental health and their takes on beauty and autonomy. Their intricate, stylised visuals have been lauded by the likes of NOWNESS Asia, Mixmag Asia (Mind-blowing videos from ’22) and more.

Speaking on the film, McNab said – “Human perception is subjective, and changeable – at times constraining, and at times liberating. Throughout the soft like steel EP, LVRA deconstructs their own perspective and explores new ways of seeing. The soft like steel film is an attempt to express that deeply psychological and personal process in a world of visible and tangible experiences.”

Born in Edinburgh to Chinese parents, 23-year-old singer and producer Rachel Lu emerged in 2020 under the moniker LVRA (pronounced loo-rah), an artist who draws from the molten core of industrial, hyperpop and deconstructed club music to crystallise a sound that’s both anthemic and experimental. Influenced by the likes of Grimes, Eartheater, LCY, Two Shell, Breaka and SOPHIE – LVRA is part of a new wave of artists providing a vital vision of club music that’s equally suited to the stadium as the basement. Across releases including their two EPs LVCID and TWO, ‘IN YOUR BLOOD’ and remixes from Effy, TAAHLIAH, KAVARI and Jessica Winter, LVRA is cementing themself as one of the most exciting artists in the UK.

Following a 2022 that saw LVRA take to the stage at festivals including Connect Music Festival and All Points East, ‘Great Western Festival, NTS x Diesel Tracks and opening for Sudan Archives; LVRA is fresh from a set with HÖR Berlin and will be bringing their distinctive and addictive live offering to headline shows in London and Glasgow (31st March at Civic House). 

soft like steel cements LVRA’s darker sonic direction, building on the foundations of success that led them to win the inaugural Sound of Young Scotland Award in 2021, Amazon Music’s Step Up 2022 and earn plaudits from the likes of DMY (Artist to Watch ’23), Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Radio 1 Dance, DJ Mag, PAPER, DIY, The Line of Best Fit and more.

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Photos by @jeffhahnstudio