British-born Elizabeth Lawrence was introduced to music by her parents, who listened to a lot of it, especially reggae, and she sang in church. Playing guitar and keyboard, she joined a number of bands in her teens before being spotted on the internet by a manager, who helped her sign her first contract. She released her first album in 2012, with a strong acoustic folk bent, and although it met with public and critical acclaim, she quickly broke away from it. In order to have more control over her music, after moving house she will equip herself with a home studio and get involved in production.
Her music has evolved quite markedly between her four albums, and here the British singer reveals a sparkling pop-rock based on a classic set-up to which she adds a touch of originality. The bass on all the tracks, which oscillates between the New Wave of the 80s and 90s and the funk of the 60s and 70s, makes for a particularly visceral record, one that makes you sway and can stick to your mind like chewing gum to a trainer. Her voice, which she can modulate depending on the track, also plays a big part in the seduction of her compositions.
Totally mischievous, Liz Lawrence’s voice wonderfully combines the rebellious and playful side that attaches itself to her songs. Her phrasing seems to play with the rhythm that serves as the backbone of her compositions. The vocals and bass are the elements that immediately capture the listener’s attention, and could almost stand on their own. Then come the drums, drier and more effective, which support the whole, then guitars or keyboards, depending on the track, add to their consistency. Ali Chant’s production effects help drape this opus in a sound befitting an artist as pop as she is fierce.
