LP, aka Laura Pergolizzi, is a New York-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-ukulele slayer who I think you might fall a little in love with.
By LP’s own admission, or at least that of her biographer, describing LP’s music is a difficult task. She’s rockin’ but not really rock. The songs are hooky but not really pop. You could go with that ambiguous ‘indie’ label, maybe, or even folk. Whatever you want to call it, it’s good. In fact, this year Martin Guitar named LP as their first female ambassador, while Esquire crowned her one of 2012’s ‘rising stars’. She’s not only one talented woman, but perhaps also one of the most exciting emerging artists you’ll discover this year.
LP’s newly-released EP, Into The Wild – Live At EastWest Studios, features five songs and five accompanying music videos that are perfectly crafted and performed with electricity that’ll jump through your speakers and screen. And her voice, my god. That voice. You’ll hear more about that in a moment.
Most of you have probably, unknowingly, heard LP’s work already. Most notably, “Wasted” was the South Of Nowhere theme song, while her new single “Into The Wild” is sound-tracking Citibank TV commercials right now. And that’s just the music that she’s written and performed herself. LP is credited with co-writing the super infectious Rihanna hit, “Cheers (Drink To That)” – which coincidentally, or perhaps not, is the only track I enjoyed on Loud – as well as songs for the Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera, to name a few.
The five tracks on Into The Wild were performed and filmed in front of an intimate studio audience. Releasing a live record as a first major label debut is a gutsy move; there’s no room for error, no opportunity for re-takes. What we see is what we get and, for me, that honesty pays off here. It’s a convincing, well-executed package that shows off not only LP’s talent as a performer, but also the confidence that her label has in her career.
While LP’s instrument of choice, the ukulele, provides a significant point of difference between LP and many other artists, the hero of Into The Woods in undoubtedly her voice; it’s this rough-but-delicate thing that is so unique and intense, so every single adjective all at once. UR Chicago Magazine describes it rather perfectly as “everything from Steve Nicks’ subtle rasp, Patti Smith’s knack for defying the idea of ‘genres’, Regina Spektor’s lighter-than-air delivery, and Chrissie Hynde’s ability to turn a lyric into a hook. In other words, this is a voice that just has to be heard to be believed.”
I’ll spare you the usual track-by-track break-down, as every video from Into The Wild is viewable online – “Into The Wild”, “Levitator”, “Wasted Love”, “Someday” and “Tokyo Sunrise” (below). I’ll just wrap this up by saying that if dapper girls with soaring vocals and mad ukulele skills are your jam, Into The Wild is a record that you need to own. The only issue you might have is that, with only five songs and videos, it’ll leave you wanting so much more.
Now it’s time for videos! Starting with my favourite track from the new record, “Tokyo Sunrise”.
Here’s LP performing “Into The Wild” in the middle of Austin’s Sixth Street during SXSW2012.
You’ll probably also enjoy this adorable home video of LP performing a little tune called “Stupid Song”, filmed by her girlfriend. (Shout out to reader Stacey, who sent me this video and kick-started my LP addiction).
Also worth checking out is the video of LP covering Beyoncé’s “Halo” (which can be downloaded for free on Soundcloud) as well as LP performing “Dog Days Are Over” with Florence Welch.
Into The Wild – Live At EastWest Studios is available now through the usual music sellers. LP also has two independent releases, Heart-Shaped Scar (2001) and Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol (2004).
i’m jealous of her whistling skills and her ability to pull off that haircut.
Love it! Will definitely be looking for more.
Anyone else think she looks like a combination of Shane and Carly (if Carly grew her hair out)?
There’s some major Autostraddling going on in that last video.
Approved.
YES TO ALL OF THIS. I have loved LP for years and am so glad to see her finally getting the recognition she deserves. The first time I saw her perform was in 2003 or 2004, opening for Antigone Rising at Southpaw (R.I.P.) in Brooklyn. I was absolutely blown away by her voice and looked her up pretty much immediately. I saw her play a bunch more times over the next few years, until she left NYC for LA. She’s playing at Joe’s Pub in NYC tomorrow night but I can’t go, which makes me really sad.
If you can find her first two albums, I highly recommend them both. Also there’s a song on Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol called “Little Death” that I think is relevant to all of our interests.
This is so fantastic. Thank you! Currently searching for the rest of her music. :)
<3 !!!
I just went through the iTunes password retrieval routine in order to download the EP. Fun fact: i actually went through it twice because I am capable of forgetting a password within 30 seconds of creating it, apparently.
In. Love.
You guys, I’m super jealous of her flat chest.
You guys I spent the entire night listening to this live EP and it is all kinds of amazing and good and nice. You should, YOU SHOULD!
do love. good choice crystal. like kaki on a ukulele and more singing.
I really want to like this but I can’t because there is a ukulele and I have a neighbour with one who will play it sporadically between the hours of 6.00am and midnight. There was an entire week when he would only play the first two lines of ‘Paint it Black’ which ruined both the song and the instrument for me to the point that the mere sight of a ukulele makes me want to cry/defenestrate it.
Damn my neighbour-induced hatred of ukuleles for ruining good music.
OMG. IS IT ME?
(Just kidding… if you would have said The Decemberists or Adventure Time or The Lesbian Song by Sarah Silverman… then yes, I would be worried.)
YES. I am currently learning to slay the ukulele, so this is terribly relevant to my interests.
Everyone keeps laughing at me because I fucking love my little four stringed buddy that I named Abernathy… I feel vindicated.
OMFG. just saw her live in Pittsburgh for free! mere minutes ago. Holy SHIT was she amazing!! I’m completely in love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-4gDfaWFx4
I don’t mean to hijack another artists page but when I first saw the photo I thought you guys had clocked onto Karima Francis who is AMAZING!! Google her, she is from the UK, out and proud and makes the most beautiful music. Plus her androgynous style would totally up the street of some ‘Straddlers.
Ohhhhhhh man, guys. Only had to listen to about 15 seconds to know I’d buy the album. Thank you thank you thank you! Also, THE HAIR, good grief, the fabulous hair.