LISTEN: Lao Ra shares new single, ‘Drum Machine’ (Black Butter)

Lao Ra – ‘Drum Machine’

New single out now via Black Butter Records

Spotify Viral Chart, MØ, Izzy Bizu, Rationale & Rejjie Snow supports
“Lao Ra takes her country’s traditions and the tropes of love and turns them into gloriously unadulterated, uplifting pop” i-D
“Glitchy, worldly…a rebel cry that strikes close to home. Amen” Fader
“Set a date in your diary for when Lao Ra takes over the world” DIY
“Those who dismiss pop as lightweight ought to listen to Lao Ra” Wonderland
“Transatlantic and tongue-in-cheek” Noisey

‘Drum Machine’ is the anthemic second single from Lao Ra, which is out today via Black Butter Records. This follows the success of her debut ‘Jesus Made Me Bad’ EP, which went Top 10 on Hype Machine and Spotify’s Viral Chart, and also saw Lao Ra make her debut live appearances supporting the likes of MØ, Izzy Bizu, Rationale and Rejjie Snow. Lao Ra is now based in London but causing a significant stir back in her native South America, where ‘Jesus’ became a surprise cult hit for some, and an accidental cause of controversy for others.

Drum Machine stream

Airing today, ‘Drum Machine’ filters a love of Latin-inspired tones and textures through bouncing, contemporary electronics. Continuing Lao Ra’s balance of the tropical with the topical, ‘Drum Machine’ was lyrically influenced by the idea of transformation: “Drum Machine is about celebrating the way you are,” says Lao Ra, “and embracing your own personal rhythm.”
Born in inner-city Bogota – then considered to be one of the most violent cities in the world – Lao Ra’s first taste of music came through MTV, which she’d ritualistically watch with her brothers to escape what was going on outside. The world-building possibilities of transatlantic pop soon merged with a passion for the energy and attitude of punk, sparking Lao Ra to start writing songs at the age of twelve. She finished school and studied at a music college, before working for a fire alarm company to make ends meet. Hoping that any English speakers who one day heard her music might pronounce her name properly, she broke it up into Lao Ra; her alias also unlocking a sense of confidence and girl-power which now cuts through her music, which takes its cue variously from the multi-national beats of MIA to the warped pop of SOPHIE.
‘Drum Machine’ is the next, infectious window into the world of Lao Ra, and further testament to the power of marching to your own beat.

Drum Machine on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/laoramusica/drum-machine
Photo/Packshot: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0blzpmoqtatjeb9/AADfVindKVK1lLH6sMgBGxaQa?dl=0
Jesus Made Me Bad video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHCByun9loQ