Rosina Kazi and Nicholas Murray, the Toronto-based duo better known as LAL, have deep roots within the Canadian music scene with 18 years of performing and an expansive catalogue of innovative records to their credit. Their latest album, Find Safety, is the result of three years of studio work, offering a compellingly danceable and provocative political statement all at once.
LAL began with the goal of making a more beat-driven album, as opposed to some of the down-tempo work they had previously done. Rosina Kazi’s powerful vocals also fully display her wide-ranging influences, from reggae, hip-hop, jazz, and Bengali music, to electronica, pop, and avant-garde. Find Safety is lyrically informed by LAL’s regular practice of holding shows at their home concert space, as well as their ongoing support of social justice causes and community art projects, with an emphasis on Queer and/or BIPOC issues. The album overall addresses a need to create safer spaces for themselves and their friends. As Kazi says, “We felt like we needed to make a record that spoke more to our experience being brown/black in Toronto, having traveled all over the world.”
Find Safety was produced by Nicholas Murray, with the title track produced and mixed by Stephen Murray. The rest of the album was mixed by Branwen Munn—best known for working with 4hero in the 1990s—and mastered by Jay Hodgson for Roofless Creations. It will be released through indie folk/electronic artist Rae Spoon’s label Coax Records (distributed through Outside Music) on April 29, 2016. LAL will be touring Canada this May and June in support of Find Safety, with further international dates to follow.
“This new LAL record represents us being completely exposed,” Nicholas Murray says. “We approached its creation with all of our influences. Find Safety is a culmination of lived experiences and future possibilities.”
LAL’s music is a combination of all the music they love. Formed in 1998 by the dynamic duo of Kazi, a poet, lyricist, activist, singer and Bengali-rooted tough guy, and her life partner Murray, a producer, sound designer, philosopher, aphorismist and Barbados-born king of chill, LAL has always proved hard to describe. They have a long list of accolades, including being featured on the cover of Toronto’s NOW Magazine along with many other prominent publications. They have also toured both nationally and internationally, sharing stages with Digable Planets, Tricky, Saul Williams, Terry Callier and State Of Bengal.
“For almost 20 years we have been making music and this album brings us back to our roots as an electronic duo,” Kazi says. “Ultimately, it represents our journey of looking for, creating and being part of amazing spaces and communities, changing the world and dancing while we do it.”
LAL will be touring Canada this May and June in support of Find Safety, with further international dates to follow. See confirmed schedule below.
rabble.ca is proud to help sponsor this tour.
LAL Upcoming Dates:
April 29 :: Lee’s Palace:: Toronto ON
May 3 :: The Spill :: Peterborough ON
May 6 :: TBC :: St Catharines ON
May 7 :: Homegrown Hamilton :: Hamilton ON
May 8 :: Make Box :: Guelph ON
May 13 :: Pressed :: Ottawa ON
May 14 :: Casa Del Popolo :: Montreal QC
May 19 (Workshop) Halifax NS, RadStorm
May 20 Halifax NS, The Company House
May 21 St John’s NL, Peter Easton Pub
May 22 (Workshop) St. John’s NL Eastern Edge
May 26 Whitehorse YT, Arts in the Park
May 28 Dawson City, YT Oddfellows Hall
June 1 Salt Spring Island BC, Harbour House Hotel
June 2 Victoria BC – Victoria Event Centre
June 3 Vancouver BC – Wise Hall
June 4 Vancouver BC – Cobalt
June 8th Edmonton – Mercury Room
June 10 Saskatoon SK – Saskatoon Pride
