Lala Lala

Lala Lala
Lala Lala performing in 2021
Background information
Birth name	Lillie Amadea West
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Indie rock
Years active	2014 (2014)–present
Labels	Hardly Art
Website	lalabandlala.com

Lillie Amadea West, known professionally as Lala Lala, is an indie rock musician and songwriter based in Chicago.^[1]

Early life

West was born in California, but was raised in London until she was twelve years old.^[2] Her father was a filmmaker.^[3] She then moved with her family to Los Angeles and attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.^[2] She would soon relocate to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and become involved with the city's underground music scene.^[4] A long time fan of music, it was not until West began college that she would begin to create music of her own after being encouraged by a friend to purchase a guitar from Craigslist.^[5] She dropped out of college after "a year and two months", then moved to Chicago when she was 19.^[3]

Career

Lala Lala's debut album, Sleepyhead, was self-released in 2016 and was followed up by their sophomore album titled The Lamb, which was released in September 2018 on Sub Pop imprint Hardly Art.^[6] Upon the announcement of the band's second album, Stereogum gave Lala Lala the prestigious recognition of "Band to Watch" in July 2018.^[7] The release of Lala Lala's sophomore album, The Lamb, was met with favorable reviews by various notable publications, including Pitchfork, whose review by Steven Arroyo states that "On her second album, Lillie West retains the charming simplicity of her songs, but she finds new depth as a songwriter as she explores the act of standing up to herself," awarding the album with a high numerical score as well.^[8][9]

In January 2019, Lala Lala released a single titled "Siren 042," a collaboration with Yoni Wolf, frontman of the American band WHY?, which was premiered on the Fader and was reviewed well by music outlets.^[10][11] A writer for NPR, Adelaide Sandstrom, praises the collaboration, "Siren 042," writing that the song displays West's "ability to offset sharp lyricism with shimmering guitar and singalong-worthy vocal refrains."^[12]

In March 2019, Lala Lala set out on a nationwide tour opening for the Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers duo Better Oblivion Community Center.^[13] Later in 2019, Lala Lala opened for Death Cab for Cutie on their U.S. Summer tour.^[14] It was announced that in July 2019, Lala Lala will perform at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago ^[15]

Discography

Studio albums

• Sleepyhead (2016, self-released)
• The Lamb (2018, Hardly Art)
• I Want the Door to Open (2021, Hardly Art)
• if i were a real man i would be able to break the neck of a suffering bird as Lillie West (2024, Hardly Art)^[16]

EPs

• Lala Lala (2014, self-released)
• Have a Good Day (2015, self-released)

Singles

• "Siren 042" featuring WHY? (January 11, 2019)
• "Legs, Run" (January 21, 2020) ^[17]
• "Fantasy Movie" b/w Valentine featuring Grapetooth (February 12, 2020) ^[18]
• "€ € € €^^%%!!!!!heaven!!!!!!" featuring Baths (July 24, 2020) ^[19]
• "Armida"(November 9, 2023)
• "Hit Me Where It Hurts"(November 9, 2023)

References

1. "Lala Lala "Destroyer"". The Deli. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
2. Enis, Eli (24 September 2018). "Artist of the Week: Lala Lala's "The Lamb" is About "Learning and Unlearning"". Bandcamp. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
3. Jackson, Jhoni (September 28, 2018). "Lillie West of Lala Lala Looks Back to Move Forward". Paper. [he Archived] from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
4. Enis, Eli (24 September 2018). "Artist of the Week: Lala Lala's "The Lamb" is About "Learning and Unlearning"". Bandcamp. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
5. Rettig, James (11 July 2018). "Band To Watch: Lala Lala". Stereogum. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
6. White, Anna (19 September 2018). "Lillie West tells secrets but keeps them on Lala Lala's lucid, cryptic new The Lamb". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
7. Rettig, James (11 July 2018). "Band To Watch: Lala Lala". Stereogum. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
8. Arroyo, Steven. "Lala Lala The Lamb". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
9. Manno, Lizzie (October 2018). "Lala Lala: The Lamb Review". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
10. Wang, Steffanee. "Lala Lala and WHY?'s "Siren 042" is a true collaboration between friends". The Fader. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
11. Sandstrom, Adelaide (10 January 2019). "What Happens When You Ignore Your Better Judgment?". NPR. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
12. Sadnstrom, Adelaide (10 January 2019). "What Happens When You Ignore Your Better Judgment?". NPR. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
13. Russell, Scott (29 January 2019). "Better Oblivion Community Center Share "Dylan Thomas" Video, Announce Tour". Paste Magazine.
14. Kreps, Daniel (2019-01-18). "Death Cab for Cutie Extend Tour in Support of 'Thank You for Today'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
15. Staff, Pitchfork (6 March 2019). "Pitchfork Music Festival 2019 Announces Full Lineup". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
16. "if i were a real man i would be able to break the neck of a suffering". Hardly Art. 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
17. "Lala Lala - Legs, Run". Hardly Art. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
18. "Fantasy Movie". Hardly Art. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
19. "Lala Lala - € € € €^^%%!!!!!heaven!!!!!!". Hardly art. Retrieved 29 October 2020.

External links

• Lala Lala discography at Discogs