Images via Danny Drax // 

A bit of easy listening to get you through hump day…

Inner West multi-instrumentalist Lady King’s (real name Lara King) list of accomplishments rivals that of the most accomplished artists in the local scene. Boasting collaborations with the likes of Lime Cordiale, Ocean Alley, Lastlings and more, all the while performing as a session member in Sydney psych outfit, Velvet Trip, she’s done just about everything you could hope for as a homegrown muso. On the solo front, she’s been just as busy, carving out her own corner in the R&B scene with soulful singles like ‘Tease Me’ and ‘Play It’. Tomorrow, she adds to her ever-building discography with her latest groove ‘Light Up’, and luckily for you, we’re premiering it today.

Made up of wavy keys, airy synths and some ethereal strings, Lady King paints one of her most minimal, but intricate, soundscapes yet. As a result, her vocals take centre stage as she vocalises about “that exciting feeling when you first meet someone”, her execution of phrases like “Don’t keep these flames inside” and the title lyric flush with plenty of feeling and emotion. Her technical prowess as a singer really comes across in the new slow jam as well, with her use of scatting and vocal runs helping to add plenty of variation to the delivery of the bop.

“I wrote this one when I was in a funk, and not the good kind,” she says. “When I’m feeling low, I often gravitate toward soul, funk, disco and uptempo dance music like Chaka Khan, Patrice Rushen and Shamala. When I catch a dose of drums hitting four-to-the-floor, funky bass lines and positively cliche lyrics, it puts me in a space where I feel light, present and free to express myself.”