Lala Lala

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Lala Lala

| image = Lala Lala.jpg

| caption = Lala Lala performing in 2021

| landscape =

| alt =

| alias =

| birth_name = Lillie Amadea West

| origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| genre = Indie rock

| years_active = {{start date|2014}}–present

| label = Hardly Art

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|lalabandlala.com}}

}}

Lillie Amadea West, known professionally as Lala Lala, is an indie rock musician and songwriter based in Chicago.{{cite web |title=Lala Lala "Destroyer" |url=http://chicago.thedelimagazine.com/35872/lala-lala-destroyer |website=The Deli |accessdate=4 March 2019}}

Early life

West was born in California, but was raised in London until she was twelve years old. Her father was a filmmaker. She then moved with her family to Los Angeles and attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |title=Artist of the Week: Lala Lala's "The Lamb" is About "Learning and Unlearning" |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2018/09/24/lala-lala-the-lamb-interview/ |website=Bandcamp |date=24 September 2018 |accessdate=5 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |title=Artist of the Week: Lala Lala's "The Lamb" is About "Learning and Unlearning" |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2018/09/24/lala-lala-the-lamb-interview/ |website=Bandcamp |date=24 September 2018 |accessdate=5 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Band To Watch: Lala Lala |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2004521/band-to-watch-lala-lala/franchises/interview/ |website=Stereogum |date=11 July 2018 |accessdate=5 March 2019}} She dropped out of college after "a year and two months", then moved to Chicago when she was 19.{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Jhoni |title=Lillie West of Lala Lala Looks Back to Move Forward |url=https://www.papermag.com/lala-lala |website=Paper |access-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url=he |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |date=September 28, 2018 |url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Anna |title=Lillie West tells secrets but keeps them on Lala Lala's lucid, cryptic new The Lamb |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2018/09/19/lillie-west-tells-secrets-but-keeps-them-on-lala-lalas-lucid-cryptic-new-the-lamb |website=Chicago Reader |date=19 September 2018 |accessdate=4 March 2019}} Upon the announcement of the band's second album, Stereogum gave Lala Lala the prestigious recognition of "Band to Watch" in July 2018.{{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Band To Watch: Lala Lala |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2004521/band-to-watch-lala-lala/franchises/interview/ |website=Stereogum |date=11 July 2018 |accessdate=5 March 2019}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Arroyo |first1=Steven |title=Lala Lala The Lamb |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/lala-lala-the-lamb/ |website=Pitchfork |accessdate=5 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Manno |first1=Lizzie |title=Lala Lala: The Lamb Review |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/10/lala-lala-the-lamb-review.html |website=Paste Magazine |date=October 2018 |accessdate=6 March 2019}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Steffanee |title=Lala Lala and WHY?'s "Siren 042" is a true collaboration between friends |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/10/lala-lala-why-collaboration-siren-042 |website=The Fader |accessdate=6 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Sandstrom |first1=Adelaide |title=What Happens When You Ignore Your Better Judgment? |website=NPR |date=10 January 2019 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/10/683920909/what-happens-when-you-ignore-your-better-judgment |accessdate=5 March 2019}} 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."{{cite web |last1=Sadnstrom |first1=Adelaide |title=What Happens When You Ignore Your Better Judgment? |website=NPR |date=10 January 2019 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/10/683920909/what-happens-when-you-ignore-your-better-judgment |accessdate=5 March 2019}}

In March 2019, West set out on a nationwide tour opening for the Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers duo Better Oblivion Community Center.{{cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Scott |title=Better Oblivion Community Center Share "Dylan Thomas" Video, Announce Tour |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/better-oblivion-community-center-dylan-thomas-vide.html |website=Paste Magazine|date=29 January 2019 }} Later in 2019, Lala Lala opened for Death Cab for Cutie on their U.S. Summer tour.{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Death Cab for Cutie Extend Tour in Support of 'Thank You for Today' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/death-cab-for-cutie-summer-tour-2019-781296/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=5 March 2019|date=2019-01-18 }} It was announced that in July 2019, Lala Lala will perform at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago {{cite web |last1=Staff |first1=Pitchfork |title=Pitchfork Music Festival 2019 Announces Full Lineup |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/pitchfork-music-festival-2019-announces-full-lineup/ |website=Pitchfork |date=6 March 2019 |accessdate=7 March 2019}}

In July 2021, Lala Lala released a single, "Diver," the first off her third album, I Want The Door To Open, which was released in October 2021.{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=2021-07-13 |title=Lala Lala Announces New Album, Shares New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/lala-lala-announces-new-album-shares-new-song-listen/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The album received positive reviews, with Pitchfork summarizing, "[p]airing her simple, unaffected vocal style with carefully synthesized arrangements, the Chicago-based musician departs from her indie-rock foundations in search of musical and personal freedom."{{Cite web |last=Riedy |first=Jack |title=Lala Lala : I Want the Door to Open |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/lala-lala-i-want-the-door-to-open/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

West released two new singles in 2023, "Hit Me Where It Hurts" in September, and "Armida" in November.{{Cite web |title=Lala Lala offers the heart-wrenching “Hit Me Where It Hurts” |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/09/27/lala-lala-hit-me-where-it-hurts |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=The FADER |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lala Lala Teams Up with Jay Som's Melina Duterte for New Single "Armida" │ Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/lala_lala_armida |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Lala Lala Teams Up with Jay Som's Melina Duterte for New Single "Armida" │ Exclaim! |language=en}} In 2024, she released the instrumental album if i were a real man i would be able to break the neck of a suffering bird, which was written and recorded during a residency in Iceland and includes eight instrumental compositions. Of the album, West notes, "I hope that the music is able to invoke the rhythm, sway, and connection I felt with the landscape in Seyðisfjörður, as well as my ongoing attempt to communicate with the divine."{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=if i were a real man i would be able to break the neck of a suffering |url=https://www.hardlyart.com/blogs/news/if-i-were-a-real-man-i-would-be-able-to-break-the-neck-of-a-suffering-bird-available-on-dsps-limited-edition-cassette-on-april-5th |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Hardly Art |language=en}}

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)

=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) {{cite web |title=Lala Lala - Legs, Run |url=https://www.hardlyart.com/releases/lala_lala/legs_run |website=Hardly Art |accessdate=29 October 2020}}
"Fantasy Movie" b/w Valentine featuring Grapetooth (February 12, 2020) {{cite web |title=Fantasy Movie |url=https://www.hardlyart.com/releases/lala_lala/fantasy_movie |website=Hardly Art |accessdate=29 October 2020}}
"€ € € €^^%%!!!!!heaven!!!!!!" featuring Baths (July 24, 2020) {{cite web |title=Lala Lala - € € € €^^%%!!!!!heaven!!!!!! |url=https://www.hardlyart.com/releases/lala_lala/heaven |website=Hardly art |accessdate=29 October 2020}}
"Hit Me Where It Hurts"(September 27, 2023)
"Armida" (November 9, 2023)
"holyholyholy" (April 1, 2024)