Edward Russell
It’s always a good omen when an artist’s debut single is both fantastically enjoyable and sounds completely sure of itself. Right off the bat, Sydney singer-songwriter LAVRENCE has proven himself to be an artist to watch out for with his first release – a whimsical dancefloor-filler called ‘Shine’, co-written and produced with fellow Sydney muso Bobby Gray.
‘Shine’ is a self-empowerment anthem that manages to rise above the usual disingenuous shlock that passes as ‘inspirational’, because unlike those other songs, it actually makes you feel something. It’s hard not to be swept away by the track’s impeccable production, which features a pulsating bass line, steady piano notes and an irresistible drum groove. The hook is phenomenal, topped with memorable backing vocals and powerful synths.
The song’s message isn’t hard to decipher. As LAVRENCE himself explains, “it’s about finding that part of you where there’s no shame or fear and putting it out for the world to see – without needing validation.” Whilst there’s not a whole lot to unpack in the lyrics, they fit the tone of the instrumental perfectly and never feel overly simplistic or cheesy. A lyric video, which matches both the track’s themes and its slight vintage flair, accompanied the song’s release.
LAVRENCE’s love for both performance and music started at a young age, having raced home to perform the Spice Girls’ ‘Spice’ after school each day. He later studied acting, singing and dancing at a performing arts high school. The singer-songwriter made his performance debut recently at The Imperial Hotel’s ‘Heaps Gay’s The Haus of Acrylic’ party.
With just one single under his belt, LAVRENCE is already shaping up to become one of Sydney’s most exciting new artists.
