Queer, experimental saxophonist Lara Jones announces left-field electronic EP 'Fig' due June 16th with EP title track
Experimental saxophonist Lara Jones announces left-field electronic EP Fig due out June 16th, centred around queer love.
Today she shares EP title track ‘Fig’.
Listen / share: https://on.soundcloud.com/BM4MS
"Electronics queen" - Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music
“Foreboding, rhythmic noise, it’s raw and loud like intense emotion” Jazzwise
“Lara threads energetic layers of improvised electronics inspired by 90s big beat classics, and her own sampled voice projecting a sense of fragility and defiance in equal measure. Really powerful stuff.” Gazelle Twin
PREMIERED TODAY ON BBC R 6 MARY-ANNE HOBBS
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London based, queer, experimental saxophonist, composer and producer Lara Jones announces her captivating new EP Fig due out June 16th. Creating high energy pulsating electronics using saxophone, synths, beats, live processing, voice and field recording; Lara builds structures and queer narratives through her work. New EP Fig is explosive and chaotic with rampant breakbeats and glitchy electronics. It’s also powerful and intimate with queer energy weaving through each track, offering a personal insight of Lara’s connection to her own queer identity and experiences. Lara’s new project follows on from the success of her 2022 EP release Flow as she now returns with her grittiest, heaviest and boldest pieces of music yet.
Today's announcement comes with the release of EP title track ‘Fig'. As the EP’s opener, ‘Fig’ sets the precedent for the rest of the project. The new single is an anticipation building electronic track where Lara utilises field recordings that make a clear statement of what the project is about, as the listener hears Lara say “queer love, it’s just love you know”. The field recordings heard on new single ‘Fig’ are from a conversation that took place in the shower with her wife, “I wanted to be bolder with this EP in how I presented my message, I chose to use my voice audibly for the first time and ultimately aimed to start a conversation about queer love and identity from an intimate perspective” adds Lara.
Lara’s intimate explorations of queer love and identity runs throughout the entire EP travelling through emotions of euphoria, gratitude, confusion, hurt but most importantly love. On track ‘Look’, Lara exclaims “I want to look like a girl, who looks like a boy, wearing a dress”, whilst ‘Scissors’, the most private and personal track on the EP, utilises vocal samples that give expression to the euphoria of eros love and queer intimacy. In addition the this, chaotic and explosive EP closer ‘Absence’, was based on a time her Dad did not show up to her wedding. Lara says “it’s not a sad tune; there’s emotion in it but ultimately it’s gritty and powerful with some chaos. It’s a reminder that even in absence, we must focus on what we have in our presence in that moment. There was catharsis in writing this tune, I allowed myself to process something potentially hurtful but ultimately wanted a tangible reminder that I love the people I'm surrounded by and I'm having fun making what I make and living the life I live. It didn’t always feel as easy and enjoyable as it does and now. I'm in this place, I'm not letting my vibe be knocked for nothing - so let’s dance!”
Lara is currently being mentored by Gazelle Twin. Jones' favourite aspect of music making is performing live therefore many of the singles found on Fig are made with live performance in mind. Many of the EP’s tracks are formed through improvisation, both in the compositions and production, giving a progressive movement to the sound and a live energy throughout. Lara will be touring this energetic new EP live this spring.
Upcoming Live dates:
19.03 - London @ Cafe Oto supporting El Khat
18.05 - Edinburgh @ Wavetable
19.05 - Glasgow @ Glad Cafe
07.06 - Manchester @ Soup
08.06 Newcastle @ Lubber Fiend
22.06 London @ Bardona
08.07 Birmingham @ Mostly Jazz Festival
29.07 Coventry @ Just Dropped In Records
*** More dates to be announced ***
Lara Jones
Fig
RD: June 16th
1. Fig
2. Touch
3. Look
4. Scissors
5. Absence
