LOLO

Repacked as Lolo, soulful singer-songwriter Lauren Pritchard has shelved the saccharine pop for swaggering chunks of bravado and lust. Mangled by inner turmoils and personal troubles, as it would appear in recent effort “Heard It From A Friend”, Lolo has returned bigger, better and badass-er. She’s a comic book villain, spurned and cast aside, returning with a mask, doomsday device and copious methods to reveal a tormented darkness. Her weapon of choice however, is her voice, rather than a nuclear warhead or 60ft death ray.

On new cut, “Weapon For Saturday”, Lolo channels the inner noir of Lana Del Rey, backed by cinematic strings and a D&B beat. She boasts on par with any soul entrenched in the rap game: “I’m a weapon for Saturday/ I’m the baddest car in the parking lot/ hottest gun that the preacher shot/ and I always get my way.” The aforementioned “Heard It From A Friend” is bolshy, grandiose ’60s pop swagger incarnate, and for lack of a better description, a Bond song through and through. Lolo hoarsely growls through a throat serrated by 40-a-day; think Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ attached by the nipples to jump leads.

We grabbed a few moments with the rising popstress ahead of her November headline show, to talk her singles, Panic At The Disco collaboration and working with Labyrinth’s brother.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Lolo, I’m from Jackson, Tennessee, which is sort of between Memphis and Nashville. I’ve had a bizarre peaks-and-valleys musical journey. My mum had a few songwriter friends that would come round sometimes, and I used to be a fly on the wall, sort of slowly realising you could do that sort of thing for a living. That’s when I realised that was what I definitely wanted to to do. I left home at 16 to move to LA and start this journey. I was in a bunch of bands, even a reggae band, just trying to meet everyone and anyone. I’ve made an album for Island records in LA with Mark Batson who’s part of Aftermath and worked with people like Dre and Eminem. He’s an amazing guy. We’ve made a few songs that are already up on iTunes, like “Weapon For Saturday”.

What was it like working with Panic At The Disco?

They had a song called “Miss Jackson”. The bits I wrote were originally just a sample that didn’t get cleared in time. So I got this phone call from them at the last minute and I was very gung-ho for the opportunity! I’ve always loved them and what they do and it was just a dream come true for me. They could not be nicer or more talented. Such a great experience.

What was it like performing at the Barclay’s Centre with them?

It was extraordinary. I had such a blast. Honestly, huge props to Panic for letting me join. They didn’t have to do that shit. It was fucking great. I hope I get to do it again.

Could you run us through the process of making “Year Round Summer Of Love”?

I’d been living in London up until when I left to start working with Mark. It’s definitely the polar opposite of LA, where he lives! It’s about finally being in a place where it’s always beautiful and warm and no one has to cover up. It’s totally amazing to be thrust into that. Like, I wound up there in the fall and it was still so lovely, I didn’t have to even wear a coat! The inspiration was about making summer last forever.

Is there a theme running through it?

Summer lasting forever and LA were the starting inspirations, but the other theme that’s definitely naughtier. Summer is when people get friskier, there’s less clothes being worn, people stay out later in the warm… it’s definitely got a sexual tension. It’s not necessarily about full-on gettin’ it on, but its definitely about a flirtiness that’s only seen in summer.

Could you tell us a bit about “Weapon For Saturday”?

It was a really great writing process – like I was working hard but it wasn’t hard work, if you know what I mean? Mark has been in the industry for so long, worked with so many artists, and he is also a classically trained musician himself, so there were all these different avenues to explore. We wanted to make a record that was honest and soulful with a lot of balls. Lots of strength. The image was some kind of mixture of Alanis Morrisette-meets-Spiceworld-meets-Janis Joplin. I wanted to be singing at maximum potential throughout the album and I also wanted it to be about strength. The number one thing about this journey I’ve been on that its made me really fucking strong. All these examples of the coolest or baddest or bestest in “Weapon For Saturday” are about being strong and not shying away.

The creation came from that moment when you’re in your fucking underwear and you’re singing that song that makes you feel on top of the world, and it’s just you and you feel great. That’s what that song is for me. I think it’s a special way to feel. Everyone is fucking awesome, every single of of us. We’re all strong, we’ve all been through stuff. Lots of the album is about realising strengths and weaknesses.

How’s the record coming along?

All done! Just got to master the bloody thing.

What is a Weapon For Saturday?

It’s American slang in football. In the NFL you get Monday football and Sunday football, but in college sports, there’s Thursday and Saturday games. The terminology came about where you wanted to save your players for Saturday. So it’s saving your most powerful for the weekend and being that ‘weapon for Saturday’.

Who has influenced your music musically?

As a writer? All over the place… Eminem, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Jay Z, Joni Mitchell… People with strong creative voices, who lyrically left a big imprint on me when I was young. Not being afraid of saying whatever the fuck they want. Musically, my Mum’s favourite artists, Prince and Janet Jackson, have always been an enormous influence. My Dad’s two favourites are Al Green and Steely Dan, and he was always playing them when I was very young. My parents are cool, listening to all kinds of music. They love road trips. My favourite thing about them was the classic CDs my parents played like Marvin Gaye.

What events have influenced you?

I’ve always been singing and writing. When I was young I wrote short stories, that was way before the music. I was always into creating but the older I got the more the writing went from fantastical to being more like real life. I think a huge event was leaving home at 16. I came from a small town, which I go back to every Christmas. I love that place, but when I was younger it was scary and stifling. It’s a place nobody leaves. It was difficult for me to understand that and I wanted to get the fuck out. I didn’t understand. I’d put good money on the majority of people in my hometown not even having a passport! When I did leave, it was huge moment of being disconnected from everything I knew, and accepting the decision and standing behind it. My feelings aren’t the same as when I left but it’s still a decision I think about – my family’s there.

Are you excited for your November show in London?

It’s gonna be fucking great. People won’t be disappointed one bit. We’re gonna do some wicked arrangements of the songs. I think it brings the songs even more to life! McNasty (Labyrinth’s brother) is a fucking amazing drummer. We’ve been working on these songs, taking little samples from the Maida Vale sessions I did with Rob Da Bank. We’re also doing a secret cover… I’m so excited!

What was your first show ever like?

Oh my god, like ever ever? Well, actually, it’s one of my favourite stories! At my first singer-songwriter gig, the first time I played by myself, when I’d just moved to LA. I don’t even remember the bar’s name, though it was in Venice Beach though. I’d never played before by myself. I was shaking. I’d just never done it. I had thirty minutes, and if you got enough cheers after that you got to play another set. I got loads of applause, and I remember being scared shitless just praying for them not to boo me and just let me play another set – I got to, which was a huge relief. It was a 21 and all over place and they weren’t gonna let me play, but saw I’d dragged my keyboard all the way down so reluctantly let me in but not before they’d drawn these huge black crosses on the backs of my hand so no staff would serve me!

Do you have anything planned for the rest of 2013?

It’s just gonna be a bunch of gigs and special appearances here and there before we wrap for Christmas. Some radio stuff maybe, but mostly excitement to get the record out at the beginning of next year! I just want to get it out and put it online and get some great reactions. It’s going to be such a fucking relief to just put it out there!

LOLO plays a free show at Birthdays on November 19.