Jessy Lanza (born September 3, 1985)[1] is a Canadian electronic songwriter, producer, and vocalist from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[2] She has released four albums, Pull My Hair Back (2013), Oh No (2016), All the Time (2020) and Love Hallucination (2023) to critical praise on UK label Hyperdub.
Jessy Lanza | |
|---|---|
 Lanza performing in Philadelphia | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 3, 1985 |
| Origin | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Genres | Techno-pop, R&B, electronic |
| Occupation(s) | Dj, music producer, songwriter, vocalist |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Hyperdub |
| Website | jessylanza |
Life and career
editLanza grew up playing piano and clarinet before going to Concordia University to study jazz.[3][4][5] Before starting her career as a singer and music producer, she worked as a music teacher.[6]
Lanza was listed as one of the best new artists of 2013 by XLR8R.[7] In a review of her debut album, Pull My Hair Back, she was described by The Guardian as "the latest and possibly greatest of the new ethereal soul girls"[8] and ranked No. 4 on Resident Advisor's Top 20 Albums of 2013.[9] Pull My Hair Back was co-written and co-produced with Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys and released on the UK's Hyperdub record label. The album Pull My Hair Back was a shortlisted nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize.[10]
In 2014, Lanza collaborated with Caribou on his album Our Love. In 2015, she recorded vocals for The Galleria EP Calling Card / Mezzanine. The duo released a single in 2019 titled Stop & Go.
Her second album Oh No was released in 2016, and was shortlisted again for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize.[11]
Her third album All the Time was released in July 2020.
In 2023 she released the album Love Hallucination.
Influences
editLanza possesses a soprano vocal range, similar to Elizabeth Fraser and Aaliyah.[12] As a child, Lanza listened to Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul.[5] The singer said that having a background in studying jazz helped her to have "the ability to hear and lift chord progressions", which led her to an understanding of R&B music that permeates her recent work.[6] Laced with funk, soul, R&B, and haunting high-register vocals, Lanza cites Missy Elliott and Timbaland as early influences on her songwriting.[13] The singer has also cited such artists as Evelyn "Champagne" King and Melba Moore.[14] She also cited Japanese synthpop artists of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Yellow Magic Orchestra members Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Yukihiro Takahashi, as key influences.[15] She has a postmodern approach to writing music, comparing her songs to a mashup of all the pop songs over the last 40 years that she likes.[5]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Pull My Hair Back (2013)
- Oh No (2016)
- All the Time (2020)
- DJ-Kicks (2021)
- Love Hallucination (2023)
EPs
edit- You Never Show Your Love (2015)
Singles
edit- "Beach Mode" (2013) Ikonika feature
- "Kathy Lee" (2013)
- "Keep Moving" (2013)
- "5785021" (2014)
- "You and Me" (2014)
- "You Never Show Your Love" (2015) (ft. DJ Spinn & Taso)
- "It Means I Love You" (2016)
- "VV Violence" (2016)
- "Oh No" (2016)
- "Lick in Heaven" (2020)
- "Face" (2020)
- "Anyone Around" (2020)
- "Don't Leave Me Now" (2023)
- "Midnight Ontario" (2023)
References
edit- ^ a b "Jessy Lanza Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Cox, Jamieson. "Jessy Lanza. Pull My Hair Back (Review)". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ Ryce, Andrew. "Breaking Through: Jessy Lanza". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ Bentley, Jason. "KCRW Presents: Jessy Lanza". Npr.org. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "Jessy Lanza: The pop writer who isn't a pop star, the cool kid who isn't a hipster". Loudandquiet.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ a b "The understated, alluring RnB of Jessy Lanza". Loudandquiet.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "XLR8R's Best of 2013: New Artists". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ Lester, Paul. "Jessy Lanza". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "RA Poll: Top 20 albums of 2013". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list". CTV News, 15 July 2014.
- ^ Brophy, Aaron (14 July 2016). "2016 Polaris Music Short List Is Here". Polaris Music Prize. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ "CD: Jessy Lanza – Oh No | The Arts Desk". Theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Lindsay, Benjamin. "JESSY LANZA, HAMILTON'S HEROINE". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "JESSY LANZA". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Spice, Anton (23 March 2016). "Jessy Lanza's 6 essential Japanese electronic pop records". Thevinylfactory.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.