Track By Track: LOELASH - Fantasia
Welcome to Track by Track, where artists take us on a deep dive into their latest project one song at a time. Today, LOELASH breaks down Fantasia.
Italian producer and multi-instrumentalist LOELASH releases his debut album, Fantasia. The project explores creative freedom and pulls influences from a number of genres that trigger a multitude of emotions, whether it’s a relaxing afternoon with coffee and silk jazz flowing or craving an exciting late night out with friends in a dimly lit club. Either way, Fantasia is an open invitation to be present.
The London-based producer gives us the opportunity to fully indulge in his diverse and luscious soundscape that weaves through a plethora of genres like classical, electronic, hip-hop, and jazz, unleashing a more experimental and explorative debut for LOELASH. This album truly gives the listener an insight into the creative mind of the multi-talented artist.
Fantasia
The intro of the album and also the first draft I made. I remember it was the day before I flew to Bordeaux to open for Illa J back in 2019 - I was so excited! I feel like it's the perfect way to introduce the listener to this new universe I've built around me.
Whispers
I'm so proud of this track, it's the best blend of House & Jazz I've ever made! I fully managed to channel all the energy I had kept inside during the first few months of the pandemic while staying at home and witnessing the world on pause.
All to Me
The R&B gem of the album! Working with the super talented Taite Imogen was super inspiring. And so easy, too - “All to Me” was made during the first-ever session we had together and we knew straight away we had something special
Cicadas
This short interlude features one of my all-time best friends from High School, Counterfly, which is also an amazing drummer and producer! It was made in an AirBnb in San Vincenzo (Tuscany), in Summer 2020 when I managed to get away from London for a few weeks. The cicadas you hear at the beginning of the track were recorded in a pine forest.
Somebody New
The first single of the album! I produced the draft after supporting Anomalie in his UK run back in 2019 - subsequently I sent it to alternative pop duo Palmaria to see if they vibed with it. When I left Tuscany the following summer I stopped by their little village in the Cinque Terre and we recorded vocals, guitars and sax! I have such lovely memories of those few days. Big love to Francesco and Giulia!
Chosen Ones
This track is the hidden gem of the album and I purposely decided to keep it like that to surprise the listener. It's a big mix of Future Beats, R&B, Grime and Soul. Not sure how London-based R&B singer and producer BAKARE came up with the chorus and verse but he somehow managed to switch between three different genres in a matter of seconds. I was blown away when I heard it for the first time!
Triumph
I think “Triumph” is the first beat I made after the Anomalie tour and you can hear it! I was so excited and proud of my achievements. This short interlude is pure epicness translated into music. I decided to focus on the saxophone on this one, to properly show off my 10+ years of studying Classical music ha!
Mind Games II
If Whispers was a smoother, fusion kind of tune, “Mind Games II” is the House banger of the album. Although it is a lot more minimal and rough than the rest of the record, it still includes elements of different genres, with its jazz chords and unconventional timbres.
Can't Stop
I have worked with the amazing Toronto-based rapper DijahSB for a while now and I just had to have them on a track! Can't Stop is a tribute to my love for boom bap Hip-Hop, with a touch of modern sound and aesthetic mixed with conscious, intricate lyrics.
Tide
I love this outro so much. It belongs to the batch of drafts from 2019 and it may be the most experimental track I have ever made. Future beats at its finest. The waves you hear throughout the whole track were sampled on the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea.