Biography
Lava La Rue, the rapper and vocalist rooted in West London, blends mellow golden-era hip-hop rhythms with forward-looking R&B textures to create a hybrid style that shifts fluidly between modes. Following a string of singles and EPs, the artist dropped the trap-inflected mixtape Stitches in 2019 before shifting toward neo-soul across subsequent EPs and the full-length studio debut Starface, which arrived in 2024.
Born Ava Laurel, Lava La Rue spent portions of childhood moving through foster care and began making music during adolescence, eventually forming the experimental collective NiNE8 alongside friends exploring unconventional sounds. Online song shares began as early as 2015, and multiple EPs plus standalone tracks preceded the 2018 project Letra, which drew notice for its unhurried beats and relaxed flows. That release stemmed in part from an extended stay in Tokyo working alongside producer Disk Nagataki; upon returning to London, Lava La Rue completed Letra, which opened the door to further output. Tracks issued in 2019 moved away from vintage rap production toward trap elements paired with R&B hooks, and the nine-song Stitches gathered the strongest of those efforts.
In 2020 the evolution continued with the electronic-tinged R&B/rap cut “G.O.Y.D.” and the more pop-oriented “Angel,” which featured guest vocals from Deb Never. The 2021 EP Butter-Fly fused U.K. rap with alternative R&B, while the neo-soul EP Hi-Fidelity appeared in 2022. Several singles preceded the next project, the 2024 album Starface. As the artist’s first proper studio album, Starface gathered everything that had come before, incorporating Bowie-esque melody, Prince-like funk, stretches of braggadocious rap, and inventive synth pop. Issued in July 2024, the album featured guest appearances from bb sway, Cuco, tendai, and additional contributors. After its release, Lava La Rue teamed with Danny Dwyer for the new single “System Overload.”
Born Ava Laurel, Lava La Rue spent portions of childhood moving through foster care and began making music during adolescence, eventually forming the experimental collective NiNE8 alongside friends exploring unconventional sounds. Online song shares began as early as 2015, and multiple EPs plus standalone tracks preceded the 2018 project Letra, which drew notice for its unhurried beats and relaxed flows. That release stemmed in part from an extended stay in Tokyo working alongside producer Disk Nagataki; upon returning to London, Lava La Rue completed Letra, which opened the door to further output. Tracks issued in 2019 moved away from vintage rap production toward trap elements paired with R&B hooks, and the nine-song Stitches gathered the strongest of those efforts.
In 2020 the evolution continued with the electronic-tinged R&B/rap cut “G.O.Y.D.” and the more pop-oriented “Angel,” which featured guest vocals from Deb Never. The 2021 EP Butter-Fly fused U.K. rap with alternative R&B, while the neo-soul EP Hi-Fidelity appeared in 2022. Several singles preceded the next project, the 2024 album Starface. As the artist’s first proper studio album, Starface gathered everything that had come before, incorporating Bowie-esque melody, Prince-like funk, stretches of braggadocious rap, and inventive synth pop. Issued in July 2024, the album featured guest appearances from bb sway, Cuco, tendai, and additional contributors. After its release, Lava La Rue teamed with Danny Dwyer for the new single “System Overload.”
Albums
Singles
