Irish pop star LAOISE (pronounced Lee-sha!) makes her highly anticipated return with the infectious new single, ‘Healthy’, out everywhere now.
With national lockdown hitting all corners of the UK and Ireland, like many, LAOISE found herself isolated and frustrated, questioning the direction she was heading in and almost quitting music altogether. Searching for a perspective outside of music to navigate her thoughts and emotions, she started therapy and it was through these sessions that she found the headspace to start thinking about healthier ways to approach not only her music, but life in general. She was able to channel this energy into her songwriting, taking away all the pressures and expectations, and has come out the other side stronger and more ambitious than ever.
Following that shift in perspective and listening to her gut, Laoise and her long-time collaborator Seán Behan have escaped from the city to an island off the west coast of Ireland, writing more than ever with the crashes of ocean waves just outside their window.
‘Healthy’ is the first taste of a shift of musical direction for LAOISE and highlights her at her most authentic. Showcasing a softer, more controlled side to her voice, the track evokes a sense of calm, however still maintaining her trademark playfulness. She writes about a relationship that feels mature and nurturing, but it also questions how we deal with situations.
LAOISE says, “Writing this song felt so natural. Seán had a simple instrumental idea that brought me out of a pandemic-induced songwriting rut. During that time, I was discovering a new way of viewing the world – I spent some time offline and started listening to myself. Things like asking myself what I wanted, why I wanted the things I did and if they were really beneficial to me as a person, or if they were attempts to obtain some sort of external validation – that’s very confusing to navigate as an artist.
It was also extremely uncomfortable calling myself out like that, but I think it worked as a great act of healing, because in the long run when you rely on others to give you validation, it stunts personal and artistic growth. Now, I’ve learned to trust my instincts and give myself what I want and need where I can. For me, that’s Healthy.”
