More about: Lou Roy

Lou Roy, about creating music, has said: "Genre is tough, I don't like it, and it makes me feel crazy." It would make sense then that Pure Chaos, her debut album, is a curiously varied beast. Combining alt-pop elements, airy soul and straightforward acoustic songwriting, it develops a unique sound and bounces around a number of different styles quite comfortably. 

In her past, Roy has experienced a rocky ride in the music industry and felt disillusioned with being an artist, frequently contemplating throwing in the towel altogether. It was not until the pandemic struck in 2020 that she was relieved of the pressure to be prolific. As a result of both this and a tumultuous breakup, she took some time to regroup, reassess, and discover her rhythm.

During this time, Pure Chaos began to take shape. Its lyrical themes concentrate on heartbreak, uncertainty and regret but also a brighter side of life. Roy has stated "Almost every song derives from dealing with that trauma," referring to a decade-old sexual assault that was impacting many aspects of her life. Although such brave and harrowing topics are discussed, there is a sense of fun to be found in the upbeat tracks 'Big Anvil' and the optimistic 'Uppercut'. The latter is a whirlwind of distorted guitars and big choruses where Roy finds her rock feel, something that would do well to be explored further in the future.

‘Bull Ride’ evokes the sound of late seventies California, while ‘Scroll’ comments on the loss of connection and lack of real experience felt while trapped looking at our phones. She finds herself in the world of the absurd on 'Talkin To Ya' where a conversation with her dog leads to DVD player focused chat to ‘day-to-day bullshit’; it’s a humorous walk-through of her colourful mind. Many of the tracks don't linger: the aforementioned 'Big Anvil' clocks in at just a minute-and-a-half. Whether Roy merely felt the track was done or was apprehensive about exploring the idea further remains to be seen. However, songs like ‘Dream’, built on a single verse & chorus runs with just the right amount of ghostly and padded reverb to justify its absence of lyrics. 

Roy knows what kind of artist she wants to be. On Pure Chaos she lets her creativity run wild, and despite a few missteps here and there where tracks lack consistency, her confidence and an abundance of ideas are commendable throughout and spell just the beginning of what is to come. 

Pure Chaos arrives 29 April via Balloon Machine.

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Lou Roy