Chantel Marie, better known by her stage name Lavachild, has released the latest song from her Kandy EP, “Holy Grail.” Originally from Vancouver, the Brooklyn-based artist creates an ethereal dream-pop sound that deftly blends the delicate melodies of folk music with entrancing electronic flourishes. The result is a sweetly sung, downtempo ballad that occasionally adopts a sinister quality in the chorus.
While her upcoming debut EP and follow up to 2014 single “Want U To” is scheduled to be released later this year, there is no definite street date at this time. However, the promise shown by “Holy Grail” and the short album’s first single “Kandy” hint at big things from the singer. Her influences include Siouxie Sioux, Kate Bush, Roxy Music and James Blake – and while shades of those artists’ best work is present in her sound, she does not come across as an imitator.
According to Marie: “Holy Grail basically touches on our animalism, needs and instincts vs transcendence, being in the moment, and being at peace. The inspirations were Gollum in LOTR, Labyrinth the movie, caves, and being alone in a place where no one exists. It’s solemn, primal, airy, emotional, and momentous.”
Despite the fact that Lavachild now calls the borough of Brooklyn her home, Kandy was in fact written on the West Coast during a “transient period” of the singer’s life. The songs were recorded whenever possible by Lavachild with assistance from Carl Barc on “Holy Grail” and co-production and mixing work on the rest of the songs by Phone.
Kandy EP:
01. Kandy
02. Holy Grail
03. TOTS (Taming of the Shrew)
04. TBD/Waiting Room instrumental
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