December 06, 2023
If you are new to IMC, welcome! There is something you need to know, and that we have already said in some articles: we hate the frenzy of social media where everyone compares themselves to everyone else. Of course, these tools have become essential for connecting to thousands of people around the world, that's undeniable. But there is a problem: the authenticity of connections between human beings is being lost. Let me emphasize the word “authenticity.”
The music you hear on the radio every day is devoid of any authenticity. Everything is perfectly calibrated and precise, and there is no room for any fault in the song. No breathing sounds between sentences. Who sings without breathing? Any singing teacher will tell you that it's impossible. But all these sounds are erased during the mixing and mastering stages. Like those little noises from the strings of a guitar.
And it is precisely with this sound that Lara Taska's new single "You and Me" begins. Then with a simple voice, devoid of artifice and special effects. Authenticity, simplicity, and... purity. For 23 years now, I have been looking for little musical gems to delight my readers and I admit that this level of authenticity is rarely achieved among artists. The last artist who had this effect on me was the Norwegian Lene Marlin (whose album "Another Day" I could still listen to without stopping for weeks). Yes, I'm talking about an album released 20 years ago. You see what I mean?
Accessing this feeling of fullness by listening to a song is like the quest for the holy grail. If it only has to happen every 20 years, so be it! What scares me is that in 20 years I might be too old and deaf to be able to discover more jewelry like this. But who knows?
Lara Taska grew up in the French countryside, just like me, and was a rather shy and introverted child, just like me. Her parents listened to Pink Floyd and Sade, just like me. Who hasn't shivered while listening to classics like "Another Brick in The Wall" or "Your Love is King"? Until we both took refuge in music. My goal was to introduce others to talented artists. And hers was to become a talented artist. She learned to play the guitar at a very young age, and it shows. Now based in the east of France, in Lyon, Lara Taska has launched a new challenge: to conquer the vast world of indie music. Oh yes, we've told you again and again, this world is vast... but at the same time tiny, where everyone knows everyone (a bit the opposite of social media, when you think about it, this is maybe why you don't hear indie music on the radio).
Independent artists have the undeniable advantage of being able to communicate directly with their audience, whether on stage or social media. And you can always try DMing Ed Sheeran on Instagram, you'll only get a like in return if you're lucky. Long gone are the days when he submitted to us his songs on which he sang out of tune. But this immediate connection does not only happen through digital tools. This connection can happen from the first notes of a song. In our case, the connection is created instantly via “You and Me” and its delicate vocals. From the moment Lara Taska starts singing, we feel strong emotions and also a story, an experience, and she explains it to us very well:
"It's a very personal song that is more honest than it may seem. For example, my boyfriend and I would go off on road trips with our dogs and park in the middle of fields to spend the night. We have been through a lot together and have been each other's rock. So I guess this song is also kind of an ode to him, or all of us".
Yes, this song that creates an immediate connection with our spirit is about... connection. Capturing every little moment of complicity, the track immerses us in this complicit relationship but also light and intense at the same time. “It’s just you and me against the world baby.” This is exactly the feeling that emerges from this innocent ballad: cutting yourself off from the world and finding yourself in a protective bubble.
With a bit of Soul in its vocals, a bit of Folk in its chords, and a lot of images in its immersive and heartfelt lyrics, this song deeply touches anyone who wants to take the time to dwell on it. Yes, in a world where content is consumed in 15-second bursts, sometimes you have to take the time.
“You and Me” ticks all the boxes that would make this song unpopular on the radio. It has an intro. A catchy chorus doesn't happen in less than 40 seconds. And the song lasts almost 4:30. Too bad for radio stations, but fortunately for us, fans of unformatted music that conveys real emotions! Because for us, all the criteria are met. Including the main one: goosebumps.
What's hard to believe is that "You and Me" is only Lara Taska's debut single. You won't find (yet) any other songs on her Spotify. And believe our experience: it's far from being scary, it's even very reassuring. This suggests a great career, because if the debut single sets the quality bar so high, the following singles promise to thrill us even more. We're not writing that to put pressure on this wonderful artist. We just trust her, and we know that she will surprise us again in the future.
Picture by E.Z. Intimate.
Reach out to Lara Taska
