Sideways producer La+ch released his album ‘+’ yesterday and it’s a phenomenal collection of songs that show off his various skills as musician. Showcasing his own vocals for the first time, La+ch really put all himself into this project. We caught up with him to chat about his new album, which is perfectly funky and soulful in every way.
Who is La+ch? Tell me a little about yourself.
I am LA+CH and I’m part of a Toronto-based collective called Sideways. I love to play all different sorts of music, it doesn’t really matter the GENRE it is to me. My main instruments are drums and keys. I came from a jazz and rock background, then started PRODUCING later on in life.
How would you describe your music taste?
My music is more electronic now. I really like melodic sounding music with a good BEAT. IÂ like hit music as well as DARK sounding music.
What inspired the album?
</3 ’n meeting my girl and the experiences I felt from that. It’s also just about my life and faith.
How do you think this album represents you as an artist?
I was just being myself on the record. It’s kind of interesting because I didn’t even really want to make an album and it just happened. It has a lot of DARK elements and emotion on it IMO. To me, when you listen to it front to back, you can kind of get a sense of who I am. Sometimes people get rattled that they can’t hear the lyrics properly or they don’t understand what I’m saying, but the vocal melodies are almost like another instrument to me—almost ALIEN(ish). The approach I took on this album is more MINIMAL, I would say. If you listen to the whole record, it is very cohesive.
How does this album differ from your previous releases? What new things to you try on this album?
I  sing on this album! It’s me trying to express my verbal/melodic emotions over RETRO(ish) style beats. It’s also me being on the other side of production as well.
Sideways member Michah (f/k/a Dustbuster) rec’d all the vox for me, that way I didn’t have to run back from the booth back to the desk. On “Hurry Up” my brother Coleman Hell features & also Jayme on the second verse (same feat TEAM from youaremysummer). “Hurry Up” is also about ZOMBIES.
What’s your songwriting and producing process?
For this record specifically, ‘+’ was made pretty naturally with a COUPLE BOTTLES of SOLA in a dark room. I really wanted to go for a certain MOOD/VIBE on this record, so most of the songs are minimal. Normally, I’m used to producing for other artists but on this record it was more for my self. I am very grateful to have Michah in the room to help with various engineering/producing ideas. You’ll hear a lot of PADS, 808-claps, and mostly HI-PITCHED singing. Generally I like to start with a chord progression that moves me and i feel inspired with. then i’ll build the beat from there.
Where do you plan to go from here?
I’m not really sure yet. I’m not the kinda person that plans my life in advance. I’m just gonna keep making the music that I love to make and enjoy. Hopefully that will work out! We have a lot of BIG things happening in Sideways. We have a lot more material coming out this next year. COLEMAN HELL signed to the legendary COLUMBIA RECORDS last week so that’s pretty crazy (I also play/produce for COLEMAN HELL).Â
Is there anything else about the album we should know?
All art work was done by Shan Vincent dePaul. If you listen to album 3 times in a row, you will start to hear the hidden messages of La+ch. There are a lot of subtle TREATS for the friends. Hope y’all enjoy it! if not… that’s life! hahaha
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