Lozen Music

Lozen isn’t much for boxes — which are commonplace in the music world — because “magic happens outside of your comfort zone” says the Quebecer (real name Meaghan Mullaly). The now BC-based singer-songwriter-bandleader goes way beyond classification with a mixed bag of genre-bending offerings from trippy R&B, and jazz-infused ballads, to golden-era style hip-hop and dirty electronic bass. Think Jessie Reyez and Lauryn Hill, with a dose of Santigold.

The seasoned impresario opted to stray from her usual creative process with this forthcoming record. “Before I even got down with rap, I’d write songs on my guitar,” says Lozen, “I went back to my roots with this one. In a sense, it was kind of like coming home.” That approach to composing laid the groundwork, while teaming up with JUNO, SOCAN, ASCAP and MUCH MUSIC award-winning beatmaker DJ Kemo (Producer/Audio Engineer — Kardinal Offishall, Akon, Rascalz, Swollen Members, K-OS, SNOW, Pitbull, Fito Blanko) allowed her to bring the project to life. The duo has been hunkering down together at the Vanguards Music studio for months, enlisting the talent of prominent feature artists and session musicians to collaborate on a new album. No official release date has been announced yet however, the first single is out now on Soul Path Records.

“Something Bout Chu” is a baddie meets goodie love letter, fueled by unapologetic self-worth and a passionate, long-distance romance. From the jump, raspy, throaty vocals are paired with slow arpeggio stripped-back acoustic triplets which suddenly break into a reggae-infused rhythm. The pre-chorus builds up to a climactic chorus which brings a light-hearted summertime vibe that just screams freedom. This beat-changing style of simple arpeggio to reggae skank combination hooks the listener throughout the song.

In the dirty edit, she drops bombs, F-bombs that is. She knows what she wants, where she wants it and how she likes it. The sexual innuendo is palpable, with iconic lyrical references giving nods to rap heavy-weights Wu-Tang Clan and Busta Rhymes. She also makes her boundaries crystal clear: she’ll “never be your side bitch”. Don’t let the four-letter words and rugged edge fool you though, because her raw vulnerability shines though with true confessions “four chords and truth, yeah I’m falling for you.”

The video shoot took place in DJ Kemo’s hometown of Vancouver, BC where Lozen recently relocated. His additional expertise as a veteran cinematographer makes him a triple threat for this tune. Sassy, classy and badassy visuals not only lend themselves to the track but also showcase the woman behind the mic. You’ll find tasters spotlighting the many sides of Lozen: the bra-free, long hair don’t care tie-dye wearing hippie, blowing in the wind on the back of a Harley; the barefoot and brazen empress in a sundress, adorned with silver Bohemian style jewellery gallivanting through botanical gardens, though her “six-string and a dream, that’s enough”; the fierce femcee rocking Odango fun buns, unleashing her inner weirdo with a rainbow romper and high-tops on a zebra couch — faux of course, no animals were harmed during the making of this viddy because Lo is Vegan — she ain’t judging though, “you do you, boo”. The self-professed spiritual alchemist also pays homage to the art of tarot and tattoo culture by getting ink from Dirty Art Maker with a traditional style major arcana sun and moon card piece “there’s an important dynamic between these two forces, the light and shadow energies within us and the world” adding “contrast is essential for clarity.”