Los-Angeles-born singer-songwriter Alas de Liona has released her new indie-pop single Vine Song, taken from her newly released second album Gravity of Gold.
Vine Song opens with a pulsating heartbeat-like beat overlayed with sonic-sounding synths. de Liona’s vocal is haunting and ethereal-sounding, think Hannah Reid of London Grammar but with a slightly gravellier edge. A deep, brooding bassline kicks in with an accompaniment of plucky guitars and the gorgeous harmonies further accentuate de Liona’s angelic tones. The chorus of “I fight still, when my guard is gone. I hold onto the ghost of anyone. Make believe yourself to me” is poignant when you consider the themes of the track and of Gravity of Gold as a whole: winding your way through the unpredictable and intricate maze that is the human mind, navigating and hoping to understand the curiosities of dreams and memories, hopes and fears. The track beautifully layers electronic elements and swooping vocals to create a breath-taking soundscape that’s a joy to travel through.
When speaking of Gravity of Gold de Liona said “The tracks from Gravity of Gold are intended to function as both stand-alone songs and part of the album’s artistic entirety. Most of the songs are more up-tempo than my previous work and demonstrate a shift away from folk and into the indie pop/rock sphere, which is where I plan to develop my sound moving forward.”
After being born in Los Angeles and raised in Mojave Desert’s Ridgecrest, de Liona came to the UK to study and self-released her debut album Lightning and Fire in 2017. This was where her blend of haunting melodies coupled with synths and engaging lyrics first emerged. EP Radio Astronomy was released in 2021 and in 2023 she moved full-time to Scotland. She has opened for the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Travis, Callum Beattie and Sister Sledge and will be playing at The Old Hairdressers in Glasgow on Thursday 26th September as a trio with Finlay Johnston and Robyn Smith.
Find out more about Alas de Liona here and have a listen to Vine Song below.