Serotonin for the Soul: An Artist Review – Lauv

Credit%3A+Photo+from+Genius

Credit: Photo from Genius

Marjorie Blum

In my last article, my mini-midterm playlist, I mentioned two songs by the artist, Lauv. After writing that article, I decided to dive into the enchanting and captivating utopia that is his discography, and I serendipitously discovered my version of musical paradise.

As a child, Lauv played the piano and guitar, and then began to write music. Lauv, whose real name is Ari Leff, graduated from New York University with a degree in music technology before taking off in the music industry. “The Other,” released in 2015, is Lauv’s first song. He then released his first album, I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist) in 2018 and plans on releasing his next album, ~how i’m feeling~ in March of 2020.

In just a short span of time, he became one of my favorite artists and I cannot go a day without listening to him. I have compiled a list of five of his songs that I have been listening to on repeat over the past couple of weeks – here they are:

“I Like Me Better” – This is the first song that I ever heard by Lauv. Playing repeatedly on the radio, I always had it stuck in my head. “I Like Me Better” is the auditory equivalent to skipping through a meadow of flowers while watching the sunset on the most perfect spring day. I feel nothing but the rays of sunshine coursing through my veins for the entire duration of the song. This song never fails to bring a smile to my face and continuously makes my heart feel extra warm and fuzzy.

“Paris in the Rain” – This is one of my absolute favorite Lauv songs. It is inspired by the movie, Midnight in Paris, and paints the perfect picture of a passionate love. “Paris in the Rain” transports the listener into a Parisian dream and allows the listener to experience true love in the most romantic city in the world. In a video explaining how he made the song, Lauv explained the meaning as “being in love with somebody where really it doesn’t matter where you are, it always feels like Paris in the rain.” I believe that this song truly encapsulates exactly what he stated.

“Sad Forever” – This is one of those songs that I turn on when I am wishing all of my worries away. When I am stressed or feeling down I put this song on, and I am comforted with the realization that I am not alone, and there are other people that can relate to the mess going on in my head. “Sad Forever” serves as a constant reminder that everything really will be okay, and the melody feels as though it is a warm blanket wrapping itself around me in the words of others’ experiences. This will forever be one of my favorite songs.

“Feelings” – With the electro-pop instrumentals, this song plays into the depths and doubts in someone’s mind when realizing they have feelings for another person, but it puts the ball in their court. “Feelings” is essentially a cry for love with the hope and possibility of the other person being open to a relationship with the narrator in the song. I really enjoy the serenity that is the instrumentals, as Lauv always creates unique and enticing instrumentals in his songs.

“lonely” – Featuring artist Anne-Marie, this song depicts another cry for love because the narrator of the song is lonely and missing their past significant other. The song is a melancholic look down memory lane of the times they were together. As aforementioned, Lauv has a really unique way of distinguishing his instrumentals and making them sound unique, and that is especially profound in this song. “lonely” creates a perfect juxtaposition between the lighthearted instrumentals as compared to the blue and somber lyrics.

I now consider Lauv to be one of my favorite artists. Not only is he a lyrical genius, but the role he plays in the production of his music is essential to the genuine and personal connection that the listener feels while listening to his music. He deserves nothing but success, and I will be eagerly waiting for the release of his next album.