Lauv & “All 4 Nothing”
My review of “All 4 Nothing” and Lauv’s press conference can be found at The ANTI Magazine.
“Hey Ari, are you happy?” and other questions in Lauv’s All 4 Nothing
Lauv talks mental health and finding himself in All 4 Nothing.
In anticipation of his album All 4 Nothing on August 5th, the multi-hyphenate superstar Lauv gave some of his fans a first look during his press conference on July 26th. Lauv first skyrocketed to fame with the release of the single “I Like Me Better” in May 2017 and followed up with two bodies of work: I Met You When I Was 18 and How I’m Feeling. Despite being a lifelong musician, Lauv’s rise to fame happened quicker than expected. He began working on his career immediately after graduating college and hit the ground running. Unfortunately, this sudden success left Lauv feeling isolated.
When asked if he could give any advice to his younger self, Lauv shared an interesting perspective. He had gotten lost in his work, but admits, “I also feel like part of life and part of your early twenties is losing yourself and letting yourself get lost in whatever life is and then coming back.” After the release of How I’m Feeling, Lauv knew the time had come for his return, confessing, “I was so unhappy on the inside and felt so anxious all the time, that my next journey had to define what happiness was for myself.” That journey led to All 4 Nothing. He assures his fans he didn’t filter himself; bringing to light all of the raw and unpolished parts of Lauv.
Once he came to terms with his issues, Lauv decided to tackle mental health awareness head on. He now heavily advocates for working with therapists and psychologists as well as inner child healing and meditation. “I just need to be good on the inside with myself, no matter what happens on the inside,” he notes, “I just need to feel ok as a person.” He found that by mixing Eastern and Western medicines, he has created a space to heal. His hard work and vulnerability paid off, bringing to life a beautiful album. Lauv’s main focus was on exploring the mind and learning how to take care of himself and others. This resulted in more time freestyling in the studio, allowing thoughts and feelings to spill over the beats without worrying if they were worth going on the final cut of the album. The songwriting process taught him that both good and bad ideas have equal importance.
All 4 Nothing album artwork via instagram.com
Lauv via Lauren Dunn
Lauv starts All 4 Nothing with tracks that sound fun but have underlying emotional tones in the lyrics. The opening track “26” may be littered with bubbly beats and a strong reverb, but Lauv struggles to accept reality. He finds it hard to stay sober and laments “how the hell did it come to this?” The unravelling continues in the following track, “Stranger.” Lauv assures that he is no stranger to life’s ups and downs, however as he sings, it becomes clearer that he’s afraid of the darkness in himself. During the press conference, he mentions the album represents, “basically me on a journey trying to find my inner light again.” Although the track remains upbeat, strings join in to create a swirling, uneasy undercurrent. This is followed by “Kids Are Born Stars,” a track that Lauv directly credits to his inner child healing. The song reflects on a young love that broke his heart, and his drive to prove his worth to her. Funk-era beats bring something fun and groovy to the song. The bridge sweetly features his manager’s son, Joshua, capturing that essence of childhood innocence.
Lauv first explicitly discusses using drugs to deal with his demons in “Molly in Mexico”. The subject matter becomes darker, and so does the music. Percussive beats and heavy reverb on the vocals suggests Lauv’s loss of control, but his relationship pulled him back in. “All 4 Nothing (I’m So In Love)” utilizes plucked strings and synthesizer, creating a dreamy landscape and 1980’s vibes. It is a complete love song.“Stay Together” brings a total change, and instead details a break up. Instead of a ballad, Lauv uses a plucky guitar and poppy beat. The lyrics paint a picture of a mismatched couple, so thank god they didn’t stay together. It’s lighthearted and fun, and a little reprieve from the heaviness of “Molly in Mexico” and “All 4 Nothing.” The following two songs, “Summer Nights” and “Time After Time” bring back that romantic side of Lauv. He croons about salvaging a lost love over electronic dance beats and repeated chords, finishing this section of the album with some brightness.
Lauv gets the most personal on the final five tracks on All 4 Nothing. It kicks off with “Hey Ari,” a stripped back and acoustic song with Lauv repeatedly asking himself if he’s happy. He lists off the bad choices he makes over and over, recognizing the need to change his behavior. The lyrics illustrate a raw and vulnerable conversation. He can see the mask he wears, and realizes he needs help. The retro beats and soulful chords in “Better Than This” float beneath the lyrics, underpinning Lauv’s expressions of self-doubt. He knows that he can be better than this and that his love can find someone better than this. It’s heartbreaking, but an important follow up to “Hey Ari.”
The next track completely changes tone, bringing back the darker themes from “Molly in Mexico.” Lauv claims this song, “Bad Trip,” as his favorite. He takes the listener through the journey of a bad experience with drugs. The ego death wasn’t what he hoped for, and his fear and exhaustion bubble through his vocals. The lyrics in the chorus keep repeating as he begs for help, reminiscent of a panic attack. The track is fittingly followed with “I (Don’t) Have a Problem.” The gritty guitar in this song elevates the melancholy lyrics to real despair. Meanwhile, Lauv depicts his struggle to end the complex cycle of addiction. The album is brought to a close with “First Grade.” Calm piano chords open the track, and Lauv beautifully pours out lyrics about childhood, growth, and self-acceptance. He’s joined by violins, bringing texture and depth to the ballad. It’s emotional but hopeful and a fitting end to the album.
Historically, Lauv has been involved in the minutiae of his work. His extensive experience behind the scenes in a recording studio allowed him to be involved in the production. However, he decided to take a step back in All 4 Nothing. This time, he enlisted producers he trusted to handle the music while he focused on the lyrics and the vocals. As Lauv discusses song writing, he mentions, “I just sometimes think of song writing as I am just channelling whatever emotion feels natural in the room.” Honestly, that statement encapsulates Lauv. Natural, raw, and organic. Lauv’s All 4 Nothing organically processes his feelings. It reflects his life, and he wants people to listen to it out in nature. It’s all about experiencing life in the moment. After the stresses and loneliness, All 4 Nothing offers the feeling of stepping out of the woods into the sunlight.
Lauv follows this album with a new tour across the United States and Asia with Hayley Kiyoko. He says he really looks forward to this tour, since he wasn’t able to really tour after releasing How I’m Feeling. This is just the beginning - Lauv is already planning his next album, eager to continue his growth through songwriting. Grateful for his fans, Lauv also looks to develop new methods of engagement. He was considering a podcast or mentioned, “I want to guide meditations and stuff, or even just come and hang out. I don’t know if I should just go on Live or Twitter Spaces, but I love guiding meditations, but I also feel really self-conscious.” No matter what, Lauv’s fans will love All 4 Nothing and the emotion it packs in.
