His deeply powerful voice, expressive language and turn of phrase (the title, Yacomome, means 'this is for you!' in Wolof) has already been stuck in our heads all summer thanks to airplay on Radio Nova, France Inter and Germany's Radio Cosmo. The debut EP from LASS will be out the 22nd of october 2021..
Whether accompanied by acoustic guitar, classic strings or house and afropop beats produced by Bruno Patchwork (Voilaaa) and Raphael D'Hervez (Pongo), LASS's flow and elegant style will whisk you away from the humdrum of daily life with a smile.
This debut EP is more than just the calling card of an artist - it's a micro map of the world, a compilation of stories and a simple philosophy delivered in his stunning voice.
Raised on Dakar's soundsystems, LASS grew up listening to the afro-cuban sounds of Orchestra Baobab and Bembaya Jazz at the Congolaise Rumba parties organised by his brothers, before discovering reggae and artists like the late Garnett Silk.
He can sing folk, dancehall, mbalax, or electro (his hit with Synapson, 'Souba', has been streamed online over 4 million times and his collaboration with Tim Dup, 'Toujours', is not far behind).
"My voice is my instrument, I take it wherever I want! I've got to a point where the style doesn't matter. And I like challenges, like when I put my distinctly African vocals over a very European house beat."
After having come to France 13 years ago, LASS could have abandoned his musical dreams and happily settled down to a good career and stable family life. But he chased his dream: "It's difficult to stay positive when you have to fight and work twice as hard. In Senegal, we're used to saying that your career is over the moment you arrive in France. You have to make rent, work a job, pay a lot of bills... there isn't any time for music and you often fail at the first attempt".
The ex fire safety officer now sets the stage alight and recalls the lessons that helped him persevere. The song 'Mo yaro' talks about the pride of a father, while 'Tabé' is about a love which haunts his nights. The much more solemn 'De du tago' (death does not ask permission) describes the many times the grim reaper has taken away his loved ones. "I lost my father early on and then my mother in 2000. But I mostly saw many friends take dugout boats that never arrived."»
The most striking thing is the strength of his voice, powerful yet subtle at the same time. "Afrojazz and the Jamaicans have influenced me a lot. I used to listen to tapes studying their breathing and the all the little details. But I quickly realised that I had to do my own thing. Mixing these cultures so that I didn't resemble anyone else."
That leads us finally to his doubly-faceted smash hit: 'Mo Yaro' Very much afro house in the version by Synapson and produced by Raphaël D’Hervez (Pongo). Much more acoustic and intimate in the second rendition featured in the EP's epilogue.
Last December, LASS (Lassana) returned to Senegal for the first time in three years. "To bring the EP back to my family! They're amazed to see me start touring the big festivals like Montreux Jazz this summer. Looking back, I realise that problems are just hurdles you need to jump over."
The expression 'Yocomome' ('this is for you') in Wolof, which usual accompanies a wedding present or when you want to make someone happy, takes on a much deeper meaning here.
