The multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter closes out the summer with a full-length album, exploring different genres and vulnerability
After a summer of heavy-hitting releases, Chris LaRocca’s keeping his foot on the gas pedal with a new single and full-length album.
The cinematic slow jam, “because of u” was released on September 8, and was described as a self-reflective love letter to a past relationship that shaped him.
The single appears on his album, i cried my eyes out, which was released today. The album is a culmination of perhaps and smile because it happened EP releases that Chris LaRocca has been making waves with this year, it will also include 4 additional tracks.
This is his first full-length album released via Red Bull Records in partnership with producer, songwriter, and executive WondaGurl under her label imprint, Wonderchild.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Chris LaRocca. I’m an artist, producer and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. I’ve been making music for a long time but feel like I’ve just recently found myself as an artist.
You unveiled your single, “because of u” ahead of your album release. Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the track.
This song is a farewell song to someone from my past and a closing to a chapter in my life. I was in a relationship for a long time in my early 20s that taught me a lot of lessons, and I was hung up on it for a short time after it ended – writing lots of songs about it and never entirely letting it go. But “because of u” is the final chapter in that story, and a thank you to the person for teaching me how to love someone properly.
Speaking of your album, you’ve released i cried my eyes out, which is a culmination of your EPs perhaps and smile because it happened, along with four brand new tracks. How did you decide to first unveil as EPs?
It wasn’t as meticulous as it may seem. I knew which songs I wanted to come out first as singles, and I kind of just built the tracklists for each EP according to those songs. This album is sort of a colour wheel to me – a bunch of different colours and tones that meet in the middle and make a whole piece. I tried to make each EP a microcosm of that concept, picking songs that weren’t entirely relatable to each other, sonically, but had a feeling that was consistent throughout.
You have been closely mentored by Canadian producer and songwriter, Wondagurl through the process of creating your album. How was this experience?
Ebony has become a dear friend of mine throughout this process. I can’t lie it took a bit of time for me to get over the anxiety of being in a room with her in the early days, because I’ve been such a fan for so long and she has been such an inspiration to me from the day I started making music. But the process of this album brought us closer together than anything else. We spent a lot of time in the studio and on the phone bouncing ideas around, going through mixes and masters, chopping up music video ideas, and talking about the future of myself as an artist and Wonderchild Records as a label. It was in these moments of vulnerability that I was able to let some walls down and embrace her as a friend, collaborator, mentor, and ultimately family. She really is one of the kindest people I have ever met, and has allowed me to be involved in some amazing projects, and both directly and indirectly taught me so much about producing and creating music – some lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life as a musician.
If you had to describe the album in 5 words or less, what would you choose?
I think it’s quite simple. Both the process and what this album means to me can be distilled down to five simple words, “i cried my eyes out”.
Last but not least, what else do you have up your sleeve for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024?
In the immediate months after this album drops, I’ll be going on a short tour, playing New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto with my band. We’ve spent the last half of the year putting together the most amazing show I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m really looking forward to performing it for those who are fans of the music.
I definitely plan on doing many more shows beyond these three as well in the new year. I also shot a short film for my song “linger” which will be out in November. Although the song is under 3 minutes, the film is closer to 6 minutes and discusses the theme of loss and having something you love taken away from you. I am so proud of what we made and filming it allowed me to grow both as a human and an artist in so many ways.
Lastly, I am definitely working on more music. Fall is my writing season and I’ve been tapped in for the last month or so writing as much as I can.