SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne says of Lavi$h and his new EP You Made A Big Mistake, “his sound is indescribable, his tone and delivery are incredible, and his talent in undeniable.”
If you spend time in Canadian music circles, one of the names buzzing right now is Lavi$h. With the backing of Chubbs from OVO, who is credited with discovering Lavi$h, and Def Jam Recordings, as well as a co-sign from Drake, the Zambia-born, Winnipeg raised, and now Toronto-based singer-songwriter is making a name for himself both north and south of the border.
After dropping big tracks like “World In My Hands” and “We Make Sense”, touring with Jessie Reyez in the UK, and sharing the stage with the likes of Partynextdoor and Drake in Toronto, Lavi$h has dropped a brand new EP titled You Made A Big Mistake.
For Lavi$h, the EP is about moving past the need for revenge.
“You Made A Big Mistake is the name of my debut EP, but in reality, the time for revenge has passed,” says LAVI$H. “My sentiment is that our time for war will never be over for them, but it’s over for me…it applies to so many areas of my life. This body of work is best illustrated by the words ‘success is the best revenge’, and I know my growth will haunt some people — but I think there comes a time when you realize it’s time to become timeless. My time is now and forever.”
On the EP, he shows his ability to explore a variety of sounds, while conveying raw emotion within a wide vocal range. There’s the previously released singles “World In My Hands”, which oozes soul, as well as deep pain, urgency and desperation, and the radio single “We Make Sense” with its catchy melody and laid back production.
Then there’s the piano ballad “Big Mistake” (which came with a new Andrew Lovett directed music video), where Lavi$h is part crooner, part storyteller as he sings excruciatingly about love and heartbreak. The piano ballads continue later in the EP with the appropriately named Piano Man with nods to Elton John and John Legend.
“Always You” is a throwback to classic R&B/Soul, think Percy Sledge, with its two beat drum pattern and a few growls from Lavi$h. Then there’s “Seventeen” which blends both Rock and Soul elements, with vocals and a guitar melody that could’ve lived in the 1960’s.
Aside from his vocals, what you notice about Lavi$h is his delivery which is usually attributed to rappers or live theatre performers. He understands how use his voice like an instrument, down to the syllable, which in turn adds drama and emotion in a way that adds to the storytelling.
Simply put, this is an artist to get excited about. I mean really excited. His sound is indescribable, his tone and delivery are incredible, and his talent in undeniable. While at times there are hints of John Legend in his tone and The Weeknd in his ability to create big cinematic soundscapes, in the end he has a style that’s all his own. It’s clear that he’s a special talent, who, with his vocals and his ability to crossover into different genres, has the potential to be the biggest vocalist to come out of Canada since The Weekend (and that’s saying a lot).
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