lalforest

Vocalist and poet Rosina Kazi and producer Murr first began collaborating on music as LAL in 1998, mucking about with tons of gear and wild poetics. In the early 00s, they created two politically charged critically-acclaimed albums, Corners (2002) and Warm Belly High Power (2004), the latter earning the distinction of ‘2004’s Best Soul Album’ by Canadian music bible Exclaim! Magazine. Relentless touring across Canada and Europe and growing press attention followed, and accomplished bassist ...

Vocalist and poet Rosina Kazi and producer Murr first began collaborating on music as LAL in 1998, mucking about with tons of gear and wild poetics. In the early 00s, they created two politically charged critically-acclaimed albums, Corners (2002) and Warm Belly High Power (2004), the latter earning the distinction of ‘2004’s Best Soul Album’ by Canadian music bible Exclaim! Magazine. Relentless touring across Canada and Europe and growing press attention followed, and accomplished bassist Ian de Souza joined the fray. Inspired by the events surrounding Sept.11, 2001 and its fallout -- the rise of a cloaked surveillance state, thicker lines drawn around who is “legal” and who is “not”, and most particularly by the fate of several deported friends, LAL created their most provocative and fully-realized album to date, Deportation (2008). It is a personal treatise on migration and movement, a challenge to militarism, dangerous love, and the stories of those silenced by (il)legality, all threaded together with dub poetry, soul, folk, roots, jazz and a definitive dancefloor aesthetic. Their dynamic live show is a testament to the glorious exploration of the depths of humanism – building community while ripping apart words, notes, and rhythms, eyes open to the injustice that burrows deep into the fabric of society, and hearts burning with the fire for justice for all. www.myspace.com/lalforest / www.lalforest.com