Faith in Chaos started as a way to navigate a particularly depressive episode––to feel a kind of comfort through the gauze of sorrow––that allowed LAVAGXRL to pinpoint the eye of the storm. “I was listening to a lot of really sad songs that made me feel seen, even if they were really bumming me out,” they explain. “If someone else feels that way it makes me feel like I wasn’t totally alone.” Inspired by this kind of communion, LAVAGXRL no longer shied away from their melancholy, and instead, began to amplify it.
Faith in Chaos started as a way to navigate a particularly depressive episode––to feel a kind of comfort through the gauze of sorrow––that allowed LAVAGXRL to pinpoint the eye of the storm. “I was listening to a lot of really sad songs that made me feel seen, even if they were really bumming me out,” they explain. “If someone else feels that way it makes me feel like I wasn’t totally alone.” Inspired by this kind of communion, LAVAGXRL no longer shied away from their melancholy, and instead, began to amplify it.
Opener “Incantation” explores the complicated territory of feeling bad about feeling bad, and the desire for connection despite the anxiety of bringing other people down with you. Later, the sonic realm of “Blood Moon” mimics the introspective overwhelm of worry, teaming a gritty foundation with an airy overlay. The propulsive riff of “Prom Queen” prods a finger at the people intent on making our lives difficult while the harsh guitar breakdown of “6Foot” magnifies the anger and pain left in the wake of trusting two-faced friends. “Overcoming trauma is a big part of this record,” they say. “But it’s also about how to deal with that, and how to heal yourself.”
LAVAGXRL’s experience in improvisational performance allows Faith in Chaos to stretch into the acquiesce of existence, to accept our lack of control and to make time to enjoy the small moments. “With the writing process, I tried to just let it happen. I didn’t put too much pressure on it,” they explain. The playfulness of the beats, flourishes of strange electronica and unexpected synth shifts encourages the allure of the accidental, and the bliss of loosening our grip. As a songwriter who experiences synesthesia, LAVAGXRL fosters a kaleidoscope of ever-shifting hues on their debut. “I feel everything that you put out into the world has a charge, a spell,” they say. “You have to trust yourself.” By accepting all facets of being, and creating a space where fluidity is celebrated, Faith in Chaos is an essential reminder that despite the absurdity that surrounds us, there is beauty in simply being alive.
- Sammy Maine
