Rewriting The Rules: Jack Laboz
By Ladina Sasha (@ladinamusic)
NYC based producer and songwriter Jack Laboz is a force to be reckoned with. The multi-instrumentalist who has been making waves with his productions since 2016 has it all: skills, personality and relentless imagination. His productions effortlessly marry vintage feels with modern day sounds, driving beats with dreamy vocals and blend electro-pop together with R’n’B and jazz influences.
Laboz’s creative vision goes far beyond the classical sense of the producer-role. He’s fiercely set on working with artists that put a novel, unparalleled spin on their music and want to redefine the narrative of what it means to be popular. Moving seamlessly between a variety of styles, Laboz’s productions transcend any genre boundaries. Thriving on coming up with new ways to create sonically fresh compositions the producer believes that your taste makes you who you are and rewrites musical rules time after time.
Following countless distinct remix-releases (Astralwerks, +1 Records, Enhanced Recordings amongst others) and over 500k streams on Soundcloud, Laboz has released tracks with prolific artists, amongst them Alice Longyu Gao, Mothica, and Maria Isabel who earlier this year released her stunning lead single The 1.
His latest release alongside singer Mothica is Vices (#2 on iTunes Pop), an electronic dark-pop ode to the everlasting need for escape. Diving deep into the abyss of addiction and the reality of facing your biggest weakness, the track is disarmingly honest.
“He’s fiercely set on working with artists that put a novel, unparalleled spin on their music and want to redefine the narrative of what it means to be popular.”
Laboz, who co-wrote and co-produced the track, managed to create a soundscape glistening in intimate clarity. Mesmerising vocals carried by light synth pads and complemented by heavily stereo-spread sound effects make for a verse that is spacious enough to get lost in. The chorus kicks in vigorously, powerful synth stabs are underpinned by a pulsing bass-line and one of Laboz’s trademarks: an uplifting beat to which you can’t help but nod along to.
The producer’s flair for subtle play with details in a composition, like the contrast between an underwater-like muted kick and solemn top-end metallic accents and FX tails in Vices, adds a layer of depth to anything he lays his hands on, captivating listeners every time.
Laboz’s affinity for innovative textures and vibrant samples shines through every one of his productions. His music takes you on a journey, whether you get lost in the crowd on a dance floor or you’re sat on a train headed to Paris - it never fails to tempt you away from reality.
Keep your eyes peeled, Laboz’s next release Patient, a collaboration with Korean-American songwriter Min.a, is out 20th August 2020 via Terrible Records...
...and only one of many more to follow.