Double big news from one of our absolute favourite producers, Kucka has returned with “Drowning”, her first solo release since 2015 – and her first cut for (2nd big news drop) cult label Lucky Me.
After her self-produced first EP “Divinity” in 2015 (check the bridge section on the title track), a string of huge collaborations followed with Flume, Cosmos Midnight, and others – so the past few years have seen Kucka rise to become an in-demand collaborator in the world of electronic music. All these high profile collabs and “feats” might have given some listeners the misperception that Kucka is a singer / top-liner only – but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Vocal collaborations for other artists was purely a byproduct of inside-industry fascination with her self-produced works. “Drowning” is a return to self that reasserts her own studio production and sound-design credentials.
We’ve always been MASSIVE fans of her production aesthetic, this one raises the bar even further:
As a Liveschool course-contributor, Kucka (aka Laura Jane Lowther) features throughout our Produce Music course: workflow-wise she deftly balances experimental and pragmatic, and skill-wise she’s producer, songwriter and singer on all her tracks.
Sonically, her work is always detailed and intricate – and this holds as true on “Drowning” – but this song signals a shift from her densely lush, sometimes-R&B-inflected earlier sound towards a grittier and heavier palette. Additional production comes courtesy of kindred studio spirit and fellow Liveschool affiliate, Harley E Streten, who has a co-production credit on the track.
Here’s a little intro to Laura by drowning’s clip-producer Dillon Howl for those not yet acquainted:
And here’s a behind-the-scenes video of making the clip, both produced by Kucka’s close collaborator Dillon Howl: