The early contender for Song Title of the Year (STOTY?) has arrived courtesy of L.A. Rochelle. But there’s a sad backstory to the latest from the Paris-born, London-based alt-pop artist, written after one of his best friends took the life of his other best friend. Losing two close friends — one to murder, the other to prison — and the pain that followed helped L.A. Rochelle to pen “IDONTEVERWANNATHINKABOUTYOUNOMORE,” which hits the streams today (January 7).
The track, as well as last year’s debut bop “ALL AWAY,” will be featured on his forthcoming EP, CHAPTER 1 : DENIAL / ANGER, out March 4. The record chronicles his grief and healing through two distinct avenues of loss, and his escape of the Paris flat where the murder went down to daydreaming of a new life in Los Angeles, inspiring the moniker. In London, he immersed himself in music. This is some loaded stuff, all filtered through the artist’s new pop vision.
“This wasn’t written as a romantic pop song: iI’s an inner monologue capturing the war between my head and my heart as I struggle to accept the fact that one of my best friends has taken the life of my other best friend,” says L.A. Rochelle. “This is my way of bringing these scars to the surface to try and heal. It’s me hoping that if I can excavate this internal conflict, I would be able to hear my heart over my head. This duality is symbolized in the bilingual nature of the lyrics: My psyche sings the opening statement in English, and my subconscious is firing back in French.”
We’ll be hearing more about this saga — and L.A. Rochelle — as the year unfolds. In the meantime, get into “IDONTEVERWANNATHINKABOUTYOUNOMORE” via Spotify.