Escaping the ghosts of the past with LACES x Dresage's
We’ve all had those moments, haven’t we? Where life feels like you’re stuck in a rut, an old record scratching on repeat. Well, get ready to have LACES x Dresage’s new single on replay. ‘the sooner it stops, the sooner it starts’ sets the perfect balance of highly relatable, emotional lyrics with LACES’ signature alt-pop tempo that uses music to delve into the subjects of trauma and feeling stuck in the situation that you’re in. However, LACES, formally known as Charlotte Sometimes, is never afraid to let her dark jagged edges show through her lyrics and proves herself time and time again to be an incredibly multifaceted artist in her output across the board.
Under her legal name, Jessica Vaughn, she writes and produces music for Hasbro cartoons and has secured placements on Netflix, CW and ABC series, specials and films. She has appeared on The Voice, has had a stint on Geffen Records, has and still writes for other recording artists and the list goes on. Her gleaming past within the industry is no match for what’s to come for LACES, as she continues to release solo work and show off the warm, light and self-accepting side of her musicality.
Smash singer/songwriter/producer Keeley Bumford, working under the name Dresage, is the perfect collaborator on the new single as her lush synth and orchestral musings add a certain eeriness to the pop-focused song, emulating the spirit of the lyrics. Get ready to dive into the inspiration behind the song, who LACES thinks is set for future stardom and where she predicts the future of music is headed…
Congrats on ‘the sooner it stops, the sooner it starts’! Talk us through what inspired you to create it…
I knew I wanted to do a collaborations EP, so I started with who I wanted to work with first. Dresage is a friend and someone I respect so much – so she was an easy choice and I am so happy she was open to working with me. I remember playing around with ideas but at the time I was struggling with a family member coming in and out of my life – which triggered all these old feelings. It was a reminder that even though I’ve moved on, sometimes the ghosts of the past don’t want to let me. It evolved from there once Dresage and I started to explore the topic.
What message do you hope people take away from it?
I hope people walk away feeling less alone. We all deal with cyclical thoughts and old wounds but that doesn’t mean we will be trapped in our pain forever. Sometimes it’s ok to acknowledge these feelings and let them move through you.
How do you feel like your music has evolved so far?
I am a song fan first, so I try to do the work and stay out of the results. I tend to get out of my own way and let the track take the wheel. So in some ways, I am not sure how much my music has evolved – more so, that I’ve grown up and the music speaks for where I am in this moment.
What do you envision the future of music to look like?
Not to be super philosophical, but the future isn’t written yet – so I can only tell you that I hope it’s safer, more equitable, and transparent. That’s what I trying to work towards.
What is one change you’d love to make to the industry?
There’s so much change I’d like to see – it’s hard to narrow it down to just one thing. My hope is that we all stop drinking our own kool-aid and that those in positions of power would make an actionable difference instead of a marketing difference.
If you could collaborate with any musician in the future, who would it be and why?
Oh goodness! Ha! Well, I just got to work with Dan Layus and he’s one of my favorites. BUCKET LIST 4SURE. I would love to work with Liz Phair, Brandi Carlile, Gregg Alexander (New Radiacls) and/or Jake Wesley Rogers. They are all standout writers in their own unique way.
Where would be your dream venue to play?
Oh gosh, I don’t even think about that. I don’t think that’s a fantasy of mine. If I wanted to perform – the smaller venues always make me more comfortable. I am a 1:1 kinda gal – so the more intimate – the better.
Who are you betting on for future stardom?
Stardom is subjective. I don’t know if I wish fame on anyone, but I do hope they have a happy and balanced life. LOL – just call me Music Mom. I do hope Jake Wesley Rogers goes all the way though – I guess I am betting him.
Where do you hope to be in the next year?
At peace with more free time surrounded by loved ones who celebrate each other.
The next 5 years?
I hope I’m that girl you see drinking Chardonnay in the middle of the day and you ask yourself “What does she do? Who is she?” Let’s just say… I hope I’ll be a professional weirdo.
Press play on LACES & Dresage’s ‘the sooner it stops, the sooner it starts’ below now…
