Lackadaisys' Latest Album Release, "Heartstrong"

With a DIY production and recording style, a blend of acoustic and electric guitars, synths, and a dynamic voice, Lackadaisys delves into a unique, pop-inspired anti-folk sound with her recent 9-track album, Heartstrong.

Lackadaisys’ Heartstrong and Its Tracklist

Heartstrong captures beautiful melody and a blend of acoustic and electric sounds to create a dynamic flow from front to back. Additionally, the lo-fi aspect of the production gives a deeply human air to things that extends through the vocals and instrumentation, even when the synth sounds find prominence. Additionally, narratives that capture themes such as growth, self-love, spirituality, and optimism shine through the music, all with emotional undertones. That being said, much of the album shines with a narrative of pushing through struggles to find the light of a brighter future. The tracklist goes as follows:

1. Karma

2. Phases

3. Self Love

4. Optimist

5. Earth

6. Almost Okay

7. Time

8. Changes

9. Embers

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Heartstrong Album Review

It all starts with “Karma.” This track establishes the core of what the album builds from: the melodically addicting vocals, acoustic guitar, and DIY production style. Though it’s these three two simple aspects, it has great energy behind it and feels full, partially due to the resonance of the acoustic guitar. At 1 minute and 4 seconds long, it feels like a snappy hook meant to usher listeners into the album quickly. This track bounces along with a nice warmth, and it details the passing of time and the beauty and freedom that can be found in the future. Then comes the track “Phases,” which starts with synths in the foreground, which are then paired with a guitar that follows their rhythm nicely. This one introduces a fuller sound in the album by adding percussion as well. The mix provides depth, with every part of the music jumping out while highlighting the brighter tones through its rhythmic sway. This second track on the album delves into a tale of growing older and constant change.

After this, “Self Love” comes to the forefront. This one takes a different turn, the vocals hitting a more nasally, buzzy belt, which washes everything over with a bright warmth. This one keeps the synths, which ties it to the last track; the percussion finds a softer space in the mix, and it’s delivered with an electric guitar rather than acoustic. There’s a bit more grit and a punch to this track with the growl of the electric guitar, and the deeper tones find a bit more forefront. That being said, the vocals hold onto their entrancing melody. Lyrically, this track explores struggles with oneself and mental health. Though it does take an optimistic tone despite the struggles, like much of the album. As it moves along, it stands out as a track about self-love and forgiveness. There’s also a really nice spoken word bit that goes, “So you have these voices in your head / Have you ever tried just like, being nice to them or something?” This is a really strong track in the album with a lot of lyrical meat to bite into.

Then comes track 4 of Heartstrong, “Optimist.” This one is optimistic, to say the least. The percussion to start it off sounds like the ticking of a clock, and the guitar has a pertinent push forward. There’s a lot of emotional charge behind the vocals, which is brought out by the raw production. Musically, this track feels like a deep cut. However, the lyrics, though exploring past struggles, also get into the desire to change and persist optimistically despite what one has been through. After this track, “Earth” does well at pulling back the tempo while adding background harmonies that pair with the synths to make an atmospheric soundscape. The soft electric guitar pairs well with the synths and a piano sound throughout. Lyrically, this track is about a love that encourages strength and wanting the safety of another in one’s life.

Moving along, “Almost Okay” has a bit more of a punch to it. Once again, electric guitars take the forefront instrumentally, and they’re paired with softly mixed percussion. This track stands out, as once again, it has more of a grungy buzz. Also, aside from the soft intro, there’s a really strong smack on the strings, and the vocals have a strong belt. There’s a lot of force here, and it does so in a way that stands out compared to every other track on the album. That being said, it fades into a softer sound at the end. Lyrically, it comes from a pace of struggle and stress, wanting “something to happen” to shift the tides. 

This then ushers in “Time,” which, once again, changes things up. The vocals have a deeper tone through much of the track, the quality of the voice finding a quality that’s more unique from the rest of the album. This song finds some of the deepest and highest vocal tones the album has, with a more falsetto-sounding jump up into a higher register. There’s also some really nice reverb, which makes this another more atmospheric track on the album. It sits in contrast to “Almost Okay” by pulling back the tempo and finding an overall softness. Lyrically, “Almost Okay” is about digging out of one’s own depth of struggles and reassuring others that there’s still time. It also gets into the power of mindset with the line, “But life is what you make it.”

Going forward, Lackadaisys brings “Changes” to the table. This track brings the instrumentation back a bit in the mix, with the vocals taking the forefront more than in prior songs. This track has a slow build as it moves forward, the vocals working with reverb, layering, and backing harmonies to fill out the soundspace. It has a haunting beauty to its crafting, and once again, the vocals share a lot of dynamics, and every part of them is put together very cleanly. This track is about what the title says. The lyrics start with, “My hair’s growing back / I thought it might never.” “Changes” talks about how medication can be numbing, wanting another to acknowledge positive change, and building a nursery. It has a coming-of-age vibe and tackles ideas of self-acceptance and parenthood. Everything culminates in “Embers,” which goes back to the simple acoustic guitar and vocal, throwing back to the start. There’s a cricket sound effect in the background, which plays into a very natural sound. Slappy downstrums take the forefront in this song, but they’re soft in the mix, and they benefit the softer flow of the vocals. There are some vocal wavers and pauses in this one, which makes things feel so realistic and emotional. As a closer, it leaves listeners with a message of the importance of soft love and the need to have someone to grow old and take care of a child with.

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Who is Lackadaisys?

Lackadaisys is the musical moniker for the Midwestern genderqueer anti-folk artist Levi. She typically plays shows mostly around the Rockford and Chicago areas, but also likes to travel to DIY shows in the surrounding areas. Lackadaisys currently has 4 full albums that pull from real-life experiences to talk about ideas such as heartbreak, a genderqueer life, and living with mental health. She writes music in hopes that it can give others a sense of solace and connection in their strange and unique struggles. Anyone can visit the Lackadaisys website to learn more about her music, book shows, or just send an email. Though Heartstrong is a great album, their whole discography deserves some streams!

Written by: Sage Plapp