LACES is the brainchild of LA artist Jessica Vaughn, whose new single “American Grime” is one of this year’s best. This song has everything: captivating melodies, perceptive lyrics and great vocals (including a nice feat from LA artist BELLSAINT).
LACES is an American treasure because (to quote Sting) everything she does is magic. That includes all the songs she’s written for film and TV in recent years. Vaughn’s 2022 song “the sooner it stops, the sooner it starts” (a collab with Dresage) is addictively hooky.
“American Grime” explores the underbelly of the American Dream. “I wanted to take an unflinching look at societal pressures and the perpetual hustle we’ve been conditioned to accept,” says Vaughn. “If it’s all a rigged game, do we stand a chance – or is this just another coin toss? This song captures the dissonance between ambition and the price we pay to achieve it.”
This song sounds like what you’d get if you combined a Katy Perry melody with a Maggie Rogers lyric. In short, a pop gem that gives you plenty to think about.
Listen to “American Grime” below, or find it on the streaming services.
