Toronto sisters Lex Valentine and Nadia Valerie King emerged in 2016 as LOLAA, releasing their debut single, “Always Been”, featuring backing vocals from ’90s dance icon, Simone Denny of Love Inc.,and supporting acts such as MSTRKRFT, Helado Negro, Puro Instinct, Fear of Men, Rey Pila and more…
King and Valentine had spent the better part of a decade as two-thirds of Toronto’s Magneta Lane, a project begun in high school, releasing their debut record at just 16. When 2015 rolled around, Nadia and Lex were ready for something new, and began their writing sessions in the studio with producer, Jon Drew (F*cked Up/Tokyo Police Club). Combining their experience and skill as songwriters with the cultural influences that had lay dormant in their previous work, the sisters found the warmth and colour of freedom that laid the groundwork for LOLAA – drums, bass, movement, rhythm, pop-infused vocals and no-limits songwriting.
LOLAA in its current form takes inspiration from Latin American/80’s pop music/icons: Daniela Romo, Gloria Estefan, Kim Carnes, Laura Branigan, Debbie Harry, as well as the discotheque era: Donna Summer, Bianca Jagger, the lightness, the elegance, the dancing. Simply put – it’s POP Music.
The project became a mix of all the ideas the sisters had in their heads, a cultural collide of sounds. King and Valentine are of Mexican descent and have always considered this to be an integral part of their identities as people. “The thing about Latin Americans is that our culture is so colourful. We are always smiling and laughing, we love to dance, we feel immensely – passion, sadness – we celebrate life. We wanted LOLAA to have these ideas at its core, no matter what shape the songs took,” Valentine explains.
LOLAA takes its name from the Spanish name Dolores (Lola), meaning “Lady of Sorrows.” It has been used in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.
