Q&A: Lala Lala’s ‘Heaven 2’ is a Record for the In-Between
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
Photo by Ariel Fish
MOVEMENT HAS ALWAYS SHAPED LALA LALA’S SONGWRITING—but on Heaven 2, that motion slows enough to look inward. Out today via Sub Pop, Lala Lala’s (a.k.a. Lillie West’s) album grapples with restlessness, surrender and the brutal truth that changing locations doesn’t always mean changing yourself.
Written across years of movement—from Chicago to Taos, Iceland, London, and eventually Los Angeles—Heaven 2 focuses on themes of wanting to run and learning what happens when you don’t. Produced alongside Jay Som’s Melina Duterte, the record leans into warm and rounded vocals, all while balancing with punchy and kinetic arrangements. Singles like “Does This Go Faster?” and “Even Mountains Erode” capture that duality of holding existential doubt and quiet clarity in one breath.
West is less interested in tidy conclusions and instead focuses on the act of investigating them; why she runs, how songs reveal their meaning over time and what it means to let go without fully understanding where you’ll land. We sat down with West to talk about movement, surrender, collaboration and making peace with unanswered questions on Heaven 2. Keep reading for more.
LUNA: Lala Lala has always felt tied to movement, both physically and emotionally, but Heaven 2 seems to wrestle with the idea that settling doesn’t mean stagnation. When did that realization start to click for you?
LALA LALA: I don’t know that it ever did. It’s very much my nature to move—one might argue to run. I’m very flighty. I don’t know if Heaven 2 is about settling so much as exploring that impulse. Why must I run? I don’t necessarily have an answer, but I’m investigating it.
LUNA: That’s really cool to hear that process of exploring and unraveling it, even without an answer. You’ve lived in so many places over the past few years. Did that constant movement shape the emotional landscape of the album, even though it leans toward steadiness?
LALA LALA: I’ve always imagined that I need a lot of space to write. I actually need a lot of silence; hours and hours of no information, no other people’s stuff. But that’s not really what I experienced while writing this album. It felt constricted. I wasn’t surrounded by my instruments or equipment, things weren’t organized, and everything was constantly moving around. I was just trying my best with what I had.
LUNA: You’ve said, “Wherever you go, there you are,” even joking that you wish there were a cooler way to say it. How did that idea show up in your songwriting?
LALA LALA: You can’t escape yourself. You can run and run and run, but eventually everything catches up. If you’re always moving, it’s easy not to face things—but they’re always there.
LUNA: I wanted to ask about “Does This Go Faster?” It feels like a moment of existential whiplash. What headspace were you in when you wrote that song?
LALA LALA: It really is the thesis of the album. I was in Iceland, wondering how long this was going to go on—how long I wouldn’t live anywhere by choice, how long my stuff would be in storage, and when I’d feel satisfied.
LUNA: Did that theme come naturally while writing, or did the songs come together first and then you realized it was cohesive?
LALA LALA: I never plan what an album is going to be about. I write it, make it, and then I look at it and ask, “What is this?” Songs are mysterious. Sometimes I write something and think it’s about nothing, and six months later I realize it’s clearly about something I was going through.
LUNA: On “Even Mountains Erode,” there’s a strong sense of surrender. Was that song difficult to write, or did it come easily?
LALA LALA: That one just fell out, which is always a lovely thing. I was really at the end of my rope with a situation and just gave up.
LUNA: Were there songs on the album that were the opposite—ones that took longer to figure out?
LALA LALA: “Arrow” was one. I wrote it years ago, and the original version was very slow and sad. The version on the album is totally different. Melina Duterte, who produced it, really felt strongly about where it should go and took the lead on that.
LUNA: How do you personally know when a song is ready to go out into the world?
LALA LALA: Sometimes it’s obvious—it’s done. Other times, like with “Arrow,” I wasn’t sure. I really trust Melina’s judgment, and she felt strongly that it was ready. If I feel certain about something, I’ll fight for it, but when I’m unsure, I listen.
LUNA: Speaking of Melina, how did that collaboration shape the album overall?
LALA LALA: She has such a good ear and is an incredible musician. Working with someone like that is so helpful because she can immediately bring ideas to life. She’s also really fun to be around and encouraged a lot of experimentation. I don’t know if I learned something specific—I just know I really like working with her.
Photo by Ariel Fish
LUNA: A lot of the songs feel cinematic, with swelling vocals and layered instrumentation. Do you think about momentum when arranging?
LALA LALA: Most of the time, the song tells you what it wants to be. I love dramatic, emotional music, so I definitely think about momentum. Loud and quiet is a very effective tool.
LUNA: Heaven 2 balances moments of defeat with moments of bold joy. Were you conscious of holding both emotions at once?
LALA LALA: I rarely have just one feeling. Life is complicated. I try to be grateful and present, even when I’m in pain. When something unpleasant happens, I try to see what to do with it.
LUNA: After years of writing about restlessness and sobriety, does Heaven 2 feel like a turning point, or more like a pause?
LALA LALA: I don’t think I know yet. All my albums are just attempts to make sense of chaos in some way.
LUNA: That’s a beautiful way to think about songwriting. You’re heading into a tour cycle soon. How does performing these songs live change them?
LALA LALA: They always change a little live. We add moments of improvisation to keep it interesting. I’m excited; we have some new musicians joining, and it’s going to be really fun.
LUNA: What does movement look like for you creatively going forward?
LALA LALA: I have a piano album I want to release, and my boyfriend and I made an ambient album we’re hoping to put out this year. Otherwise, I’m just trying to stay open and keep experimenting.
