Young Gaspesian Luan Larobina has just thrown a musical bottle into the sea of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which will reach Montreal bar Verre Bouteille for a concert on April 16.
Luan Larobina belongs to the Latino Gaspesian Cotton-Larobina clan. Her father, Juan Sebastian Larobina, lived in Argentina and Mexico, before settling in Quebec and creating a music that draws on both Quebec tradition and Latin influences. Her brother, Edaï, is a member of the multi-ethnic group Zalam Sao and works on solo projects.
For her part, Luan presents us with her short, hand-crafted debut opus, which I would describe as “perfectly imperfect”.
Sure, the production is minimalist, but this five-song EP is absolutely refreshing, authentic, both playful and meditative. The lyrics are very Gaspesian, describing the landscapes and moods of the young composer. After all, the title of the album is Casa (House). It’s about crabs, geese and rows, but also about the desire to leave, fragility and healing. A few paragraphs are sung in Spanish, which is a nice touch.
The music is a highly successful blend of Quebec folk, bossa nova and Latin rhythms. It was produced by another promising young Gaspesian, Cédrik St-Onge. Musically, we’re reminded of the excellent Uruguayan composer Jorge Drexler and Argentinian Kevin Johansen.
The young woman still has some work to do on her voice, but she has already found her personality. She is also completely free of her father, who seems very happy with the result. Casa is a very pretty calling card. It shows a lot of potential.
Long live emancipated Gaspésie!
