Video premiere: J. Laser, ‘Sunshine’

Kevin Bronson on January 30th, 2020

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Jordan Lawlor went from zero to the spotlight in a heartbeat, joining M83 as a sideman at age 18 and spending several years in the band (also contributing the track “Walkaway Blues” to M83’s 2016 album “Junk.”). All the while, Lawlor’s own project J. Laser, which first debuted five years ago, took a backseat to his day job.

Now, the L.A. singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer is rolling out music from the EP “J. Laser.” After teasing the release last fall with the dark, Krautrock-meets-shoegaze anthem “Waves & Blades,” he returns this week with its sonic counterpoint, “Sunshine.”

At its core, it’s a bouncy pop song shot straight to the heavens in a burst of chiming, cascading synths and layered production. Its “sunshine” is warmth and hope, exuded in the shadow of a crazy, mixed-up world: “It’s so strange to come of age / when you’re lost out in space,” Lawlor sings.

The songwriter is joined in J. Laser by drummer Jamie Lawlor, bassist Laura Murphy and multi-instrumentalist Omar El Deeb. “I feel like I haven’t left the house in two years,” Lawlor told the crowd Monday night at Zebulon, where he debuted the new live lineup.

The EP suggests he’s been paying close attention to the outside world, though. “J. Laser” will be released in April.

||| Watch: The video for “Sunshine”