LU KALA Drops Her Latest Pop Gem “Cry Baby” Out Today
GUEST JUDGE APPEARANCE ON THE NEW SEASON OF CANADA’S DRAG RACE WATCH HERE
RECENT SUPPORT FOR CYNDI LAUPER’s GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN TOUR
Pop powerhouse LU KALA, known for her fierce, empowering catchy pop anthems, has just dropped another gem. “Cry Baby” is out today, December 6 on LVK/Amigo Records. Lighthearted and coy, “Cry Baby” is LU’s farewell to an (ironically) teary-eyed ex. This catchy pop lullaby is an ode to the moment we release the baggage and pain inflicted by a deceitful partner. It’s always fun and games until the tables turn, right? Look who’s crying now. The fiery voiced Congolese-Canadian songstress–with signature vibrant orange hair to match–is redefining what a pop star sounds and looks like.
LU KALA’s “Cry Baby” out December 6:
“I feel like a lot of times when break ups happen, women often process it before the actual break up, whereas men will be like ‘I don’t want you anymore’ and then months later they come back crying after they did you wrong,” says LU.
“Cry Baby” comes on the heels of the recent announcement that LU was a guest judge on the season premiere episode of Canada’s Drag Race (aired November 21) on WOW Presents Plus; check out the episode here. A proud LGBTQ+ ally, LU is honored to be among the other lineup of musicians, comedians, actors, activists, and models as guest judges for Season 5 including: Lauren Chan, Orville Peck, Peaches, Sarain Fox, Shea Couleé, Simone Denny, Steph Tolev and Ts Madison.
In other recent news, LU is also coming off a pair of shows as support for pop icon Cyndi Lauper on her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun tour. Opening up for the crowds in Toronto (October 20) and Detroit (October 24), LU performed a medley of her pop hits, winning over new fans (including Cyndi herself) and marking the first arena performances of her career.
The Toronto-raised songstress erupted onto the scene with the release of the trending “Pretty Girl Era,” now with over 25 million streams, over 350K user generated videos on TikTok including uses by Justin Timberlake, Eva Longoria and Serena Williams, and an inclusion in Fortnite. A feature on Latto’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “Lottery” soon followed, as well as the fierce power ballad “Nothing But Love” with social media videos reaching over 1 million views.
On the radio front, LU has remained on the Canadian radio charts for over a year thanks to the steady climb of “Hotter Now” and “Who’s Gonna.” Most recently, “Who’s Gonna” recently reached Top 10 on Canadian radio’s Top 40 charts and placed on the Hot AC chart as well.
Her last single “Criminal” was just released on September 27; watch here & listen here. PAPER touted the release writing, “‘Criminal’ is just the latest in sensational pop drops from LU...we’re excited to see what LU creates next.”
The tracks making waves across radio charts, streaming platforms and social media is matched with award and industry recognition. LU was nominated for two Juno Awards this year–Single of The Year for “Pretty Girl Era” & Breakthrough Artist of the Year–as well as an Artist of The Year nomination at the 2024 Women in Music Canada Honours. Elsewhere, the SOCAN Foundation honored her at the Her Music Awards, in the US she was selected as an honoree “Industry Disruptor” for the TikTok 2024 Black History Month Visionary Voices List, in addition to being chosen to be a part of TikTok’s “Elevate” campaign, their first ever Emerging Artists Program, and dubbed one of VEVO’s DSCVR Artists to Watch 2024.
At the age of three LU’s family immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Canada, first living in Toronto’s Regent Park, and later Ajax. Gifted with a talent for writing striking pop tracks and memorable hooks, LU KALA has amassed over 100 million streams. Behind the lyrics was a voice waiting to be released, unwilling to vocally bend into the box black female performers are often expected to exist in. She’s embraced her distinctive sound, transforming her trajectory as an artist, and a woman, in the process.
“I do music that is true to me, and it would be cool to see more girls feel like they can do the same, whatever the genre, no matter their race,” she shares.
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