Lilaclaza is a Harare, Zimbabwe-based lo-fi and chillhop artist who has recently released his new album Introvert.

By Graeme Smith

Coming to music in 2018 as a drummer, lilaclaza quickly realised he had a preference for production, switching to his current lo-fi genre in 2020. A debut album sanctuary landed in 2022 and it proved simply a warm up to his new one which shows the realisation of his sound.

Collectively the tracks of Introvert tell a story, introspectively exploring introversion, coyness, inner turmoil and, ultimately, fulfilment. The album is already getting favourable coverage on Spotify editorial playlists like Praise and Chill and Fresh Gospel Africa and it’s easy to see why. It strikes a delicate balance between chill and stimulating, familiar and unfamiliar.

The album opens with (intro)vert, the first of many wordplay titles. It eases us into lilaclaza’s world thanks to its lo-fi layers and looping melodies. Following it is flutter which tunes up the tension just a little in a subtly emotional moment made rich through its use of ambient sounds and snatches of vocals.

Coi sees him team up with Take My Lungs to deliver a stripped-back and jazzy meditation before still rounds off the album’s early listening with a relaxing number filled with lapping waves and percussive textures.

From there we get bright and expansive moments like Odyssey and Aware swirled expertly with moodier moments like innerpeace//outerspace and inhibited. DNile is darkly flowing while Onwards injects an undercurrent of soul. The album is rounded off nicely by the spiritual Zen and the gently acoustic collab with It’s Ev, Take Me Away.

If you like your chilled beats and lo-fi sounds, then you’re going to find a lot to love about what lilaclaza is doing. He really sets him apart with his new album, giving us plenty to ruminate on intellectually while engaging us on an emotional level through its instrumental arrangements.

Introvert is out now via tsunami_soundz and you can check it out below.