Alison Stewart (2:45)

You were that locked in that fast?

Yasmin Lacey (2:47)

Yeah, I think I did a lot of, like, you know, soaking it all in and then just regurgitated it really quickly.

Alison Stewart (2:56)

What was something new that you wanted to try on on Teal Dreams?

Yasmin Lacey (3:00)

I think it's just more like you put you're just more seasoned. Like I had one, I've done one, done it once now gone through the process of putting together like a big body of work. So I was like, okay, like just a lot of little practical things. Like before I was like writing the songs and then recording it almost straight away on my. By myself. But this time I was like learning the songs a lot and really push my writing this time and like refined stuff a lot more, you know, than my usual like, ah, feels like this voice note. Let's go. So, yeah, so you spent more, almost.

Alison Stewart (3:35)

More time with the material.

Yasmin Lacey (3:38)

Yeah, I think just more refining, you know, you've done it once. And these are not just like voice noted ideas. They're ideas that have been worked on. I worked with some really good producers and people that really pushed my writing was like, come on, you can do better than that. Or like, you know, like, where's where we going in the second verse? And I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, let me think about this, you know.

Alison Stewart (3:56)

So your last album was from these.

Interviewer/Host (3:58)

Voice notes that you recorded and you.

Alison Stewart (4:00)

Said this album was shaped in part.

Interviewer/Host (4:02)

By late night realizations.

Yasmin Lacey (4:05)

Yeah, 100%.

Interviewer/Host (4:06)

What was important about these realizations that made their way onto the album?

Yasmin Lacey (4:11)

Well, I think that I was really inspired by this painter called Danielle McKinney, who's from here, and she paints black women in their safe spaces. And as I was writing, you know, my ideas down about stuff, I looked at this one painting of hers and she's painted this woman in a teal room. And at the time my bedroom was teal. And I was like, oh my goodness, okay, it's me. And I was like, okay, this is, this is. This is my world that I'm stepping into. You know, all the faults that you have just before you go to sleep. And yeah, I suppose that all my ideas, that's what. That's what's made all 14 tracks.

Interviewer/Host (4:46)

You know, what is it about that time of night that those ideas come to you?

Yasmin Lacey (4:52)

I think you know what it is for me, it's like the whole day you're rushing around, you're working, you're doing this, you're on the phone, you're doing emails, you're at the gym, like, la, la. You're socializing. And then you have that moment which is like just before you fall asleep and it's like, you know, and I feel like you get this like privacy, downtime, relaxation period where it's like, okay, this is my time. That time of night has always been really important to my creativity. I sort of made a promise as well this time. I was like, okay, yes. If you get one of those ideas before you fall asleep, you need to get up, write it down. Do you have a.

Interviewer/Host (5:24)

Do you have a journal by your bed? You have to keep.

Yasmin Lacey (5:27)

You have to. Sometimes I'm just like, oh, I'm so tired, whatever.

Interviewer/Host (5:29)

And you think in the morning you'd remember it. And you.

Yasmin Lacey (5:31)

But you don't. You don't. It goes.

Interviewer/Host (5:33)

And it makes you crazy.

Yasmin Lacey (5:35)

It really does.

Interviewer/Host (5:35)

I've got one by my bed.

Yasmin Lacey (5:37)

You have to. You have to, right?

Interviewer/Host (5:38)

You have to. Because you have these ideas there. Something about your body just sort of lets go go.

Yasmin Lacey (5:42)

And then something surfaces, like, you know, out of your subconscious or whatever. And you have to like, capture that.

Narrator/Performer (5:48)

You.

Yasmin Lacey (5:48)

Yeah.

Interviewer/Host (5:49)

My guest is Yasmin Lacey. Her new album is called Teal Dreams. It's out on October 24th. This is a listening party, so let's listen to a track we're going to hear, Wallpaper. And in the chorus you have a line, rubbing off the wallpaper. What does rubbing off the wallpaper mean?

Yasmin Lacey (6:07)

So my family are Caribbean and, you know, they're part of the Windrush generation that came over from the Caribbean to London, 70s, 80s, and they used to have a lot of what they call blues parties or ships. So where Caribbean people would con night and listen to records and, you know, have a little wine and a little wine up against the wall. And they used to say if you were like, whining against the wall with your lover that, you know, it's like the phrase means that, you know, maybe you were dancing so hard against the wall that the wallpaper started to come off. So it's like a little throwback to that, a little cheeky throwback to that. And just a story of me meeting someone really lovely, you know.

Interviewer/Host (6:44)

Let's listen to wallpaper.

Narrator/Performer (7:00)

Sweat beads on your cheek People spin around you me.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (7:11)

Speakers shake your back we don't have to speak.

Narrator/Performer (7:22)

Lovers frozen in an or stream.

Yasmin Lacey (7:27)

And.

Narrator/Performer (7:28)

You look back, yeah, you look back at me.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (7:33)

You go seem shining with the lights down low. Tomorrow in the morning I'mma wash your throw Both knees aching when we wind and flow when it comes to me and you it's never labor we rubbing off the wallpaper yes, we are rubbing off the wal. When it comes to me and you it's never labor Find us rubbing off the wallpaper.

Alison Stewart (7:59)

That's from Yasmin Lacey. This falls under the sort of genre it's called Lovers Rock.

Yasmin Lacey (8:05)

Yeah. Yeah.

Alison Stewart (8:06)

For people who don't know what is Lovers Rock?

Yasmin Lacey (8:08)

Lovers Rock is an amalgamation, actually. A lot of Lovers Rock was made in London, but it's also from Jamaica. And, you know, it is. Exactly. It's a little Lovers Rock, you know, And I'm kind of paying homage to that sonically in this song. And there's a lot of, like, classic artists like Janet K, Louisa Marks, Dennis Pavel, all these people that sang that sort of genre. And it's the music that I grew up on. So I actually have this T shirt on. Lovers Rock T shirt on today. So I say my favorite.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (8:42)

My.

Yasmin Lacey (8:43)

It says, I love that music so much, you know, And a lot of that is what I'm listening to when I'm just chilling, so.

Alison Stewart (8:47)

And in the music video, you film some of your favorite couples?

Yasmin Lacey (8:51)

Yeah, it was together.

Alison Stewart (8:52)

Tell us about.

Yasmin Lacey (8:53)

It was so nice. That's another thing that was different with this album is like, taking on ownership of the visual world a lot more. I'd never done that before. And I was like, okay, we're going to direct something, just me and my friend Daisy. And we. I was like, hit up all my friends at a couple's that I've watched just them, their gorgeous moments, you know, over the summer. And I was like, we have to come and we have to, like. Because the song is about these intimate moments between two people, and I wanted to capture that. So we went to houses and shot some stuff and also asked them about their love and what never feels like labor to them. And then we made the visual. Yeah.

Alison Stewart (9:28)

So when you finished your album Teal Dreams, once you had it, how did.

Yasmin Lacey (9:34)

You take it in?

Alison Stewart (9:35)

Did you get it in your car and drive around and listen to it? Did you put on headphones? How did you.

Yasmin Lacey (9:40)

That's my favorite thing to do.

Alison Stewart (9:41)

Did you really.

Yasmin Lacey (9:42)

If I finish everything, I'm going to test it out in the car. It's like I want to, you know, cheat myself into thinking that it's come on the radio and see how I feel about it. So, like, in the car and I, like, drive around and just. Just see how it is. And I just. I don't know. I've done that every single record I've ever once is complete. And then I listen to the masters in the. In the car. I don't know why. It's just like my. Yeah, that's. That's how I did it.

Alison Stewart (10:07)

How do you know when a song is finished?

Yasmin Lacey (10:11)

Oh, honestly, babe, I really struggle with that. Sometimes it's really clear, and I think. I think sometimes you just have to Let go. So I let go. But then I think, you know the process of working with producers. Yes. What about this? Should we go back on this? And then the seed of doubt is planted. But usually I think once I've written the final lyrics, the melody will always come almost immediately. Once I've written the final lyrics, I'm pretty much. I'm done with it. You know, I've said all I've got to say.

Alison Stewart (10:41)

How about the. The tracks on the album? Did you. Did you move them around? Did you start one way and another way? How did you decide what was going to be your progression on the album?

Yasmin Lacey (10:52)

Yeah, I really struggled in my head because I always write from stories. All the. Everything I ever write is stories from. So all real life stories. And in my mind, I get so, like, into it. I'm like, guys, we need 20 songs on the album. Everyone's like, absolutely not. Like, no one's gonna listen to that. It's like two days. And I was like, no, but it makes sense because the story. So I think that I could. I played around with ordering them how it would land sonically, but. But I actually chose to go against that. And the order is a. Is the order in which the. These stories are taking place chronologically. Yeah, it's chronological. So it's like you have to listen to the words of, like, where I'm at, rather than, like, sonically. I think they could have been ordered differently, I think, but I'm not going to focus on that right now.

Alison Stewart (11:38)

My guest is artist Yasmin Lacey.

Interviewer/Host (11:40)

Her new album is called Teal Dreams. It's out on October 24th. We're having a listening party. You were nice enough to let us.

Alison Stewart (11:47)

Play a minute or so of an unreleased track.

Interviewer/Host (11:50)

We're gonna start with Water, and this features the artist. Tyson. What do you remember about when you wrote this song?

Yasmin Lacey (11:57)

This is really special. I think I always write vulnerable stuff, but I think this is probably one of the most vulnerable songs I've written. I turned 37 this year, and in my mind, I was like, you know, I had this, like, wobbly moment of, like, thinking I would be in this different place. A partner and a house and all, and all these things and a baby. And I felt really lonely and isolated about it, and I. And I wanted to capture those kind of conversations that you have as you get older with your female friends, you know, and the girls that hold you down. And I. I really wanted this conversation. This song. Sorry. To be a conversation, not like a traditional duet. And I. And I wrote my Half like, you know, I feel like this and I feel like still running around like a 25 year old and you have your whole life and I just sent my half to Tyson and I was like babe, like I'd love you to be on it. And basically she didn't get back to me for like two weeks because obviously she's like new mom and was like running around and it's so testament to the song and she came back and she met with just as much vulnerability and I think that this one will really speak to a lot of people. A similar situation to us.

Interviewer/Host (13:08)

Let's listen to water.

Narrator/Performer (13:10)

You and I know that life will change if we act cold we freeze and break however we grow the love.

Tyson (13:24)

Remains we're flowing water taking different shapes.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (13:30)

Babe, I tried you, you're un busy. I also missed your call. Been here and there in different c. Just had no time at all I.

Tyson (13:40)

Saw you call me and I tried to. So maybe you're on stage in spirit girl I'm right there with you. How those memories fade Miss you much.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (13:51)

Feel out of touch you've got this grown up life you get your person and your mortgage. Still feel like I'm 25 in truth.

Tyson (14:01)

I'm scared my life would bore you you get to see the world. I still feel like I'm a child too trying to work how to raise this girl.

Narrator/Performer (14:13)

You and I know that life will change if we act cold we freeze and break however we grow the love remains. We're flowing water taking different shapes Bet.

Tyson (14:33)

Your new mates make.

Interviewer/Host (14:34)

I like you got the word mortgage in there.

Yasmin Lacey (14:37)

First of all, that's as close as I'm getting to it.

Alison Stewart (14:39)

Babe, you mentioned that that features Tyson and for people who don't know who is Tyson, who is Tyson to you and why did you really want her on this track?

Yasmin Lacey (14:50)

First and foremost, Tyson is my friend. And you know, I don't really do many features. I've. I think I've got two, three features that I've ever done in, in my career so far and I've been making music long time is because I really believe that the best music you can make comes from this, this, this bond. Right. And, and when I first moved back to London from Nottingham about four years ago now, me and Tyson spent a lot of time together. You know, just catch up about music and just you really need someone to talk to those things about and we're always like, yeah, we can get in the studio, we can get in the studio. And we never did and I was okay with that. And then, you know, I think things land at the right time. She's an incredible artist and I really hope this draws a lot of attention to what she does because the other thing about Tyson is she's a wonder. We went in the studio and she was like, this is my first session back after having her daughter Barbara, who you can hear on the track at the end. And she was like, you know, I'm really nervous. And she just got in there and was like, we're outside like listening to her record and then she's like, is that okay? And I'm like, babe, you've done it. Like that's. It's a one take wonder situation.

Alison Stewart (15:55)

I love a one take.

Yasmin Lacey (15:56)

J. Yeah.

Alison Stewart (15:57)

Every time you mentioned that you live in London now. Yes, yes. But you're originally from Nottingham.

Yasmin Lacey (16:02)

No, I'm originally from East London. East London, hence the voice. Yeah. And then I lived in Nottingham for a really long time and. Yeah. Then moved back.

Alison Stewart (16:12)

What was. How would I know that you spent a lot of time in Nottingham for an American? How would somebody tell.

Yasmin Lacey (16:20)

Well, I. I still very much sound like I'm from East London, so that isn't going to be there decider. But I think just the thing that is special about not into me is having the opportunity to. I never made any music. I'd never had any intention. I had a whole different career. I didn't really want to even make music. And Nottingham is special, special connection to me because it's the place that gave me a safe space to create. It was the place that I started making music because of the musicians there and because of the support system there and the creation creativity there.

Alison Stewart (16:53)

So yeah, you're in New York. Yeah, past couple of days. You're playing at Brooklyn tonight in Cafre Azuli. How many times have you played the album live?

Yasmin Lacey (17:06)

You know what? A lot of the stuff that I'm playing tonight, I've never sang out before. Me and Tyson have never done. I've got Tyson with me tonight and we've never done it before. And we had a little practice on Sunday and we both started crying. So I hope that we can get through the song.

Alison Stewart (17:19)

Why did you cry?

Yasmin Lacey (17:20)

I think it's just really real. That song is really real, you know, to feel lonely, to feel you're not like you're not in the right place for her to feel, you know, maybe bit like isolated also behind and it's just. It's emotional to say those things out loud. So. Yeah.

Alison Stewart (17:40)

Let's listen to the title track of your new album. This is teal dreams When I was.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (17:46)

Born a butterfly flew into the room that's how I know I was born to do a dreamers do I'm a lover I'm a chooser and I choose to fight they were my sanitize my genes inside my head tonight Somewhere between dreams and reality It's a revolutionary act when blackout dream I've been moving restless When I try to sleep Whispers of what the ancestors try to say to.

Yasmin Lacey (18:11)

Me.

Narrator/Performer (18:15)

I dance a dream and cover story out of stone with wish I could tell my youngest self I'm down.

Yasmin Lacey (18:25)

Alone.

Narrator/Performer (18:28)

I wanna sleep I saw the sea to watch them grow Teal dreams Teal dreams I might take myself on.

Alison Stewart (18:42)

A ride it's so interesting on the COVID of your album, you're in this beautiful brown dress. There's a butterfly on your finger. You're sitting on a. With a teal background. What role did you want the visual.

Interviewer/Host (18:54)

Aesthetics to play in this release?

Yasmin Lacey (18:57)

I think that I'm definitely playing homage to the artist. I spoke about Danielle and the photo that inspired it. But also that's this just in this sort of, like, to recreate the space in which my mind is in when I'm having these thoughts. You know, this, like, safe space that we talked about. This time of night where, you know, you're writing those little things down in your notebook for the studio the next day. I think it's just inviting everybody come sit on the couch for me. Do you know what I mean? Me and my dreamy little world Come, come share this with me. I think that's what the cover's saying.

Interviewer/Host (19:32)

It was so interesting. I looked her up when you were talking. It's.

Yasmin Lacey (19:34)

Her work is beautiful, guys. Like, if. I mean, she's just exhibiting in London at the moment, but I know that she just had one here and she's coming back here because she's from here. And it really is worth checking out.

Interviewer/Host (19:48)

Daniel McKinney is her name, by the way. All right, we're gonna go out on one last song. This is an unreleased song as well. Love is like the ghetto. What's your favorite part of this song?

Yasmin Lacey (20:00)

At the end.

Interviewer/Host (20:01)

The end.

Yasmin Lacey (20:05)

I mean, I love all of it, but the bit of the end gives me jokes. Because when I was voice note in Mellow Z, who's the guy that produced it, when we done it, I was like, yeah, the ting set, which basically, in the current beam means, like, it's done. It's just like a little cloak. And I was like. And he voice noted me. Ian's like, yeah, the ting set Yaz and I was like, right now we put it in the track, so we just dropped in the little voice note at the end. It just makes me laugh every time I hear it.

Interviewer/Host (20:27)

My guest has been Yasmin Lacey. Her new album is called Teal Dreams. It's out on October 24th. If you're interested in seeing her, Yasmin is playing an album release show at Cafe Erzoule in Brooklyn tonight at 7:00pm thank you for being with us.

Yasmin Lacey (20:40)

Thank you for having me.

Interviewer/Host (20:41)

Babe, let's go out Love is like the ghetto.

Narrator/Performer (20:47)

Love don't care what your name bears Cause love can tell where.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (20:54)

You'Re from.

Narrator/Performer (20:58)

Love will rest on strangers.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (21:04)

Enjoying them too. Wine, it's worth the fight when our.

Narrator/Performer (21:16)

Two hearts collide the streets are cold but we'll make it.

Backing Vocalist/Performer (21:25)

Love is like the ghetto Learning when to let go Gamble, sticker, settle, hustle and we keep hope Love is like the ghetto Learning when to let go those who don't.

Announcer (21:34)

Hear them for 140 years, MultiCare has been in Washington prioritizing long term solutions, partnering with local communities and expanding access to care. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org NYC now delivers breaking news, top headlines and in depth coverage from WNYC and Gothamist every morning, midday and evening. By sponsoring our programming, you'll reach a community of passionate listeners in an uncluttered audio experience. Visit sponsorship.wnyc.org to learn more.