LASS interview: “It’s a cry from the heart to all young Africans that the future belongs to us”

The story of LASS is proof that there’s truth in the saying ‘good things come to those who wait,’ for LASS’ musical journey has been one of patience and chance encounters. Now the waiting is finally over as he’s about to release his debut album.

LASS was born Lassana Sané in Mbatal, a suburb of Dakar, Senegal. The youngest of eight, he was immersed in music from an early age – from listening to Africando and Orchestra Baobab at home, sneaking along to the dance soirées his older brothers organised or going to concerts by Xalam and Positive Black Soul.

But his first serendipitous musical encounter was with the hip-hop group Daara J. “They are like my big brothers,” he exclaims. “We used to dream about being like them, to tour in Europe… it was them who helped me believe in my own voice.” LASS recorded his early singles in their studio around the time several of his friends were making the fateful decision to leave Senegal in search of a better life. 

“The newspapers are full of such stories and you see it on the TV, but when it’s people from your village, youngsters you know personally, then believe me, it’s something else,” LASS says. “I’ve lost friends, some who left in boats, hoping to cross the sea but who never arrived in Spain. I stayed in Dakar because I didn’t have the means to pay for the crossing and also because music had taken hold of my heart.” 

Some years later LASS eventually moved to Europe and he’s been living in France since 2008. He was on the verge of packing up music altogether when he met Bruno Hovart, aka Patchworks, who recruited LASS into his successful Afro-disco project Voilaaa. Shortly afterwards in 2018 the French electro DJ duo, Synapson, asked LASS to sing on their single ‘Souba’. It was a huge success and another hit, ‘Toujours’ with Synapson and Tim Dup, followed in 2020. 

Now LASS is about to realise his dream and release his long-awaited debut. “This album represents my journey, from being a young African who arrived in France from Senegal who had something to prove. It represents my life, my struggle and I’m very proud of it.”  

And rightly so, as it’s a winning combination of catchy Afro-pop songs infused with Afro-Cuban rhythms. But it’s LASS’ voice that makes the biggest impression. Soulful, soaring, at times tremulous with emotion, it recalls many of the classic veteran Senegalese singers who inspired him, such as Youssou N’Dour, Omar Pene and Ismaël Lô.

Some of the album’s standout tracks include ‘Sénégal’, a sensual, smooth tribute to his homeland, and title-track, ‘Bumayé’: “This song is a message of encouragement and hope,” says LASS. “It’s a cry from the heart to all young Africans that the future belongs to us.” 

The release coincides with a jam-packed summer touring schedule, not that LASS is complaining: “I’ve had some really difficult moments in my life, and this album is the culmination of a lot of hard work and so I hope that lots of people will listen to it and discover me and my music.”    

Read the review of LASS' Bumayé

This interview originally appeared in the July 2022 issue of Songlines magazine. Never miss an issue – subscribe today