Canadian artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Chris LaRocca has released his third single of the year, “slow dance in the diner” on Red Bull Records/Wonderchild.
Ahead of LaRocca’s forthcoming EP dog years, the track showcases yet another facet of his artistic depth. “slow dance in the diner” is somber, smitten, bold, and honest all at once. Listeners witness LaRocca reflect on spending time with his person, and his gratitude for the smallest moments. Sonically, he’s as detail oriented as ever; his vocals are raw, his words unfiltered, and his guitar is crisp and emotional. This marks a significant shift towards the musical storytelling he has long admired but never sought to create – until now. Drawing inspiration from Americana and folk greats, he grounds this single around the traditional stylings and simplicities of each genre.
On the inspiration behind the song, LaRocca shared: “‘slow dance in the diner’ reminisces on a trip I took with my partner to Halifax in the East Coast of Canada. After visiting Peggy’s Cove, we ended up at the only restaurant open at that hour of night called ‘The Finer Diner.’ They were playing old country music, and it was completely empty aside from the two of us and the guy behind the counter. While we were waiting for what felt like forever for him to come cash us out, we started slow dancing to pass the time. When I think back to that moment, it feels like it was a scene out of a movie, and was one of the few times in this life I have felt the warmth of true love. It was a realization that I rarely have the time to just slow down and live in the present moment, and a reminder to enjoy those moments thoroughly when they present themselves.”
LaRocca started off the year with singles “ladybug” and “laundry day”, giving listeners a taste of the EP’s versatility and themes around falling (and staying) in love. Each song is a new page out of LaRocca’s journal, and while their sonic makeup is different, they’re tied together by time. The EP was written over the course of a single year wherein LaRocca grew considerably as a person and as one half of a relationship. He captures the complexity of the tug-of-war between fulfillment and disbelief that comes with finding someone you want to spend forever with.
As more pieces to Chris LaRocca’s dog years are revealed, listeners are shown the many sides that make up the Toronto-born artist. His vulnerability shines through in every verse, where he consistently demonstrates the ability to turn life’s most complicated moments into relatable bodies of work.