5 Songs I Love w/ Lala Vale

1. Suzanne Vega - Luka

“Luka” is written from the perspective of a child experiencing domestic violence. As a mother to two children I’ve adopted, both with a difficult past, it always deeply moves me. Suzanne Vega’s writing is direct and restrained, avoiding excessive drama even with heavy subjects. I once covered this song in a stripped-down version.

2. Prince - Purple Rain

It’s a monumental blend of rock, pop, gospel, and soul - everything I was influenced by. The song evolves from intimacy into a powerful, iconic guitar climax. To me, “purple rain” feels almost apocalyptic—like the end of one world and the need for human closeness before change. It remains one of the most cinematic songs ever written.

3. Leon Russell - This Masquerade

I love all versions of this song, each interpreted by different artists and revealing another layer. Leon Russell brings rawness, George Benson turns it into soulful jazz, and The Carpenters take it in a soft and restrained direction. I think I connect to all of them because my own music contains a little of each. The lyrics also resonate with themes I explore in my own work.

4. Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill

This wonderful song was written after Peter Gabriel left Genesis. It is about personal transformation and change. It captures the tension between fear of the unknown and the excitement of new beginnings. Its slightly irregular structure, yet constant sense of forward motion, mirrors that emotional journey.

5. Nina Simone - Feeling Good

Although the song wasn’t written for her, Nina makes it entirely her own. What may sound simple—“birds flying high, sun in the sky”—becomes a declaration of liberation and rebirth through her deeply emotional interpretation. The orchestration creates a cinematic, dramatic atmosphere that feels like stepping fully into personal strength after confinement.

Watch Lala Vale 'Obvious'

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