Worry Not, Lubalin’s Debut Album is Here

20 December 2024 / by Anastazja Marut
Album reviews
Lubalin haha, no worries
Released: December 6, 2024
Label: Cult Nation
Movement:
Pop
Lane:
kate the dreamer / Poor Reflection
Rating:
7/10
Heat:
bullet time, something to prove, turning blue

Grounded in the present and looking to the past, Lubalin’s haha, no worries is an ode to the old, the new, and the best in music.

 

Lubalin’s musical career took off online thanks to a series of TikTok videos in 2020. From there, it was a period of learning and growth as he worked alongside fellow Montreal-native Charlotte Cardin on her album 99 Nights. Now, with Cardin lending her voice for backing vocals, Lubalin takes centre stage.

 

Juno Award nominee and co-winner Lubalin took to self-reflection as he penned his debut album haha, no worries. The record is Lubalin’s passion project—a culmination of months of writing, producing, and close listening as he narrowed down the tracklist to the twelve best songs. “All my favourite albums, when you think of them in your head, there’s like a clear picture of what they are,” he wrote in the album announcement. “That’s what I was chasing.” The result? A designated world on a pale blue dot as seen on the album cover that mixes 2000s beats with contemporary pop, R&B, and hip-hop sounds.

 

Drums and bass dominate this record, flourishing on tracks like “something to prove” and “aerodynamics.” Lubalin has a tendency for bold, punchy choruses punctuated by the flare of bass strings and strained vocals. “pale blue dot” and “trust issues” start out on a somber note before picking up to match the dominant tone of the album. There’s uncertainty and wariness in the lyrics as Lubalin navigates this new landscape in his life, but his assuredness in his production never falters.

 

The lyrics, as intended by the singer, do much of the heavy lifting here. A song lacking quality lyrics cannot necessarily be saved by good production, but there’s little concern for that here. On haha, no worries, verses range from remorseful (“I did not know how to love you, I thought I could learn to”) to almost philosophical (“Seems like the longer you go asking why / The closer you get to the darkness inside”). Lubalin’s vocals oscillate between soft and raspy, quiet and loud, easily adapting to the change of pace each song brings.

 

True to his testament, haha, no worries exists in a world all its own, transfixed by Lubalin’s dedication to his artistry. Perhaps the next Juno nomination he receives will be for a work all his own.