Lor (musician)
Lor | |
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![]() Lor performing at the Laboratoire Musical de Bastos, Yaoundé, Cameroon | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Laetitia Laure Nsoutou |
Also known as | Thegoldenlor, Golden Lor, Laelaure, L'or, |
Born | Yaounde, Cameroon | 3 September 1991
Origin | Yaounde, Cameroon |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2011–present |
Labels |
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Member of | The Massive Tribe |
Website | thegoldenlor |
Laetitia Laure Nsoutou, better known as her stage name Lor is a Cameroonian rapper, singer-songwriter, actress, animator, and multi-instrumentist and activist. Known for her introspective and honest lyrics, she explores themes of identity, mental health, empowerment, and social issues among others.[1]
Career
[edit]2011 – 2016
[edit]Lor began her professional career in 2011, when she joined "Troupe Rue 1113" and performed as actress, dancer, singer and songwriter for the first musical film ever produced in Cameroon, "Rendez-vous avec les morts", written by Elena Serna. Until 2016, she adopted the moniker "Laelaure" and collaborated with various artists like Festus and Willis Beats. She also collaborated with artist Worlasi on his song "No Matter", and directed/co-produced his animated music video "Cartoon", which is considered one of the coolest music videos from Africa.[2]
2016 – New Bell Music
[edit]Lor joined New Bell Music as a recording artist in 2016, and was mentored by the rapper and producer Jovi. As an introduction, she is featured on Pascal's debut single "Manka’a Remix". The video directed by Tatapong Beyala was well received.[citation needed] She also collaborated in his album Work Dey 3 on the title "I No Kam Fine" and later appeared on the song "ICI" by Tata the following year[3]. Although an announcement was made on her working on her EP, she will not release any solo project under New Bell Music, which will trigger interrogations about her being "neglected" under the label.[citation needed]
2018 – Independent
[edit]In June 2018, Lor released a Freestyle video as a now independent artist.[4] Produced by Method J and directed by Tatapong Beyala, the video was featured on the Daymolition platform.[5] In November 2018, she released her debut official single "Tourne pas le dos" which is a song with afro pop sonorities produced by Sango Edi and directed by Walter Enow which received positive reviews.[6][7] In 2019, she collaborated with AFRIMA nominated artist WAZIH on the title "Fighter" produced by Method J Beats, from his Extended Play Anotic and in December 2019, she releases her sophomore single, "On Connait" an afro pop song produced by Sangtum which was well received by the public. As part of the Street Corner collective, she performed at La Case des Arts and the Street Corner and l'Institut Français du Cameroun.[8][9]
2020 – Dawn the EP
[edit]In February 2020, Lor releases the music video "Stop/Rewind",[10] directed by Tatapong Beyala and executively produced by the Gurl Boss Production.[11] The song, produced by Method J is aimed to be the leading single of her first studio project Dawn, an Extended play of 7 tracks. The video production process was featured on a Reuters documentary.[11] The Project is released in July 2020 and is produced by Method J Beats, Elisha Kay and Tony Ef, with guest appearances by WAZIH on the song "Broken" and by Empawa 2020 Laureate, rapper Yung Meagan on the track "Balek".[citation needed] Dawn, is according to Samuel Lacmene, founder of Stillac, "an album that exudes freshness", where she "managed to send strong messages, but above all to transmit emotions through her particular vocal timbre".[1]
2024 – Thoughts at 3
[edit]In March 2024, she released Thoughts at 3, an Extended play that delves into themes of mental health, The project blends rap and melodic elements, offering a candid exploration of mental health, self-reflection, and personal growth.[12] It addresses themes such as emotional struggles and societal expectations, particularly in the context of African culture, where mental health discussions are often limited. Femme, the lead single, was released earlier in 2024, gaining attention for its raw portrayal of the challenges faced by women.[13] The EP features contributions from producers like Bskute, Daniel Pappoe, HK Sensei, and others, and blends Afrobeat, rap, and soul influences.[12] Thoughts at 3 provides listeners with a heartfelt expression of Lor’s experiences and a deeper conversation about mental health.
Activism
[edit]Lor is also an activist and a Dalai Lama Fellow. She engages in various social causes, with a focus on mental health awareness, gender equality, and women's empowerment. Through her involvement with the Fellowship supported by the Dalai Lama, she seeks to promote values of compassion and social change. Lor's activism complements her artistic work, allowing her to address these issues and contribute to important conversations.[14]
Other affiliations
[edit]Lor participated in an immersive workshop for the creation of a performance and a movement was born: “Hopeload”. This initiative brought together a collective of young, resilient creatives aimed at promoting progress in Cameroon and beyond. The workshop was organized by the Centre des Créateurs de Mode du Cameroun (CCMC) and the Goethe Institute Kamerun, fostering collaboration and artistic development among emerging talents.[15]
She also participated in the Black Girls Glow Sound Residency in 2022, collaborating with other fellows to create the album Tapestry. The project reflects the collective efforts of artists, particularly Black women, and explores themes of resilience, empowerment, and self-discovery.[16]
In 2024, she joins The Massive Tribe band as a lead vocalist alongside rapper and singer songwriter Feli Nuna. The band is founded by musician Beda Ehrensperger. They release their debut single "Outerstellar" in November 2024, quickly followed by The Reggae fusion song "Don't Ever Give Up" and song "Hurt You Back".[17][18][19]
Live Performances
[edit]Lor is a live music performer with experience on various stages worldwide. She has performed in different countries, bringing a blend of music and personal storytelling to her shows. Her live performances span both intimate and larger venues, highlighting her versatility and dedication to sharing her music with audiences. She utilizes a looper and guitar in her live performances, creating a dynamic sound by layering her music in real-time. She has performed on stages in countries such as France and Germany, showcasing her ability to incorporate live looping into her performances. Her live shows highlight her versatility and musical approach, contributing to her growing presence as a live artist.[20][21]
Headlining Performances
[edit]- Dawn Live Show, 2020, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Salon International des Voix de Femmes, Escale Bantoo 2022, Yaounde, Cameroon[21][22][23]
- Olaf’Lor Live Performance with Mark Mulholland, 2024, La Charité-sur-Loire ,France[20]
- Sofar Sounds Accra Live Performance, 2023, Accra, Ghana
- Lor Live Showcase. 2024, Berlin, Germany[24]
- ARTliners Berlin Music Session. 2024, Berlin, Germany
- Street Corner Collective “A l’arrache” Apéro Concert, 2021, Institut Francais Yaounde, Cameroon[25]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- "Holdin On" (2015)
- "Tourne pas le dos" (2018)
- "On connaît" (2019)
- "Stop/Rewind" (2020)
- "Come" (2022)
- "Femme"(2024)
- "Ca va"(2024)
Extended plays
[edit]- Dawn (2020)
- Thoughts at 3 (2024)
Guest appearances
[edit]Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
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"No Matter" | 2016 | [[Worlasi | The Uncut |
"Manka'a Remix" | Pascal | ||
"I No Kam Fine" | 2017 | Work Dey 3 | |
"ICI" | Tata | ||
"Fighter" | 2019 | WAZIH | Anotic |
"Beside You"
"1985" "Dancers in the Dark" "Donner" "My Fro n Me" |
2022 | Black Girls Glow | Tapestry |
"Outerstellar"
"Don’t Ever Give Up" "Hurt You Back" |
2024 | The Massive Tribe |
Other songs
[edit]- "You Come First", (2012)
- "Click Pow", (2013)
- "Believe", (2014)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lacmene, Samuel (21 October 2020). "Au Kamer, la petite perle de la musique s'appelle LOR". Medium. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Video: Cartoon by Worlasi". Ghana Music. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "NEW BELL MUSIC ARTIST TATA AFTER A WHILE RELEASES NEW SINGLE "ICI" FEATURING LOR".
- ^ "Après plusieurs collaborations avec New Bell Music, LOR fait son retour avec un freestyle". Auletch (in French). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ LOR – Freestyle I Daymolition, retrieved 24 June 2021
- ^ "Découvrez " Tourne pas le dos ", le nouveau clip de LOR". Auletch (in French). 26 November 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ TNK (1 December 2018). "Music : Lor Golden ne tourne pas le dos à son mec". BUG (in French). Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "LOR en showcase au Street Corner". Auletch (in French). 8 April 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "APERO CONCERT: SOIRÉE 100% HIP HOP". Institut Français du Cameroun (in French). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "La nouvelle tuerie de Lor qui dégaine sur ses haters dans le clip " Stop/ Rewind "". Auletch (in French). 26 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Cameroon's 'Gurl Boss' crew takes on male-dominated film world". Reuters. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Thoughts at 3 by Lor (Golden)". Genius. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "« Femme » : la nouvelle composition engagée de Lor sera dévoilée le 8 mars". Music In Africa. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "DALAI LAMA FELLOWS". DALAI LAMA FELLOWS. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Un mouvement. Une performance. Retour en images sur la presentation officielle de notre mouvement et les réactions durant la soirée Goethe Institut... | By Hopeload Cameroon | Facebook. Retrieved 18 February 2025 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ "2022 FELLOWS – Black Girls Glow". Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Massive Tribe Set To Launch New Single". DailyGuide Network. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "The Massive Tribe is set to launch debut single "Outerstellar" ; A cosmic musical journey -". kingafricartv.com. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Blinks, Nasti (7 October 2024). "The Massive Tribe is set to launch debut single "Outerstellar" – A cosmic musical journey". GhMusicHype. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Un duo inédit dans Afronight : Lor et Mark Mulholland". www.replay.gp (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ a b LA RETRO DES SHOWCASES Revivez la prestation de LOR au Salon de l'Escale Bantoo 2022 #escalebantoo #laretrodesshowcases | By Global Music Hub | Facebook. Retrieved 18 February 2025 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Escale Bantoo 2022 : comment les Mefe sont en train d'accélérer la professionnalisation de la scène musicale camerounaise". Music In Africa. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Salon International des Voix de Femmes : le programme de la 5e édition". Music In Africa. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Lor – Cameroonian sensation – live this weekend – don't miss this one". Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Institut français du Cameroun - YAOUNDÉ #ApéroConcert avec Jaco Ttw Sandra MC Venum237 et Golden Lor L'IFC vous propose demain à 19 heures, une soirée 100% hip-hop. Venez découvrir des artistes hiphop en profitant de l'happy hour du Cafe De France Yaounde Orchestre constitué par le Street Corner Un mapping sur les murs extérieurs de l'IFC vous sera proposé avant le concert par l'artiste Wilfried Nakeu Entrée libre | Facebook". fr-fr.facebook.com (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
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