Following her return to the Electronic Music scene, Angel City, aka Lara McAllen, has reignited her creative journey, recently stepping out with her brand-new single, ‘Stars’. The track, a collaboration with DJ T.H. and ReDub on Coldharbour Recordings, blends emotional depth with uplifting Trance elements, marking a confident and heartfelt comeback for the talented artist.
Now, in this exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation, Lara opens up about the story behind ‘Stars’, the creative process that shaped it, and what stepping back into the studio has felt like after years away from music.
So, join us as we dive into the making of ‘Stars’ and discover firsthand how Lara is shaping the next chapter of Angel City.
Hi Lara – How are you?
I’m feeling really positive at the moment and enjoying being back in the studio and using my voice once again!
How did the idea for ‘Stars’ come about?
‘Stars’ started its life as an instrumental by Redub and DJ T.H. who sent it over to me to ask what I thought of it. I loved it right away. William (Redub) had connected with me some months before via Instagram and was already working on productions with me. Immediately, I could hear a topline melody for his new instrumental (which isn’t always the case when you first hear an instrumental!) and I said I would get going the next day on a quick idea.
What was the writing process for this track?
‘Stars’ was the easiest song to write. I am not always the quickest songwriter. I like to write by myself or with one other person usually. And if I am on my own writing, I write in about 45-minute stints before my brain starts to overthink, and I’ll take a break before it starts malfunctioning! But ‘Stars’ was different because the process was really quick and didn’t involve any second-guessing myself. I could hear the melodies before I even started recording a rough draft and many of the lyrics came out within that first draft.
How did it feel stepping back into the studio after your time away from the music scene?
If I am completely honest, I was scared to go back into the studio for the first time after such a long break. I set my studio up again at home which helped me gain my confidence as I could experiment with vocals by myself. It was fear that held me back from singing again, so actually deciding to throw myself back into music was extremely daunting. I hadn’t used my voice in years, so my control and tone weren’t as strong as I wanted them to be. It’s taken a year to feel like my voice is back to where it needs to be.
I am a perfectionist, so I found it very frustrating to initially not hear exactly the tones and depth I wanted to hear on the recordings, but with a lot of graft and vocal practice over many months, I am confident with how my vocal sounds now.
How did you approach balancing emotional depth with the energetic, dancefloor feel of the track?
It’s a delicate balance for sure! William (Redub) is very understanding of giving a vocal space within the production. I feel like he created something really dynamic which complemented the melodic highs and lows of the song, and I think this makes the listening experience more immersive.
What has the response been to ‘Stars’ so far?
Some people will remember that my early history with the Ministry of Sound was very much based on re-works of old samples and much less about me as a writer. I was a performer, for sure, but I wasn’t getting to do a huge amount of writing, so the initial response to ‘Stars’ from Markus (Shultz) and the label on the vocal and the lyrics was hugely important to me. Markus’ support on this record, along with other industry greats like Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk and Aly and Fila has been wonderful.
But, just as importantly – I am always moved by the way the original Angel City fans respond to the new music. I reconnected with many of them when I first showed up again on social media and they have championed my return to music just as passionately as my own family! The original Angel City LGBTQ+ fans have embraced me once again which feels like the biggest hug at a time when I am obviously nervous about coming back. The early fans remember my journey and have followed my hopes and fears along the way and they really cheer me on to get the new music out there. They understand the meaning behind ‘Stars’ and they’ve shown the track so much love. I am sure they will be reading this and know who they are!
How does ‘Stars’ reflect where you are creatively and personally right now?
‘Stars’ is very personal as I was writing about something that was very fresh and raw to me at the time. It’s a story of loss and grief but also of hope and I was very much feeling those emotions at the time I wrote the lyrics. So, I didn’t need to reach for those feelings to remember them, they were very present emotions at that time.
‘Stars’ is a glimpse of where my life was at that precise moment, a time when I’d just lost a member of my family, a member of my household, someone who was part of every hour of every day. I guess that’s why it was so easy to write – because it was real to me at that time.
Do you have any favourite memories from working with DJ T.H. and ReDub on this project?
We actually had a great time in Amsterdam when I went to my first ADE last year, just after we finished making ‘Stars’. I’d never been to ADE (which is ridiculous as an artist in EDM!), and basically, you go out there and meet a load of other people in the industry, stay up far too late and come home having lost your voice! I met the Coldharbour family for the first time at a party while I was there, and Thomas introduced me to Markus and Tim from the label and I realised that this was a really lovely team to be working with as they are genuinely great people. Finding your people in the music industry can be a really challenging part of the journey. It’s a tough business to be in, with huge emotional ups and downs, so connecting with great people always makes you feel really energised and positive.
How would you say your approach has evolved?
I am an entirely different human to the one who sang ‘Love Me Right’ at 19 years old. I didn’t have a clue what I was about when I was releasing music back then and I regret not seizing every opportunity that came my way. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and you can only try and learn from your regrets.
My approach has had to evolve because regardless of anything else, the music industry has changed enormously and the fact that it’s all about stats, likes and follows now means you have to consider everything strategically. When ‘Love Me Right’ blew up, it was because it organically worked its way around the UK club scene and people responded to it on the dancefloor. Now you have to think about whether you’ve posted enough on social media and for me that feels sad sometimes, but the main thing for me now is that I enjoy everything that I make and that comes through in the music. Angel City early days weren’t always the happiest days for me or the most authentic and the main thing this time around is that I make the music I want to make and love the process.
Finally, can you share a glimpse into what you have lined up next? Are there any more releases coming up soon?
I am focusing on collaborations over the next year. I hope that people will be okay with me spreading my vocals over a bit of a range of EDM genres as I experiment with the sounds that work best for me.
The very first track I wrote when I returned to music is set for release on Anjuna this summer with the absolute superstar that is Amy Wiles. Amy took the ‘Dream Away’ song from me a year ago and transformed it into a total bop while keeping the emotional feel to it and even adding some topline elements herself!
I’ve got another vocal Trance track in the making with York and Ruben de Ronde which is so full of uplifting harmonies, so I can’t wait to get that out. I haven’t posted any clips of it yet but I’m excited to share soon.
In contrast, a really bonkers re-work is coming soon with my friend Damon from POU, pushing the boundaries for me into Melodic Techno.
It’s taken me a moment to understand the music industry fully once again and what can work for me in 2025 but hopefully all the writing and recording in 2024 is about to be set free into the world!
From rediscovering her voice to building meaningful connections in the studio and beyond, Lara’s return is fuelled by purpose, passion, and a deep-rooted love for the music that shaped her. With a wave of exciting collaborations and new releases on the horizon, this marks just the beginning of Angel City’s next chapter – one poised to reconnect with long-time listeners while drawing in a new generation of fans.
Be sure to keep up with her upcoming releases by following Angel City across social media and discover the emotive energy of her signature sound today, listening now to her latest single ‘Stars’.
Listen to ‘Stars’ Here:
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