Hannah Lacava exposed the vulnerability behind independence in her Y2K RnB Pop release, All Out of Pretend –

Hannah Lacava tore off the façade in All Out of Pretend, a seminal single that illuminates the darker side of the increasingly lauded strong-single-and-independent archetype. Built on sax-lit lustre and aesthetics that flick memories back to chart-ruling early-2000s glamour, the track becomes far more than a nod to Y2K pop. Tinges of RnB restore the era when each lyric landed like an affirmation, while Lacava’s dynamically expansive delivery makes it clear that her volition as a powerhouse singer-songwriter resists any pastiche. She spins through a whirlwind of emotion, leaving ear-hooking motifs, sky-skimming vocals, and lines that spike the soul as she voices what many leave unspoken. It is nostalgia-kissed euphoria with a conscience, with the cabaret-esque sparkle and the vocal command converging into a searing statement of intent.

The single was a precursor to the Chicago native’s LP, False Love Identity, which was released on the 14th of November and explores love, lust, and self-empowerment through a pop lens sharpened by years of graft, collaborations, and radio momentum. Across her catalogue, she moves from flirtatious to defiant to bare-souled, yet keeps melody-magnet choruses front and centre. If All Out of Pretend  is your first introduction to Lacava, it will be an unforgettable one.

All Out of Pretend is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast