Track of the Day: Aaron Lawlor - 'Van Der Sar'

Aaron Lawlor’s independent spirit permeates through a blended sound of 90s boom bap, drill and post-punk on new single Van Der Sar.

Hailing from Dublin, Aaron’s subject matter reflects struggles of loneliness and romance whilst being wrapped up in a sound that is tongue-in-cheek. The rising star is inspired by a smorgasbord of alternative hip-hop royalty like Rejjie Snow, Loyle Carner and MF Doom.

His neatly crafted debut ‘Smooch Smooch Kiss’ impressed with its upbeat beats and garnered support on BBC Radio amongst others. Now he’s back with a darker, more sombre follow-up that continues to meld various genres together.

‘Van Der Sar’ was written when Lawlor first moved to Dublin city centre from the outskirts. The excitement and independence of first moving into his own place clashed with the realisation of a city that can grind you down. ‘Van Der Sar’, a reference to the Manchester United footballer and Dutch goalkeeper, is "about things I noticed as I walked around the city centre: homeless people, depression and those struggling with their everyday lives.”

Aaron’s subject matter and dialect stays true to where he’s from, as he pours his own autobiographical detail into the mix. His hazy flows take the listener on an imagined night out in the city, and the hook of the song is dedicated to renowned Dublin LGTBQ venue PantiBar. His underdog mentality is in full swing.

“It’s about calling out people pretending to be something they’re not," Aaron says of the track. "I stand with those who express themselves the way they want and not to be part of a group just because of the fear of being slagged or looked at differently. That’s why I wrote this song."

Listen to 'Van Der Sar' below: