Lola Vialet, a 2021 Berklee College of Music graduate, may not be new to the music scene, but her debut single “All or Nothing” makes it clear that she’s she is a voice to look out for. I first found Vialet through the Powers That Be™ (Instagram’s algorithm) a couple weeks ago when she began teasing this single, and I am so glad I did because I am a sucker for a good chill dance beat. She has appeared in other artists’ work since 2022 and continues to do live music performances, but “All of Nothing” is a new frontier for Vialet. As she explains in an Instagram reel, she wrote the song in 12 hours, produced it in another 12 and released it under her own production company. Written, recorded, and produced in her room, Vialet sings from the perspective of a woman wanting answers from her lover.
Vialet has beautiful, clear vocals that remain soft without being lost in the beat. As the song progresses, a vocalized melody is introduced as a background track, which adds some extra soul to the beat. Throughout, piano chords are sprinkled throughout with somewhat more frequent bass that is grounded by the continuous 5/4 main background track (a departure form the usual 4/4 beat that generally characterizes house). A relatively rare time signature, the quintuple meter adds a bit more interest and creates a distinctive feel that keeps me coming back for more. This departure from the traditional makes me excited to see what comes next from Vialet, and adds to the messaging of the song.
This song is intensely relatable to any lesbian at Wellesley, asking the question: “What are we?” But Vialet makes sure her lover knows that she will no longer tolerate a situationship, that it’s “All or Nothing.” Not only that, but she is not here to be subservient to her partner’s indecisiveness, saying “We’re supposed to be equal / don’t you know?” When her lover keeps changing their number, she is there to change her attitude. Their relationship/situationship has issues, as “love never coincides” and her partner’s love is not necessarily true, just as she doesn’t trust them like she says she does. However, Vialet knows they have potential, and is willing to bet on them as long as they “put all [their] chips in.”
At the time of writing, Vialet has around 200 monthly listeners, and her debut has less than 1,000 streams, but I would bet it all on them becoming someone great. This song is the first solo piece I’ve heard from her, but I truly hope it won’t be the last, because I am finding myself obsessed. Plus, maybe this would be a good song to play the next time you’re in a kinda-maybe-sorta relationship at Wellesley. What else do you expect from the lesbian drama on campus, direct communication?
