THE FRONT ROW

La Dharma’s It’s All Thanks to You is a heartfelt, seven-track glide through modern heartbreak, self-reflection, and sonic growth. Still rooted in their signature cocktail of shimmering synth-pop and introspective lyrics, this is the band’s most emotionally vulnerable and stylistically balanced release to date. It’s an EP that doesn’t need to shout to be heard, instead, it whispers truths in a neon-lit room, subtle but unforgettable.

It all kicks off with “Room 7,” a warm, melancholic introduction full of lush textures and inner tension. There’s a cinematic hue here, think hotel corridors, midnight texts, and old regrets. It’s a track that doesn’t build for the sake of drama, but gently opens the door to the EP’s recurring themes of disconnection and emotional fragility.

“Do You Know Why?” shifts the energy up a notch, pairing bittersweet lyrics with crisp guitars and a head-nod rhythm that gives it standout single potential. The chorus hits hard, both sonically and sentimentally, as frontman Chris Leedham floats between confusion and resignation. It’s an addictive mix, polished indie-pop with a bruised core.

Then comes “Madrid,” a dreamy, escapist detour that feels both widescreen and intimate. There’s a calm sadness to it, like sitting in the sun knowing something’s slipping away. It’s beautifully crafted, full of longing, and one of the most transportive moments on the record.

“The Night Before” acts as a turning point, not a full track, but a 33-second ambient interlude made of piano, static, and space. It’s the EP’s thread between two emotional worlds, guiding the listener from the lighter synthscapes of the first half into a more grounded, introspective second act. Rather than filler, it serves as a quiet exhale, a breather before the next heart-punch lands.

That comes in the form of “Mid-Day / Mid-Afternoon,” a slow, tender, and emotionally open ballad that strips things right back. This is the EP’s rawest moment. The tempo drops, the instrumentation is delicate, and the lyrics feel like pages from a journal you were never meant to read. It’s not built for radio, it’s built for connection, a song that hits harder the quieter it gets.

“For Nothing” brings the groove back without losing that emotional bite. It’s the most 1975-inspired track on the EP — punchy, hook-laden, and sleek, but there’s real substance beneath the shimmer. “I don’t know, it’s all for nothing,” Leedham repeats, balancing resignation with swagger. It’s a song about giving too much and not knowing why, dressed up in the kind of catchy polish that demands repeat plays.

And then, just when you expect a big finish, “Lights, Cameras, Action” gently lowers the curtain. Rather than a theatrical closer, this track is delicate and stripped-back, a final emotional reveal. Its calm pacing and understated production echo the vulnerability that threads through the EP, landing closer to slow-burning 30 Seconds To Mars than any indie-disco finale. It’s a song about performance, perception, and the cost of keeping up appearances, and by ending on such an honest note, La Dharma remind us that connection beats spectacle every time.

It’s All Thanks to You is La Dharma’s most accomplished release to date, emotionally intelligent, subtly produced, and confidently self-aware. It proves they’re more than a glossy indie-pop outfit — they’re songwriters with something to say, and now, the sound to say it with.