Laveda – If Only (You Said No)

The recording project of Albany duo Jake Brooks and Ali Genevich, Laveda are a dream pop band dedicated to sweeping textures and atmospheric emotion. Writing of their first single ‘Dream. Sleep.‘ back in February, we described how their self-labelled tag of ‘rugged dream pop’ is something of a misnomer, “captur[ing] something of the spirit of the band,” but also “do[ing] a disservice to the polished sheen that also represents their sound.” However, we concluded such a dichotomy to be inherent in the band’s style:

That this is perhaps something of a contradiction fits in with the Laveda aesthetic, eschewing as it does any commitment to simple binaries and instead straddling both sides of the the divide. Raw and lustrous, fuzzy and crystalline, nostalgic and fully focused on the future, careering forward without second thought.

Laveda are back with a brand new single, ‘If Only (You Said No)’, and we’re delighted to be able to share it a day before it’s official release. Opening with a prehistoric shimmer of synths, the track soon evolves into an impassioned pop song that utilises dual vocals to delve deeper into the relationship at its heart, in a way reminiscent of Dexter Tortoriello’s Houses. Genevich takes the first verse, her words whispered and poignant. After joining for the refrain, Brooks takes the second verse, his words sincere and desperate and halfway hopeful too, even if its just the misplaced hope of those unable to let go.

This plays into the themes of the track too, which aim to “reflect the internal conflict of really wanting someone but struggling to admit it.” If having the vocals separated by verses suggests a dialogue between two voices, then it is one conducted indirectly. The words whispered to oneself late at night, deep wishes internalised, a fantasy place beyond the miscommunication of the real world, where feelings can be conveyed directly and without distortion.

I hear you come around standing at the door
I know it’s you think I’ll ignore
While the rest of them are falling
Love isn’t something that I need anymore

If only you would go but I won’t stop calling
If only you could know this door won’t open
If only you stayed home I’ll be waiting for it
If only you said no

So hear I am waiting standing at the door
It’s just another night but there’s something else in store
While you were out there falling
I was hoping that you wanted me the most

‘If Only (You Said No)’ is out tomorrow and you can get it from the Laveda Bandcamp page.