Photo: Nikki van de Poel

Dutch songwriter la loye explores sorrow in happiness on the glowing “i’m still asleep”

la loye is the project of Dutch songwriter Lieke Heusinkveld, who today shares her new single “i’m still asleep”. She says:

“As a teen I was always searching for any sort of buzz: going out, roaming the city with friends, that sort of thing. Even though I seemed to enjoy most of it, there would always be this underlying sense of sorrow. It could really catch me off guard as I didn’t really understand where it came from or what to do with it. I think the song is a reflection on this particular time where I was just trying to figure that stuff out.”

“i’m still asleep” starts quietly and contemplatively with hushed piano and beautiful brass, as if we’re finding la loye in the midst of one of those nights out, but rather than interacting with her friends she’s receding into her mind. Before long, her inner conflict comes into focus through her descriptive lyricism, fragile yet clear in their vision of a confused soul. “i’m still asleep” gradually builds from its gentle origin to a crackling crescendo, mirroring the frustration building within the singer, until it reaches a regal and grandiose finale that is reminiscent of festival-headlining indie bands. It’s easy to forget that la loye is still at the start of her career, as “i’m still asleep” suggests a much more seasoned songwriter – and makes it clear she could go far.

Listen to “i’m still asleep” below or on streaming platforms.

With more sure to come soon from la loye, make sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.