I Could Die” is the first single back after a three-year hiatus that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and some intense personal reflection. The new track showcases laye’s penchant for mixing sultry, playful vocals, gentle melodies, and signature dark lyrics. Co-written with Taylor Wilzbach (Kilara, Monsta X) and Jake Davis (Charlie Puth, Loud Luxury, Galantis, James TW, Sam Feldt), laye dives deep in the darkness of her psyche, turning out a beautiful pop jam.
Stream + share “I Could Die” now: https://laye.lnk.to/ICouldDie
1.What inspires your aesthetics and style?
Style-wise I love fashion, it’s something I’ve continuously been wanting to get more into. I personally gravitate towards dark and eery looks but I really just consider my fashion a “dress-up box” because it’s a bunch of random shit thrown together most of the time. I recently got into sewing, and I love piecing random things together to create something new. Aesthetic-wise, I guess I’m a bit darker, and I don’t really know why. Sometimes I like feeling like others are unsettled when they see my instagram, or my looks. I think it’s fun to play or challenge what people perceive conventional beauty to be.
2. What was your first exposure to music if you can remember that?
My mom played lots of Dido around the house and my dad always had the radio on with more alternative radio stations, more band oriented.
3. What made you want to be a musician?
I always liked to sing but I think when you start writing your own music it’s almost a natural thing to then want to share it with others and so writing was a big step towards me starting to pursue music seriously. And I love writing.
4. What do you hate about being a musician?
One thing is the unstable-ness of it all. The ups and downs are constant and my mental health has hit many lows throughout it but I just try to stay positive about it all.
Another thing would be the dynamics of creativity versus the business. It’s hard to stay creative when you’re working the “job-side” of being a musician as well, especially being an artist that hasn’t made it yet, and I’m still figuring things out as I go but it’s something that gets easier as the team around you becomes people you really trust and have a mutual respect for each other. Also, being a woman in this industry has people hitting you up about your talent and artistry but then after a few conversations you see that that’s not the case and that gets disheartening, but it’s whatever.
5. What inspired this new single?
Writing “I Could Die” was more light than expected because as dark as the title is, the rest of the song is more of a type of fantasy. It’s more about wanting to not want to die. To feel, to be alive. Inspiration came mainly from the past few years feeling really stuck and from not having released music for a while. I’d been feeling down and “I Could Die” was a light way of releasing some of that.
6. I could die is a very eloquent title. Care to expand on that?
I mean aside from it being the main part of the hook, it felt like a fitting title given that really anyone anywhere can die, at any time and any point. I think it’s a relatable title. And then when you actually listen to the song it’s contrasted with the punchline of the hook being “but I want to feel something”. I like having that catch at the end. It’s actually a happier song compared to most I’ve written haha.
7. What is your ultimate message?
It changes from song to song but overall I just want people to be not only comfortable but confident in who they are. And to also know that it’s okay to not be, or to struggle with finding that. Nobody has it all figured out.
