– Music Matters Magazine

Laveda!

Pluck The Darkness From The Vine On “Strawberry”

A haunting fuzz-pop ode to escapism, overstimulation, and self-preservation

New Album Love, Darla out Sept 12th via Bar/None

Announce Fall Tour Including Album Release Show in Brooklyn at Baby’s Alright on September 16

AUGUST 13, 2025 (New York, NY) – “’Strawberry’ was an integral part of discovering the landscape that the other songs on the album would eventually live within,” says Jake Brooks, guitarist of NYC-based noise rock/shoegaze outfit Laveda on the band’s newest single/video from their anticipated third album, Love, Darla (out September 12, 2025via Bar/None Records). Evolving organically from a spontaneous session, “Strawberry” captures Laveda at a formative point in their creative evolution – where raw ideas, tested live on tour, gave way to a fully realized sonic identity.

“Strawberry started as a jam between Ali [Genevich, lead vocalist] on bass and me on guitar,” Jake adds. “We sent it to Joe [Taurone, drummer] and he completely expanded it into this sick drum part.” Performing the song at live shows and essentially workshopping it on stage, the band worked this and ‘Heaven‘ during live sets and evolved it into full songs. “Playing unfinished music live helped us discover what made the songs tick.We made tweaks over time and eventually ended up with something much more refined. It was an integral part of shaping the entire record.”

For Ali, writing “Strawberry” meant diving deep and mining her own psyche for inspiration. “It’s about trying to escape from your inner demons. It’s incredibly inspiring to create art in NYC, but the noise – literal and figurative – makes it overwhelming,” she explains. “Social media doesn’t help. People say messed up things in comments. It bums me out. I guess I consider myself to be whatever the opposite of a parasocial is.”

In addition, Laveda is also announcing a tour across the States that will see them perform in major markets such as Chicago, IL; St Louis, MO; Nashville, TN; Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA with more shows to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Strawberry” follows the band’s gripping singles “Heaven” and “Cellphone,” each revealing a new shade of the band’s ever-evolving palette. Where “Heaven” summoned the neon-streaked chaos of late-night wanderings and East Village nostalgia, and “Cellphone” dissected digital burnout with jagged guitar lines and punk smirks. “Strawberry”bridges the two – a woozy meditation brimming with atmosphere, honesty, and sonic abandon.

Set against the jagged concrete of their current home just outside of Manhattan in Queens, NY and the soft glow of its city’s late-night subway platforms, Laveda’s third LP Love, Darla presents their most experimental and emotionally resonant work yet. Co-written and performed by founding duo Ali Genevich and Jake Brooks, with contributions from bassist Dan Carr and drummer Joe Taurone, the album trades the pastoral tones of their Upstate NY roots for the frayed edges and fractured beauty of New York City.

Laveda will celebrate the release of Love, Darla with select shows this fall, including their recently announced album release show in Brooklyn at Baby’s Alright on September 16.

“Strawberry” is out now on all major streaming platforms. Love, Darla is available September 12, 2025 via Bar/None Records.

STRAWBERRY” Lyrics:

My hands and my eyes
Are falling across the sky
I’m in my head again

Don’t touch me when you break
Imposters in the street
In my head

I’m in my head
I’m on myself
On myself I,
Hate myself
Love myself, my soul
Myself
Oh myself, my soul
Myself
Oh myself
My

We’ve been through so much shit
Still, I never heard your name
Too old when I come home

You said what’s good for me someone
That’s never what you need I guess

I’m in my head again
When I come home I’m
In my head again
I am home
I am somewhere else

I’m on myself
On myself I’m
on myself
On myself I
Hate myself
Hate myself I
Love myself
Love myself, my soul
Myself
oh myself, my soul
Myself
oh myself I
Hate myself
Hate myself I
Love myself
Love myself, my soul
Myself
Oh myself, my soul
Myself
Oh myself
My

Laveda tour dates:

September 16	Brooklyn, NY	Baby’s Alright (album release)
September 18	Rochester, NY	Bugjar
September 19	Buffalo, NY	Revolution Gallery Lounge
September 20	Cincinnati, OH	MOTR
September 21	Chicago, IL	Burlington Bar
September 22	Indianapolis, IN	Healer

September 23	St Louis, MO	Sink Hole
September 24	Nashville, TN	Basement (matinee show)
September 25	Dallas, TX	TX Tea Room

September 26	Austin, TX	Mohawk (Levitation – support for The Dandy Warhols)
September 27	El Paso, TX	Rosewood Bar
September 28	Phoenix, AZ	Thunderbird Lounge

September 30	San Diego, CA	Soda Bar
October 1	Los Angeles, CA	Permanent Records Roadhouse (late show)

October 2	Las Vegas, NV	Grey Witch
October 5	San Francisco, CA	Kilowatt Bar
October 10	Seattle, WA	Conor Byrne
October 11	Richland, WA	Ray’s Golden Lion
October 12	Bellingham, WA	The Shakedown (support for Shilpa Ray)