singer/songwriter project had been figuring in magazines such as Sound Affects and Sonic. But it was when Labrador presented him with Douglas Heart’s super vocalist Malin Dahlberg late in 2001 that his ship finally came in.
She liked his sense for melodies and they were asked to record some songs for »The Sound Of Young Sweden, vol. 3«. Once their correspondence started a close relationship was rapidly developed and soon Laurel Music was a dynamic duo. The combination of his timeless qualities as a songwriter akin to Neil Young, Morrissey/Marr and Tim Hardin and her ethereal vocals inspired by soft emo pop like Geoff Farina, The Secret Stars and Ida made their musical collaboration quite rare.
At first, when their rehearsal sessions took place in his living room, they often ended up giggling and listening to too many records. But as they entered the studio to record their debut album, they realised they needed a full band to complete the sound. Top drummer Max Sjöholm (Douglas Heart, Afraid Of Stairs) joined them as a permanent member and Tobias played just about every instrument he could get hold of. Finally some friends assisted with whatever the three weren’t able to do.
To this day, the permanent members remain Tobias, Malin and Max, but on stage Laurel Music is a musical collective that can appear as anything from a duo to a sextet.
In 2006, Tobias launched his next project, ultra summer-y pop group, Irene.
Make Believe
Laurel Music Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I'm weak when you leave me by myself
Please make believe when I need you to believe me
When I'm bad and I'm eager to retrieve
Everything's been moving backwards
In this change, in this change
Pretty strange, pretty strange
In Laurel Music's song Make Believe, the lyrics are very emotionally charged and the singer is expressing their dependence on their partner's presence in order to feel happy. The opening line of "Please stay with me cause I need you to be happy" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as it shows the desperation that the singer feels for their partner's companionship. The following line "Cause I'm weak when you leave me by myself" further emphasizes how vulnerable this person is without their loved one around. It's a remarkable display of vulnerability, as the singer is not afraid to admit that they need someone in order to be happy.
The chorus of "Please make believe when I need you to believe me" is another example of how the singer is almost begging their partner to be there for them. The line "When I'm bad and I'm eager to retrieve" suggests that the singer is capable of making mistakes, but they want their partner to believe in them and support them through these tough times. The song's emotional depth is further amplified with the lines "Everything's been moving backwards in this change, in this change / And I'm feeling kind of awkward, pretty strange, pretty strange," which emphasize the singer's feeling of being out of sync with the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Please stay with me cause I need you to be happy
My happiness depends on you being with me, so please stay by my side.
Cause I'm weak when you leave me by myself
I feel vulnerable and powerless when you're not with me.
Please make believe when I need you to believe me
When I'm not at my best, please pretend to believe in me to make me feel better.
When I'm bad and I'm eager to retrieve
When I'm not behaving well and I want to make things right again.
Everything's been moving backwards
Everything in my life seems to be going in the wrong direction.
In this change, in this change
During this time of transition and uncertainty.
And I'm feeling kind of awkward
I feel uncomfortable and out of place.
Pretty strange, pretty strange
Things are feeling quite unusual and odd.
Contributed by Josiah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.