Maia Friedman - "First To Love" 
from upcoming album "Under The New Light" out on Last Gang Records March 11 
http://lnk.to/firsttolove

www.maiafriedman.com

(Music credits)
Written by Maia Friedman, Tom Deis and Peter Lalish
Engineered by Dan Molad, with Additional engineering by D. James Goodwin and Pete Min
Produced by Dan Molad, Maia Friedman, Tom Deis and Peter Lalish
Mixed by Joe Visciano
Mastered by Taylor Deupree

Maia Friedman - Vocals, Synthesizer, Pocket Piano, Electric Guitar
Tom Deis - Synthesizer, Piano
Peter Lalish - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Dan Drohan - Drums
Dan Molad - Drums, Bass Guitar, Vocals


(Lyrics)
If I were the first to love
You’d be the first to be loved
Wait as the roots find their way
They’ll grow deeper with each passing day

Look as the clouds pass overhead
I will count them till the daylight ends
It will take more than one try
We will wait for a brighter sky

Peel away, keeping me up through the night
I’ll be ok, be whatever you like
Fall away, I’ll stay with you by your side
Escape, be whatever you like

There is a way that you move
Through the spaces in front of you
Filling the room with light
I can watch you with unflinching eyes

It takes one more try
With each passing night
Each passing day
Each passing night


Artwork by Maia Friedman
Layout/design by Liz Cowling and Jeremy White

First To Love

First to Love

Lies About The War

Parachute

Odessa

I Will Be There

Reveal Transmission

recurring dreams (prod.  michael harrison)


Laughing at the Riverside is a nostalgic indie rock ballad that captures the emotional texture of a summer evening reunion among old friends. Set by the riverbank at dusk, the song explores themes of memory, time, and quiet connection. Through poetic verses and a melancholic male baritone voice, the lyrics reflect on shared stories, lost moments, and the bittersweet beauty of aging friendships. The chorus, anchored by the line “Laughing at the Riverside,” evokes a sense of timeless joy and emotional release. Instrumental sections—ranging from ambient intros to orchestral crescendos—mirror the emotional arc of the night, making the song feel cinematic and deeply personal.

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🎵 Laughing at the Riverside
Lyrics by Martin Oliver Beinersdorf

[Intro – Twilight Pulse (0:00–0:45)  
Soft piano arpeggios in low register.  
Muted bass pulses gently.  
Ambient pads with tremolo shimmer.  
Delay-washed electric guitar textures.  
No drums yet, slow emotional build.  
Mood: dusky summer evening, anticipation, warmth.]

Verse 1  
We parked the cars by the willow bend  
Sun bleeding out like a quiet friend  
You brought the cheap wine, I brought the old jokes  
Someone lit a fire, someone almost choked  

The river moved like it knew our names  
Skipping stones, trading old mistakes  
You said, “Remember that night in June?”  
I said, “I barely remember you”  

Pre-Chorus  
But the laughter came easy, like it used to  
And the silence felt softer than truth  

Chorus  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Where the past comes back but never bites  
We were ghosts in denim and light  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Like nothing ever changed  
Like everything was right  

[Instrumental Bridge – Echoes in the Current (2:10–2:40)  
Drums enter with off-kilter rhythm (5/4).  
Muted trumpet and trombone add melancholic accents.  
Dissonant guitar chords slowly resolve.  
Synth sweeps mimic water movement.  
Mood: flickering memories, emotional tension.]

Verse 2  
You played that song from senior year  
It cracked like vinyl, but we all cheered  
The moon hung low like a borrowed time  
And someone cried without a sign  

We talked of jobs, of kids, of loss  
Of how we all got a little lost  
But no one judged, and no one lied  
We just let the river decide  

Chorus  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Where the past comes back but never bites  
We were ghosts in denim and light  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Like nothing ever changed  
Like everything was right  

[Instrumental Interlude – Denim Ghosts (3:30–4:10)  
Strings (violin, cello) play a nostalgic theme.  
Piano repeats intro motif, higher and fragile.  
Slide guitar adds emotional texture.  
No drums, ambient bass carries the mood.  
Mood: time suspended, quiet reflection.]

Bridge  
The fire burned down to a whisper  
And I wished I’d said more to her  
But maybe that’s the point of nights like these  
You feel too much, and speak too little  

[Build-Up – Firelight Crescendo (4:40–5:10)  
Drums return with driving rhythm.  
Brass and strings swell into crescendo.  
Open guitar chords with tremolo.  
Warm synth pad underneath.  
Mood: emotional climax, shared joy and sorrow.]

Final Chorus  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Where the echoes feel like lullabies  
We were young, we were terrified  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Like nothing ever changed  
Like everything was right  

[Outro – Riverside Fade (5:40–6:20)  
Sparse piano notes like water drops.  
Reverse guitar effects echo memories.  
Slow bass pulse like a heartbeat.  
Field recording: river sounds, distant laughter, crickets.  
Mood: closure, memory lingering, peace.]

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© Lyrics and concept by Martin Oliver Beinersdorf. All rights reserved.

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