The New Zealand indie artist turns late-night thoughts and difficult conversations into a tender, guitar-led indie-pop track.
Some songs feel like a conversation you've been putting off for far too long. Laeky's latest single, “caller waiting,” lives somewhere in that space between wanting to reach out and not quite knowing what to say.
Released October 6, the track finds the Auckland-based artist pairing intimate songwriting with warm acoustic guitar, bright indie-pop production, and a voice that makes everything feel a little more personal. There's a lovely contrast between the song's emotional weight and its upbeat energy, giving listeners something they can move to while sitting with feelings that aren't quite as easy to shake.
What makes “caller waiting” particularly interesting is how it came together. Originally written as two separate folk songs, the track took on a new life when Laeky brought both ideas into the studio with producer Ben Woolford.
The original material leaned toward sadness, but combining the two songs introduced something unexpected: hope.
"The song felt really sad to begin with so by combining the two songs to lean on each other, caller waiting felt more hopeful when the worlds of each song collided," Laeky shares.
That balance carries throughout the release. Her vocals feel close and conversational, while the acoustic guitar gives the track a familiar, lived-in quality. As the arrangement opens up, there's a sense of release, like finally finding the words you've been holding onto.
At its heart, “caller waiting” explores the vulnerability of letting someone see how you're really feeling. The fear of saying too much, the desire to reconnect, and the strange relief that sometimes comes from simply being honest.
It's a feeling Laeky captures without making the song unnecessarily heavy.
The single also offers another glimpse into her forthcoming debut EP, adjacent, arriving November 20. Produced in West Auckland, “caller waiting” is the fourth single leading into the project and marks a more energetic side of her sound.
There's something refreshing about an artist who can take a complicated emotion and make it feel this approachable. Laeky isn't trying to offer all the answers. She's simply capturing what it feels like to want someone on the other end of the line.
And sometimes, that's more than enough.
“caller waiting” by Laeky is out now on all major streaming platforms. Give it a listen and add it to your rotation.
