New London Fire, "Here I Am"

This is another one of those bands that I’ve got more than just a musical affection for. Since I started listening to Sleep Station many years ago, lead singer Dave Debiak has found a way to capture my heart and ear drums far too many times.

With his side project, New London Fire, Debiak didn’t disappoint my long held love. I Sing the Body Holographic was seductive, catchy, and oh so powerful (lyrically). It was hardly perfect, but in the world of music, I’d take it over many other best selling releases.

With the amount of material Dave produces, this new song, “Here I Am,” may not end up on the next N.L.F. CD. But that would be a shame. “Here I Am” goes back to some of the same traits that made their last album such a pleasure to imbibe- rich musical landscapes, coupled with layers of powerful vocals and beautiful lyrics.

What Debiak is so good at, is creating music that, for lack of a better word, seems to stretch out in the listeners consciousness, pulling people along a musical journey that no one wants to leave. His latest story tracks a man’s love for a girl.


While it borders slightly on obsession (what good love story doesn’t?), the song comes off more as a song of salvation rather than stalking.

“I’ve come to take you home…here I am, take my heart, i still feel the pulse of you inside my arms, it’s not love I won’t pretend, it won’t take that long and if it ends, the words will carry on into your heart and then they will follow you through this world, saying you’ll always be my girl.”

See the thing is though, when the bridge kicks in at 2:47, you’re going to be absolutely captivated with the way Debiak layers a chanting chorus underneath his pleading words- it creates this sense of urgency that adds a nice balance to the song’s pop feel.

I don’t know where Debiak’s going to take this new album, but honestly, he’s never disappointed me with any of his other stuff. My biggest confusion? Why more people haven’t gotten into this band. Your loss. My gain.