Lyrics Phlox
There's a valley where the wildflowers grow
All the longing takes me back
There's a sorrow in the undertone
Of a slowly fading past
Broken pieces coloured glass
Smell the meadow phlox there so you know
The scent of southern air down where they grow
Whisky never tasted good to me
But if that's what you'll have that's what I'll drink
Sink my feet into the shallow shore
If I walk will it get deep?
It might pull me in the undertow
Maybe that's just what I need
When it's dark can I go back?
Smell the meadow phlox there so I know
The scent of southern air down where they grow
Whisky never tasted good to me
But if that's what you'll have that's what I'll drink
Smell the meadow phlox there so you know
The scent of southern air before you go
Lyrics White Lily
Be my white lily
something i can run to
through the gray and through the blue
through everything to come
All my growing pains
shadows we cast yesterday
going forward anyway
what else can i do
Can you show me
where i'm going?
cause i've been lonely
trying to get to you
oh my white lily
it's been a while since we could speak
been holding to this broken piece
counting down the days
By mid-afternoon
twice i've come to visit you
showed you scars and showed you wounds
you never made me wait
Can you show me
where i'm going?
cause i've been lonely
trying to get to you
trying to get to you
trying to get to you
trying to get to you
Can you show me?
It’s a mild October night in North Carolina, and two friends sit in rocking chairs in the front yard, looking at the stars and having deep conversations about life and its perpetual search for meaning. Just a few hours ago, Thomas picked me up from the airport, where we met in person for the first time after years of friendship since our first collaboration, "By The Coast" (2020), brought us together. The next day, we got to work in Thomas’s studio, where a song idea he had a couple of days earlier falls into place during our first in-person songwriting session. "Phlox" is about slowing down, accepting where you are, and focusing on just being. Instead of chasing a high or a low, maybe life is meant to be lived by taking in the moments as they come.
After writing "Phlox", I had an idea - what if we wrote a second song named after a flower that grows next to the house I grew up in? Beautiful wild white lilies grow in the forest above my parents home in Tenerife. And I had a special connection to them too, as a kid when I felt lost or in pain I’d run into the forest by my house where the white lilies grew to sit with nature and ground myself. And so the flower became a metaphor in this song for nature, for a place of stillness within ourselves that we often forget to visit, distracted by the noise of a busy world.
We recorded the demos together, then Thomas continued producing the songs bringing their dreamy soundscapes to life. There's a whole new layer to discover when you listen with good speakers and headphones, a depth to dive into in a moment of quiet.
"Writing in person with Thomas felt really joyful to me. He's not just a good friend but also one of my favourite artists, so there was a foundation of understanding each other’s approach already. Thomas has always been so good at painting a scene and feeling in his songs, while I often tend to go more into storytelling. It was magical to see these two approaches working together so seamlessly and I love the songs we made."
— Luna Keller
"It was a joy to write with Luna. I don’t do a ton of collaborations, and I feel like when I get the opportunity to really connect and write like this, it truly is a gift. Writing with someone else means you may not always walk the same part of the path you typically do. You challenge each other, and in this case, I feel there was a lot of mutual respect and admiration for the talents that each writer possessed. I think we were just trying to amplify that in each other, so it was a highlight for me. Luna is a true artist. 10/10 would do again."
— Thomas LaVine
What the press says:
Phlox
What begins with soft, fingerpicked guitar slowly expands into something far more intricate: ambient textures, layered harmonies, and the vinyl-like warmth of a moment preserved.
Neon Music
Once again, the LaVine + Keller combo works like a charm, even though it already proved itself five years ago. This North Carolina guy and this German wonder have created something magical once again, and our ears are in for a treat. That's what happens when two of your favorite artists of all time release something together
Indie Music Center
The acoustic foundation LaVine lays down is earthy and grounding, while Keller's vocals float through like evening mist. Those sliding guitar echoes create this gorgeous horizontal movement that mirrors the song's central message: sometimes life is meant to be experienced, not analyzed.
Unheard Gems
‘Phlox’ captures a quiet October evening’s soul-searching calm. With warm acoustic textures, ghostly slide guitars, and harmonies that feel both earthy and ethereal, ‘Phlox’ invites listeners to slow down and simply be.
Purple Melon
‘Phlox’ ist eine weitere fabelhafte Neuerscheinung aus dem Indie Folk Genre, die in Kollaboration mit Thomas LaVine entstand und unsere Herzen mit einem warmen, tiefgreifenden Gitarrensound und exzellenten Harmonien erfüllt.
Berlin on Air
A sua colaboração eleva ainda mais os respetivos talentos, e isso está bem presente em "Phlox". É uma canção «sobre abrandar, aceitar onde se está e focar-se em apenas ser», aproveitando cada momento da vida. Surgiu de um momento de cumplicidade entre os dois e é uma composição tranquila e delicada, que me conquistou de imediato.
Phonograph Me
This intimate slice of indie folk begins with the quiet strums of acoustic guitar, with hints of cinematic ambience emerging in the distance. Like a magnificent wave, the vocal performance rushes into the listener, with both Keller and LaVine delivering a choir-like duet that will stay with you long after “Phlox” has ended.
UpToHear
White Lily
Elegant guitar work propels the sound forward and gives the arrangement its traditional structure. Expect nothing but the best. The vocals balance between dreamy and dynamic, giving them waviness.
Thomas Lavine and Luna Keller’s intentions with this song are brilliant. White Lily will awaken your desire to board a bus and go somewhere green. Check it out below!
Lefuturewave
But the real moment comes with the final climax. That goosebump moment only happens when two voices blend this perfectly. At this point, we’re seriously wondering why these two haven’t started a side project yet. We could listen to their vocal harmonies forever.
Indie Music Center
This isn’t just a song—it’s a sanctuary. It captures the essence of how we cope, how we grow, and how returning to where we began can sometimes show us where we’re meant to go. For those feeling adrift, “White Lily” is a gentle reminder to come back to yourself.
Unheard Gems
La composición de la pista es envolvente, ira atrapándote entre sus texturas a medida que sus minutos corren. Invita a un viaje mental confortable, además, las voces no se contraponen y producen un resultado final exquisito, dejando lucir a cada vocalista.
Zone Nights
Song after song, Keller has the tendency to win us over with her craft, and we often find it difficult to resist a solid male/ female duet, particularly when it comes to these intimate morsels of indie folk. And LaVine possesses such a powerful voice, especially in his upper register, that it wonderfully compliments the more emotionally-clad performance of Keller.
UpToHear
This track is more than a song—it’s a moment of pause. The emotion is palpable in every note, with delicate production that never gets in the way of the message. It feels like watching someone process their pain in real time, and it’s beautiful.
Music On The Rox
Discover the details!
Available as high quality WAV download and CD
If you are listening through a great audio system, then this is for you! My music is recorded and mastered to the highest level to please the ears of HiFi enthusiasts.
For a HiFi experience you will find an uncompressed version in CD quality on Bandcamp.
Credits
Music and Lyrics by Thomas LaVine and Luna Keller
Vocals by Thomas LaVine and Luna Keller
Produced by Thomas LaVine
Mixed by Dominic Romano
Mastered by Sam Moses