Stream: Lavender Diamond, ‘Real Life I Love You’

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Lavender Diamond (Photo by Shervin Lainez)

Like any good medicine, it is wise to keep the music of L.A. chamber-pop outfit Lavender Diamond handy, for when things get too painful. Even confronting the bleakest of times, Becky Stark’s voice is a beacon of hope and positivity. And on the band’s new single, “Real Life I Love You” (released to Bandcamp today), she is buoyed by some notable collaborators.

Jim James of My Morning Jacket adds vocals to the track, which was produced by Nigel Harrison, the founding member of Blondie who also plays bass on the song. It’s Lavender Diamond’s first release since the 2021 album, “Now Is the Time.”

“This song is about immeasurable loss,” Stark says. “I had a dream that Jim James would sing it with me, and I’m so grateful that he did. Tennessee Thomas played drums so beautifully and Noah Georgeson mixed it with so much sensitivity and grace. I felt so much love and support from my friends in making this song. [Bandmate and co-writer] Steve [Gregoropoulos] was thinking of how to produce it and he said, ‘I wanted a big wide romantic sound and then I remembered that I play in a band [The Grabs] with Nigel and that he wrote ‘Union City Blue,’ which has the biggest, widest most romantic sound in pop music, and so I asked him to produce it with us.’

“Blondie is one of the greatest bands of all time, and I was just amazed that Nigel Harrison was joining in to produce and play bass. I wasn’t sure how to find the strength to sing it, but then I saw Weyes Blood in concert at the Ace Hotel [in December], and Natalie’s voice was so powerful I was just weeping the whole concert. There is an endless wellspring of life for us to connect with even in the times of the deepest pain.”

Lavender Diamond’s concert on Saturday night at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre will feature a 10-piece orchestra and some special guests.

||| Stream: “Real Life I Love You”

||| Live: Lavender Diamond plays Saturday night at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, with Jett Kwong opening. Tickets.

||| Previously: “Now Is the Time,” “In the Garden” (feat. Nate Walcott), “This Is How We Rise,” “Look Through the Window,” “Everybody’s Heart’s Breaking Now,” “Light My Way,” “Oh My Beautiful World”