Savoia on their new single “Lose You Completely”

Photo by Ava Allan

“It's definitely the best we’ve sounded on a recording, released or unreleased,” drummer Jonathan Awad from New York City indie rock band SAVOIA says about their new single “Lose You Completely.” The band is coming in hot, giving us their blend of classic and modern rock from their forthcoming EP. Since their start in 2019, SAVOIA, consisting of Lucas Allan (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mercer Meeks (lead guitar), Caleb Rubin (bass), and Jonathan Awad (drums), has made themselves comfortable at notable venues in New York City like Mercury Lounge and The Bitter End, and on the road with rock bands Quarters of Change and The Criticals. Based on the sound of their new single and having caught a couple of their live shows, we will be seeing more of SAVOIA soon. 

It's hard to describe “Lose You Completely” as anything other than cool and sexy. The song starts with an aggressive guitar riff and rapid drumming, giving you the impression that you’re about to encounter a hard rock tune. The song quickly turns into something smooth, think Lenny Kravitz, and heavy with heartache as frontman Lucas Allan raspingly croons about a failed relationship and struggles to get over it. “The lyrics encapsulate that angsty feeling you get in a relationship when you know something has been going on behind your back,” Allan tells us in a series of questions we asked virtually. “Growing up in New York City, you get thrown into life in a unique way, and I really wanted to translate that. It’s also a little bit of a ‘fuck you’ song kind of playing at the theme of fighting fire with fire — the idea of accepting the loss of this person, and that if they’re going play games to mess with you for their own selfish reasons, then why can’t you too?"  

Regarding sonics, guitarist Mercer Meeks explains how the verse guitar riff was the first thing built into the song. There is a strong sense of aggression, but it is also cool, as the music has a steady, pulsing energy. By contrast, the chorus contains a lot of negative space and lets the drums stand out. “Since our drummer, Jonathan, mixed this, we were able to sit in the studio as a band and incorporate specific feedback as a group. There are notes of Cage the Elephant and Inhaler all over the track, especially with the mix of the bass and our use of a couple of different kinds of guitars.” Meeks says. Drummer Awad adds to this by looking into where the classic rock inspirations come from. “There’s a great song called “Fire,” by Jimi Hendrix. Mitch Mitchell is playing drums and, throughout the verses, there’s the iconic, four-note guitar riff followed by this magical drum and vocal interplay. That’s what I was going for on the choruses of this song, but without trying to make the drums super impressive.” Awad says. “This is my homage to an incredible musician who's had a great impact on my playing.” While taking the time to listen, you can hear those elements implemented into the song uniquely. 

Out of the three singles released by SAVOIA, including “Bringing Me Down” and “Hypochondriac,” “Lose You Completely” has become one of my favorites. Although there is still much to look forward to from the band, this particular song has stood out. The song has turned out to be the cleanest of their releases, giving us one of their catchiest melodies thus far. “I'm proud of how the flow of this song turned out. Whenever we end up with a sound that feels inherently danceable, I get the feeling that the song is unfolding the way it is supposed to.” says Rubin. After recording “Hypochondriac,” the band got the hang of things in the studio, finding the proper workflow to reach the end product they were looking for. Meeks tells us, “This song features more creative mixing decisions which work in tandem with the music to create a unique atmosphere. In this way, we are becoming much more comfortable in our own sound; I view this as a culmination of the energy we provide in our live show as well as our individual sonic preferences.” 

Photo by Ava Allan

SAVOIA’s growing fanbase eagerly anticipates their first EP based on what they have heard and seen at live shows, but they might still need to know what to expect, so the band gave us a little glimpse. “It's like a tasting platter of all of our strengths. It’ll be short and sweet, but it will say everything you need to know about us. It’s focused on the messy aftermath of a breakup, things that feel so specific but are oddly universal. It’s enough to satisfy you while leaving your ears hungry for more.” Meeks says. Since the band has been playing music together for six years, they have had a lot of time to grow into what they are now and are eager to put that into a recording. “We’ve gotten a lot of feedback at our shows about how our individual personalities come across when we’re on stage. I find that flattering. I hope that that fact comes through in our recordings.” Rubin tells us. 

Many artists have their inspirations, but it takes a lot of effort to translate that into their work, and SAVOIA can do just that. We asked SAVOIA why they think people should check them out, and Meeks gave us a sincere response. “Obviously I’m biased, but we have something going on here. I’ve listened to a lot of music and performed and worked with many musicians, so I feel confident in saying our music is high quality, original, and compelling. Rock music is coming back, and we are on the brink of a popular music explosion. This kind of music comes from tiny, untreated back-rooms and basements, from city bars and clubs. The prevailing question is whether or not the return of rock music to popular culture will bring with it bands that have the authenticity and rawness that we look for in the genre. I am confident we have those traits, and then some. You should stick around — you might be surprised." 

Check out “Lose You Completely” and show SAVOIA some love @savoianyc on Instagram.