Babehoven’s “Lasagna” Is a Masterclass in Vulnerable Songwriting

If you’ve been tracking the quieter corners of indie pop and folk lately, you’ve likely felt the shift. Hudson, New York duo Babehoven—Maya Bon and Ryan Albert—are back, and they’ve brought an entirely new energy with them. Ahead of their upcoming album, I See Them, I See Me, they just dropped the lead single, “Lasagna”, and it’s easily one of their most arresting tracks yet.

Instead of hiding behind layers of production, “Lasagna” leans into the messy, complicated reality of getting too close to someone. Let’s talk about what makes this release so special.

Inside “Lasagna”: The Story Behind the Song

At a glance, a title like “Lasagna” might make you think of a cozy dinner at home. But in Maya Bon’s hands, it becomes a metaphor for human entanglement—and the claustrophobia that can come with it.

Musically, the track has a warm, breezy soft-rock and alt-country feel. It’s built on pedal steel, comforting acoustic strums, and Bon’s signature gentle vocal delivery. But underneath that calm exterior, the lyrics hit hard.

“Sometimes when you’re deeply intertwined, you’re so close you can’t really see one another. You want the other to break in two, to reveal what’s underneath,” Bon explains. “You keep yourself busy, you fill your day with tasks, but the other person is waving in the wind all around you… You feel small, stuck, and frantic all at once.”

Lines like “And I’m reading you between my knees / When you break in two, I’m relieved” show exactly why Babehoven resonates so deeply: they aren’t afraid to look right at the anxious, uncomfortable corners of intimacy.

The Resilience Behind I See Them, I See Me

Knowing the context of how this album came to be makes “Lasagna” hit even harder. During their first headline tour, Maya Bon suffered paralysis of her right vocal cord and was told she might never sing again. Spending nearly a year unable to use her voice completely changed her relationship with music, making her eventual return to singing a profound relief.

“I have so much gratitude now that I am able to sing again,” Bon reflects. “To not only sing, but to sing with joy. I think part of the idea of ‘having fun’ with this album is trying to really enjoy what we can do, the gifts we have.”

A Looser, More Immersive Sound

While a lot of Babehoven’s past catalog was built in a tight, meticulous creative bubble, this upcoming 14-track record breaks the mold. Bon and Albert worked with engineers like Sam Evian and co-producer Phil Weinrobe, bringing in a live-tracked six-person ensemble.

Using a strict “no playback, no headphones, and no preparation” approach in the studio, “Lasagna” captures an immediate, room-filling warmth. It sounds less like a sterile recording and more like sitting right there in the room with them.