ADRIENNE LEVAY
Q1: What inspired you to write “Do You Miss Me?” and explore the feelings of longing and uncertainty in love?
It actually started when my good friend’s younger brother moved in with me for a few months. I had met them years before, and he was just one of those people you click with instantly. He’s really engaging—like when you’re talking to him, he makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room. Oh, and he’s tall and handsome, so that didn’t hurt either!
We quickly became close friends. But I travel a lot for work, and every time I’d leave, he’d ask when I’d be back. I started to wonder—does he miss me when I’m gone? That question stuck with me, and it became the heart of the song. Honestly, it was just a classic crush-on-your-roommate situation.
Q2: The song mentions being scared to express your feelings. Is that a reflection of your own life, or a more universal idea?
Definitely both. I think most people can relate to being afraid to say how they really feel—especially when there’s a chance it won’t be reciprocated. But for me, yeah, I’ve had those moments too. It’s tough to be vulnerable in intimate situations when you’re not sure what the other person is thinking, so you kind of hold it in and hope they’ll figure it out. But also like, life is short! So I am a proponent of just biting the bullet and saying things out loud.
Q3: Can you explain the imagery of the fire and talking all night in the chorus?
That’s taken from actual moments we shared. We’d stay up late just talking about life and all ofits “quirks”—sometimes around a fire, sometimes just hanging out. It felt like those conversations went on forever, in a good way. The fire just became this image that captured the warmth of those nights and the feeling of being really connected to someone.
Q4: The second verse imagines building a house on an island. Where did that imagery come from?
That line came from a total daydream I had while I was out of town. In my mind I could see us as on this deserted island, with nowhere to be and nothing to do except get to know each other and get on with life and build a shelter!
The house was literal in the sense that they were living in my house but also metaphorical in that we were building the foundation of friendship….And that we had time together to do this. The island kind of symbolized somewhere quiet, simple, and disconnected from the outside world. It felt like the perfect metaphor for wanting to build something meaningful with someone—emotionally as much as physically.
Q5: How do you want listeners to feel when they hear the questions you ask in the chorus?
I hope they feel like they’ve had those thoughts too. The chorus is full of open-ended questions—do you miss me, do you think of me, do you care at all?—and I think we’ve all wondered those things. I want people to feel like it’s okay to ask, even if they’re scared of the answer or never even get the answer.
Q6: The bridge repeats the idea of time standing still. What were you trying to convey with that moment?
That part was about how everything felt when we were together—it was like time slowed down. We’d be hanging out, and hours would pass without even noticing. But there’s also that feeling of waiting… when you’re apart and hoping someone feels the same way, time can feel like it’s dragging. So that line works both ways.
Q7: Are the lyrics of “Do You Miss Me?” drawn from a specific personal experience or more from observation and imagination?
They’re mostly based on a real experience, as I said, but of course I did take some creative liberties. It started from something that was really happening in my life, and then I just let the story unfold through the song. Some parts are a little exaggerated for drama, but the emotion behind it is all true.
Q8: When you write about fear of rejection, do you feel that vulnerability helps you connect with your listeners?
Yes. When people hear something honest, they tend to respond to it. Writing from a vulnerable place has always come easy to me, fortunately because its’ where the real connections happen. What makes this creative process all worth it is people telling you how they see themselves and their own experiences in your music and stories. This is all that matters.
Q9: Did you always know that this song would focus on wondering if someone misses you when you’re gone?
Yeah, that question was really the starting point. Do you miss me, when I’m not home? kept running through my mind—it’s simple, but it hits deep. I think we’ve all had someone we wonder about like that. It’s a vulnerable question too, because once you start asking it, it can spiral into all kinds of overthinking. But that uncertainty was exactly what I wanted the song to sit in, so I just leaned into it from the beginning.
Q10: Is there a specific message you hope people take away from “Do You Miss Me?”
I think the big takeaway is that it’s okay to wonder and to ask these things—even if you’re unsure of what the answer might be. It’s a very human experience to feel a connection with someone but to not know where you stand and you’re both just in limbo- like a game of chicken. Hopefully, the song makes people feel like they’re not alone in that.
Q11: Looking back at this song now, is there anything in the lyrics that surprises you about your own emotional perspective?
This is an interesting question. I don’t think anything really surprised me, to be honest. I’m a pretty reflective person—I have daily practices that keep me in a regular rhythm of self-awareness—so I tend to know where I’m at emotionally.
But one thing that did stand out in a positive way was the line: “Maybe I’m just not your type. Maybe I’m too free.” Prior to them living with me, I had this person kind of on a pedestal—they were handsome and fit, and that can be a little intimidating when you’re someone who may be objectively classified as more “average”. In the past, I might’ve gone straight to, “maybe I’m not attractive enough” or something like that.
But in this case, my thinking was more like, “Maybe I’m just not what thye’re looking for—and that’s okay!” It wasn’t about wallowing in self-doubt, and I think that shows how much I’ve grown since I was a very young adult. That mindset—of not defaulting to self-criticism—is something I’ve worked on for years, so it was actually kind of nice to see it reflected in the lyrics!
