Remember 2020? In some ways it was a simpler time. The precipice right before the world, and subsequently, our entire lives would forever change. I specifically remember early 2020. There was a lot of promise for the new decade around then. A feeling of greater horizons we have yet to teach. Here we are, over 6 years later and I don't know about you, but my sense of time has completely been fucked. It feels like it was just yesterday and a decade ago at the same time.
Around March 2020, the world was starting to shut down, or should I say... LOCK DOWN (sorry, I couldn't help it). Social distancing rules were beginning to be enforced and communities were being kept apart. I recall speaking to a cousin of mine who was graduating High School telling me that his graduation ceremony AND his prom both had to be done virtually. WHAT A BUZZKILL. THAT SUCKS! Can you imagine having seminal life moments put off completely (or in this case virtually) because of a global pandemic? Yeesh. I felt bad for the poor kid. Not to mention that his first year of college would be remote as well. Oof.
But the romantic in me couldn't help but think of other people (or young adults even) who'd be forced to miss out on big life moments as well. I thought "Gosh, how crappy must it be to fall in love with a girl and have your first girlfriend right now? You wouldn't even be able to go see her, let alone date really." Ahh yes, and that's how those songwriting gears started turning.
On March 18th, 2020, I sat down with my acoustic guitar and notepad to start writing. A few minutes later, I had something I thought sounded cool. I propped up my phone and decided to film my first run through (I usually do this for posterity, demoing, etc). I listened back to the performance and liked it enough to post it on Instagram. This of course was back when Instagram was an actual social network, instead of a Home Shopping Network that also shills slop with a side of propaganda. A lot of people had a positive reaction to the video and I figured, there must be something here, so I should release it.
Six years later, here we are. No other hands or ears have touched this track aside from mine. I wanted it to sound as isolated of an audio experience as it is conceptually. From writing, recording, mixing, to mastering, it was an exercise in isolationism that is supposed to feel lonely. I think that's been achieved.
The music video is actually REALLY cool. It features some cool bits of news from the height of the pandemic as well as some really heavy conceptual stuff. It's one of the more cinematic music videos we've done in a long time. The intro alone to it always gives me the creeps. You'll see what I mean when it comes out.
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