Nice Day (A Collection Of Singles) Pt.1 "Second Sleep"
It's no secret, I'm a huge fan of Magdalena Bay, so when I saw them release not one but TWO singles back in September I went BONKERS.
The first double single release is titled Second Sleep/Star Eyes. Two things stand out to me upon first look, first is this amazing cover art done by Parker S. Jackson.
Second, is the phrase "second sleep." Originally I thought this to mean some form of death or a trance-like state but it turns out to be a real thing humans used to do! Back in the medieval ages before we were inundating ourselves with blue light at all hours of the day, our sleeping habits were biphasic.
This meant that around 2-3 hours after going to sleep, we would wake up for about two hours. This time was used for just about anything, for peasants it meant getting back to work, for the more fortunate it meant a time for a hot drink, good conversation and in the absence of others, sex. This twilight window was also used as a time for prayer and religious practices. After this window, many would lay back down for their second sleep of the night, a longer slumber taking them all the way til morning. I can't help but wonder if we still have vestiges of this practice embedded in our minds, for example the humble midnight snack.
From what I can tell, for Magdalena Bay, it means yearning for a time before the hustle and bustle of our lives.
"Second sleep is callin' out to me If I don't wake up, oh I have the sense not to make a mess I fall in love just to hurt myself"
This idea of second sleep "calling out" to you is what leads me to believe that this is a song about wanting a simpler time to be in. Mica wants this waking nightmare after our first sleep to end, to cease her midnight toiling and make it to her second slumber so that she can wake up in a new day.
The next few lines begin a series of artful grievances with our modern world, citing how the world isn't made for those who want to take things slow or those who need time to examine their own lives before going out into the world.
This song came to me at a very busy time in my life, I'm in my senior year of college having to balance school, work and my own passions. I often find myself leaving as the sun rises and not getting home til long after it has set. I can't help but feel deeply the messages its putting across. A lot of its lyrics carry a sort of "grit your teeth and bare it" vibe that I've had to adopt in my life. I found myself listening to it in those transient times between what I do. the 30+ minute car rides to and from my work and school. I'm not made for this world but I find myself in it so I must conform to it.
Mica continues to rage against this lifestyle as much as she can. Calling it "unnatural" and yelling at us to "tear the city down don't build it up anymore."
Thematically this song is about trying to find happiness, love and fulfillment in a world not built for you. Sonically though, It's a far more pleasant experience.
It opens with a quiet keyboard and Mica singing just above a whisper in our ear. As she tells us to toughen up the music builds to a crescendo, adding in drums and some ethereal strings into the mix.
In the second verse the energy drops a bit again but we retain the drums from the first chorus. Along with the drums it seems Mica is singing with a bit more gusto, perhaps signifying a furthering of her discontent with the modern world.
The final chorus is where it breaks down. Mica begins to build up to another crescendo, asking us if we feel this discontent as well. (Do you? I do.) Personally this is my favorite part of this song for one reason. the about 20 seconds of absolutely insane guitar from who I can only assume is Matthew Lewin (the other half of this band). It adds an intensity to this song that I just can't get enough of.
This song remains my second favorite of the 8 songs they've released for this project. It speaks to me in a way few songs have. If you listen to any of the new singles I'd recommend starting with this one.