About the "Brothers" EP
Our debut EP under Danger Scene is coming out on Tuesday and dang it, we are so excited. I know it's not gonna go platinum but there is something really special about releasing a body of work compared to just a piece or two of art/music. (Even if it is only 5 songs) Matthew and I have put so much of our time, our money, and our lives into making this EP, and the pursuit of doing music. We moved to Nashville for the purpose of doing music and pursuing our passion. We've run into a couple bumps in the road and I guarantee we're gonna have some more coming up soon. (Most likely our van, lol, again) But I am 100% sure if you asked Matthew or I if it all was worth it, we'd give you a resounding, yes.
It's been incredibly awesome to be working with Matthew in the creation of this band and it's music. I've always had a big hand in the creative process of any band or music I've been apart of, and to an extent I think that was good, but it's also been a good learning experience to let Matthew or others give feedback and make their own decisions regarding the creation of this music. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to writing and producing our stuff, I am very stubborn and feel like I know what is best 95% of the time but if you really step back and look at what we're doing, this is a band, not a solo project. It is very important that we both create this band, this music. And even though I still don't always agree with all the decisions we've made in the studio or in mixing/mastering, I am very content and excited for what we have for you all.
And can I say, I always loved being in a band (previously The Lost Colors) with my best friends and some incredibly talented women, but it's been so great just having Matthew (my brother/best friend) to run ideas/business decisions/show opportunities by. It was always difficult to work even little things out with a 5 piece band, although rewarding, but it's just been so great working with just him. Some ask if we are twins and we are not, but mentally, we are on the same wavelength. Whether it is our humor, love of pizza or twitter, or our mannerisms, we are the same person in those respects. We've gotten in our fair share of arguments regarding band decisions or my laziness in the last year, but we still get along so fricken well. I've truly been blessed by God to have such an amazing brother and family as well.
So anyways, let's talk about "Brothers".
I think there are some people who don't really understand what Danger Scene is or is trying to be. So I say, let's clear that up. Maybe answer a couple questions along the way.
Danger Scene is not trying to be Twenty One Pilots or even emulate them. We respect the heck out of them and jam their music all the time but we never had any intent to copy what was working from them.
Don't get me wrong, I think there are definitely some similarities. We both love to blow people away with stage presence. Love to be a little crazy and just do our thing when performing. We're not necessarily trying to be a mainstream band but wouldn't complain if our music went to big radio. But we are trying to do our own thing.
Anyways, where was I?
"Brothers" is a 5 song EP that has been written, give or take, in the last 2 years. Everything was funded in this project by Matthew and I. Everything came out of pocket, no investors, nothing. Just Matthew and I working really hard at our day jobs to save up enough money to record a song or two with Josiah (Disciple), great guy btw. Then back to work to save up enough to get it mixed/mastered. Then again for merch. And again for etc. So when we say it has taken a lot of money/time/effort to get this thing done, we're not kidding. It was a "labor" of love. So be a good person and give us $5 (or more) of your money, please.
The track list is as follows with a brief description of the song and the meaning behind it or the lyrical content:
1. Danger 2. Reflex 3. Where I Want To Be 4. You Are The One 5. Holy Disease
Danger - This song was one of the first we recorded and honestly have had to re-work this song quite a bit. We were going for a really dirty synth and drum led song and that's what we feel we got out of it. We wanted to start this EP off right, nice and mean sounding. Lyrically it's pretty simple, like most of our lyrics. I don't feel like I need to be super deep and/or metaphoric with what I write. I know a lot of people love figuring out lyric meaning but it's always bothered me, even if just a bit, if I hear a song and love it but have no clue what they're talking about, gets to me a bit. Again, that's up to the artist and I'm just one person, but personally, I've always liked more straightforward lyrical content. And that's what you have in "Danger" (and Danger Scene as a whole). The song is about a friend who in consistently going down a dark path and the fear of confronting them and letting them know you're worried for them and who they're spending their time with. It's a reminder to them, "the world will only let you down, but I will never let you go" "Tell me, darling, can you carry all this weight on your own? Let me lighten the load" But being upfront and honest when it comes down to it. Reflex - Haha, I laugh a little on the inside every time I hear or play this song because this song is so dumb. This was a song I wrote where I wanted to pretend that I was the "stuff". It's meant to just be a fun song, no deep meaning, nothing. "I've got that reflex, I'm new like a remix, I'm fly like a phoenix." "I can make you stop, I can make you go, I can make you shake, I can make you get low, Simon says" I think the lyrics speak for themselves, it's a silly song but it's really fun(ny) at the same time. Love this song. Hope you do too. Where I Want To Be - Our single off the EP. Funny thing is, the song is actually about being where you DONT want to be. The song deals with my personal struggle to make a first move with girls that I've liked. Sometimes it's easier to get "lost in my head, playing out a fantasy" than it is to actually take a risk, ask someone on a date. So this song was written directly from that point of struggle to take a chance, make a move (which is still tough for me). This song was definitely influenced musically by the song "Lions In Cages" by Wolf Gang. Great song if you haven't ever heard it. But it led to the want to make a happy sounding, more pop like synth song. This song already has some radio play like from the good people at RadioU (whom we got to hang with one morning, super nice people). And the music video has just cleared the 20k mark which is incredible. You Are The One - This song is probably one of the most personal to me lyrically. It is also probably the heaviest track on the EP. It deals with my lack of better judgement sometimes. We've all made mistakes, some bigger than others but I really wanted to lay down some personal lyrics on this one. It deals with someone who has messed up, whether in a relationship or friendship, but can't shake the feeling that no matter what's happened in the past, there's still a future for them together. The writer feels like they know what the other really wants despite not having had any contact. "Let's take a drive in my car tonight, I know that you want to, cause I know you." Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm not, but isn't that what makes life so crazy sometimes? The bridge of this song also may be my favorite part of the EP. Holy Disease - The last track on the album is about love and the way it can take over someones whole body, mind, and heart. It deals with rejection and how love, is not always reciprocated, even when the feelings are very real. "Holy Disease" refers to how love is such a perfect, amazing feeling that God gives us to use for others, yet in the wrong circumstance when only one person feels the love, it can feel like a disease, a curse, something terrible. The bridge is the most emotional part of the song. "It's running through my veins, it's running through my brain But it feels so good to feel something, I don't want to be a zombie I dont wanna be hopeless day after day But I feel this body changing and I can't help that I'm aging And I just want you to feel the same way"
So I know this has been quite a bit of stuff and trust me, there's still plenty in the music/lyrics that I'll leave for you to discover.
Matthew and I, as flawed as we are, want to be a positive spot, in a dark world. We're no where near perfect but we always keep trying. And we wanna be there for you all when you need a pick me up, or a song about life and the experiences we all go through. So that's what we are going for with "Brothers" and we can't wait for you to give it a listen, or two, but hopefully more.
Thanks for your time, love you guys.
Michael
