Blackchords have been chosen to support Jet and Powderf… Read Full Bio ↴LATEST NEWS:
Blackchords have been chosen to support Jet and Powderfinger on Oct 29th at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. This is Powderfinger's last ever tour and their last ever show in Melbourne.
Check out our new single 'As Night Falls' right here on Last.FM 'As Night Falls' was written specifically for new Australian suspense drama ‘BLAME’ directed by Michael Henry. 'These Lights' taken from the debut album also features in the film's trailer.
Blackchords released their self-titled debut album on October 5 through Dust Devil Music/Stomp. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Blackchords, fronted by songwriter Nick Milwright, have been widely acclaimed on their native turf (“One of the best Australian debut releases”, Reverb Magazine) with critics raving that their darkly majestic collection of understated songs recalls the best bits of Ryan Adams, Elbow and Jeff Buckley. “So far the response has been really positive, especially from the fans,” says Nick. “We strive to write music that moves and connects with people. It’s the reason we want to play professionally.”
Highlights include opening track ‘At World’s End’, which leaks a despair that defies its upbeat arrangement. Richly-scored ballads, ‘22’, and ‘These Lights,’ capture the quietness of intimacy, whilst ‘Broken Bones’ sees Milwright ponder existential matters: “This endless ride has got me I know/I’ve been holding on by a thread/falling towards the end, but I have been held by a thousand hands/we can scream out loud ’cause we’re all on this ride I know”. In ‘Raise My Hands,’ Milwright mourns “the thread coming undone/love it comes and goes” accompanied by a sympathetic string section; and ‘Disappear’ offers an introspective, ambivalent close to the album: “just give me a minute to gather my thoughts/disappear now”.
From an early age, and a childhood spent with, as Nick puts it, "the usual suspects" (The Beatles, Cat Stevens, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell & Van Morrison) Nick knew that there was something drawing him to music, but it wasn't until his early twenties that he was to pursue it full time. In the meantime he tried following in the footsteps of his family – and joined the military. Soon realizing that this wasn't for him, he left to begin training full time in Ballet and contemporary dance at one of Australia’s top dance schools, the VCA. Finally, forced to rest for 6 months after an injury, he decided to open his mouth. "It was something like taking a plunge off this huge cliff, and I'd been too scared to confront it for so long,” he says. “In the end I had to accept that the desire would never leave, and the real regret would be to grow old and to have never given it a shot.”
After collectively finishing uni or working in badly paid jobs, Blackchords began to take shape in 2005, their name originating, says Nick, “down in the belly of a bluestone basement”. In 2006 they created quite a stir when, as an unsigned band, their video for ‘Broken Bones’ won first place at Melbourne’s prestigious St Kilda Film Festival. In 2008 the same song went on to become a double finalist in the ISC (International Songwriting Competition, for best rock song & video). “I really love working with filmmakers and artists to help create the Blackchords landscape,” says Nick.
In 2008 the band were signed to Dust Devil Music, and began work on their debut full-length album. "In the beginning we were almost an alt country band. Then we found ourselves trying to resemble instrumental rock bands like Explosions In The Sky. Now I feel like we've found our own feet and sound like Blackchords. I knew we were walking the right path after hearing the first notes of the cello on ‘Raise My Hands.’ The whole time when the string quartet was recording I just sat there. I had goose bumps down my spine.”
So, now that ‘Blackchords’ is complete and ready to be set free, what does the future hold for the band? "We're just eager to get out there and push it as far as it can go. Blackchords want to make music for the rest of our lives and get better and better as musicians. If we can do that we’ll be very happy."
Into The Unknown
Blackchords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the eyes of others
And on, on this night
I will bide my time
And move
With these eyes
Live a life untouched by time
And I'll be waiting in the wings
I'll be here when you arrive
On your final days, they will come
Like a child you'll walk into the unknown
On your final days, when they come
Like a child you'll walk into the unknown
And when you cross
The line
Live a life untouched by time
On this rock
It's only just a glitch
And this state is only just a blink
And I see this life
Through the eyes of others
The opening lines of Blackchords’ song “Into the Unknown” set a reflective and introspective tone, as the singer describes viewing their life through the perspective of others. The lyrics suggest a sense of detachment or dissociation, a feeling of being outside of one’s own experiences and perhaps struggling to find meaning or purpose. Yet despite this, there is a sense of patience and acceptance, as the singer resolves to “bide my time” and wait for what is to come.
The chorus brings a more intense and existential tone, as the lyrics paint a vivid picture of approaching death and the uncertain territory beyond. The recurring phrase “walk into the unknown” carries a sense of both foreboding and courage, as the song grapples with the central mystery of human existence. The final verse seems to offer a sort of consolation or reassurance, reminding us that in the grand scheme of things, our lives are brief and fleeting, and that ultimately a greater reality lies beyond our understanding.
In many ways, “Into the Unknown” is an intensely philosophical song, grappling with the big questions of existence and mortality. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, offering a thoughtful meditation on the human condition that will resonate with anyone who has pondered the mysteries of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
I see this life
I am aware of the existence of this life
Through the eyes of others
I perceive this life through the experiences of others
And on, on this night
At this present moment or on this particular night
I will bide my time
I will wait patiently for something to occur
And move
I will take action
With these eyes
With the aforementioned perception through others' experiences
Live a life untouched by time
Live life to its fullest without worrying about the time passing
And I'll be waiting in the wings
I will be here, ready and waiting for something to happen
I'll be here when you arrive
I will be here when you reach your destination
On your final days, they will come
Your last days will come eventually
Like a child you'll walk into the unknown
You will approach death with the fear of the unknown, similar to a child's mindset
On your final days, when they come
When your final days come
And when you cross
And when you pass away
The line
The boundary between life and death
Live a life untouched by time
Live life to its fullest without worrying about the time passing
On this rock
On this earth
It's only just a glitch
Life is only a small mistake or error in something much greater
And this state is only just a blink
This state of existence is only a brief moment in the grand scheme of things
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: DAMIAN KEVIN CAZALY, NICK MILWRIGHT, TRISTAN J COURTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind