Axel’s known for the 2011 viral hit “This Is the New Year,” which solidified him as an indie pop presence with staggering YouTube views and numerous syncs on film and television. Teaming up with longtime collaborator Chad, he’s expanding his horizons immensely into A Great Big World.
The seeds for the partnership were planted early, even before Ian’s solo career took off. While both studying music at NYU, Ian tracked Chad down in the school’s practice rooms.
Chad smiles, “I kept blowing him off, and then I heard him singing nervously at the piano. I was like, ‘your voice is amazing. Let’s work on these songs. Let’s be friends.’”
Ian laughs, “I kind of forced my friendship on him. I stalked him and made him listen to my songs. He told me I needed to be singing. This realization changed my life. Our relationship is super special. I feel like we’ve known each other forever.”
Ian was the artist, and Chad shared writing duties and became his manager. Playing around New York, Ian eventually stepped into the spotlight and released an independent solo album entitled This Is the New Year in 2010.
The title track featured a vocal cameo from Chad. The song’s low budget music video shot at a Brooklyn party garnered over 1.5 million views and stirred an overwhelming viral buzz. Given the track’s success, tinyOGRE Entertainment signed Ian, remixing and re-releasing the record through Sony. “We finally got to quit our day jobs and do this,” Chad goes on. “It was surreal how quickly everything moved forward from that point.”
As they hit the road, “This Is the New Year” continued to gain steam. MTV utilized it as the theme song for their hit documentary series I Used to Be Fat and then it played over the title credits of Garry Marshall’s New Year’s Eve. Their music became a favorite of music supervisors. One Tree Hill, Amazing Race, ESPN, and Good Morning America all incorporated their songs, and Rachael Ray invited them to perform on her nationally syndicated talk show.
They completed their first national tours and opened shows for Ingrid Michaelson, Five For Fighting, and Glee star Matthew Morrison. Their live performances feature a warm, engaging interplay reminiscent of the intimacy and energy of artists like Elton John, Regina Spektor, and Simon and Garfunkel.
In late 2011, tinyOGRE Entertainment informed all of their artists that they were shutting down. “It was bittersweet,” admits Ian. “On the one hand, we lost our whole team. On the other, my relationship with Chad was as strong as it ever was. We were re-capturing the creative spark we had in college. Our music wasn’t just about ‘Ian Axel.’ We had always been in this together.”
That’s when A Great Big World was officially born. Making positive, piano-driven pop bursting with harmonies and woven together with a fun theatrical twist, the duo crafted a six-song EP funded entirely on Kickstarter by fans. “It’s optimistic pop music,” Chad says. “There are fewer songs about heartbreak and more about the big picture. But even the most painful of our songs are hopeful.”
They’ve certainly chased their dreams and they’re going to continue to do so. But there is something even greater at play. “Writing is our therapy,” Ian concludes. “And when we can connect with people through our music, it’s transformational. We’re not alone. Our songs are your songs. And that’s what it’s all about.”
www.agreatbigworld.com
Oasis
A Great Big World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're mine
For forever
For forever
I need
You now
More than ever
Head full of lies
Sun in my eyes
You make it easy
Don't look away
These are the days
You gotta believe me
When we're lost in a desert night
And we're chasing our paradise
When we can't fight another fight
We're gonna make it
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
This life
Is made
For each other
For each other
Crossed lines
Mistakes
There's no other
There's no other
Head full of lies
Sun in my eyes
You make it easy
Nowhere to go
I'm already home
You gotta believe me
When we're lost in a desert night
And we're chasing our paradise
When we can't fight another fight
We're gonna make it
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
As I roam through the wasteland
You're the one thing I need
I see you off in the distance
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
You're my oasis
When we're lost in a desert night
And we're chasing our paradise
When we can't fight another fight
We're gonna make it, make it, make it
When we're lost in a desert night
And we're chasing our paradise
When we can't fight another fight
We're gonna make it, make it, make it
You're my oasis (oasis)
You're my oasis (oasis)
You're my oasis (oasis)
You're my oasis (oasis)
The lyrics of A Great Big World's "Oasis" describe the search for a constant source of comfort in the difficulties of life. The chorus repeats the phrase "You're my oasis," implying that the person addressed is a refuge in a trying world. The first verse cements this idea by saying "Don't cry / You're mine / For forever / For forever." The singer is trying to comfort their confident that they will always be there to provide that sense of safety and reassurance.
The second verse adds some complexity to the relationship described by mentioning "Crossed lines / Mistakes." The relationship between the singer and their oasis is not perfect, but it is unique ("There's no other / There's no other.") In the bridge, the singer describes an almost apocalyptic setting, "As I roam through the wasteland," but there is still hope. They see their oasis in the distance and know that they will make it.
Overall, "Oasis" is a touching tribute to the power of human connection and the importance of having support in difficult times. The lyrics speak to the human need for a constant source of comfort and reassurance. While the song is romantic in nature, the message can apply to any relationship, be it romantic, platonic, or familial.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't cry
I want you to know that everything will be okay and you don't need to cry.
You're mine
I want you to know that you belong to me, and I will always be here for you.
For forever
My love for you is eternal, and it will never die.
I need
I am in desperate need of your love and companionship.
You now
The only thing that will suffice is your immediate presence in my life.
More than ever
I need you now more than at any other time in my life.
Head full of lies
I have been lied to so many times, and I cannot tell the truth from the lies.
Sun in my eyes
I am in a difficult position, and everything seems hopeless.
You make it easy
With you by my side, everything becomes easy and bearable.
Don't look away
Please don't look away from me, even if you see me at my worst.
These are the days
These are the times when we need to trust and support each other the most.
You gotta believe me
Please trust me when I say that I need you and that I love you more than anything.
This life
Our lives have been intertwined, and we were meant to find each other.
Is made
Our relationship was predestined and meant to be.
For each other
We were meant to be together, and nothing can separate us.
Crossed lines
We may have made mistakes, but we will always find a way back to each other.
Mistakes
Our follies and errors will not hinder our relationship.
There's no other
There's nobody else for me but you, and I will always choose you over anyone else.
Nowhere to go
Even when we are lost and have nowhere to go, I can find my way with you by my side.
I'm already home
You are my home, and wherever you are is where I belong.
As I roam through the wasteland
Even in the darkest and loneliest times, I know that you will be there for me.
You're the one thing I need
All I need in this world is you, and with you, I can survive anything.
I see you off in the distance
I can see you from afar, and even if we are separated, I still feel your presence.
When we're lost in a desert night
Even when we are in the darkest moments of our lives, we can still find hope and light with each other.
And we're chasing our paradise
We are always searching for the best possible outcome for ourselves, and I know that together, we can achieve our goals.
When we can't fight another fight
When we feel like giving up, we can rely on each other to keep going.
We're gonna make it, make it, make it
Together, we can conquer anything that comes our way.
You're my oasis
You are my safe haven, my refuge, and my source of peace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHAD VACCARINO, IAN AXEL, MAUREEN MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aisdd
Don't cry
You're mine
For forever
For forever
I need
You now
More than ever
More than ever
Head full of lies
Sun in my eyes
You make it easy
Don't look away
These are the days
You gotta believe me
When we're lost in a desert night
And we're chasing our paradise
When we can't fight another fight
We're gonna make it
You're my oasis
This life
Is made
For each other
For each other
Crossed lines
Mistakes
There's no other
There's no other
Head full of lies
Sun in my eyes
You make it easy
Nowhere to go
I'm already home
You gotta believe me
When we're lost in a desert night
And we're chasing our paradise
When we can't fight another fight
We're gonna make it
You're my oasis
As I roam through the wasteland
You're the one thing I need
I see you off in the distance
You're my oasis
softer.blues7
absolutely incredible <3 they're one of the most underrated musicians, i wish more people listened to their other songs, not just "say something"
Emerson Anghinetti
Gente, que maravilhoso, a música, o clipe são ambos fantásticos
wannawinit
"when we're lost in a desert night,
and we're chasing our paradise,
when we can't find another fight,
we're gonna make it"
THIS IS POWERFUL
Ben Nichols
I'm honestly so happy this music video got made. It's probably my favorite song on the album and the music video was perfect for it. The song brings such a joy and emotion with its drums and vocals that's unbelievable. It has a strong meaning to me that is yet painful at the same time. Just a perfect song, it's beautiful. I just love it.
Nelativity
Not just the song, the whole video is tremendously brilliant. I just enjoyed watching and hearing. This is just perfect <3
Pedro Carballo
This is flawless. I fell in love with the song the first time I listened to it. The video is amazing, I love the concept
The Lost Boy
Absolutely incredibly beautiful imagery and I adore the little experimental musical parts that have been added for this. LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!
The Lost Boy
+Marc Silver hahaha, actually that's me. I had blue hair maybe a year before he got it. Thanks though 🙌🏻
Keely Gomes
Já amo essa música ♡
lauren2000ist
For some reason, this song makes me cry!! I absolutely LOVE this song!!