For Pat Grossi of Active Child, the last two years have been nothing short of enriching. Musically, Pat has worked within and appropriated a number of styles into his sound, from his early days singing with that heavenly voice as a choir boy to his more recent forays into laptop-assisted indie-pop made in his bedroom, best exemplified on 2010’s acclaimed Curtis Lane EP. His sound is so wide-ranging that he has found himself touring with many notable acts of differing genres, including dubstep producer James Blake, dreamy synth-pop of School of Seven Bells, and the indie-rock bands White Lies and White Rabbits.
Nothing quite prepares you for the leap that Pat has taken with his debut album, You Are All I See, out on August 23rd via Vagrant records. Recently, he has expanded his sonic ambitions and turned the studio into an instrument for a record that sounds cosmically huge and yet intimate all the same.
Of the album title, Pat himself says, “You Are All I See is an attempt to build a bridge between the listener and I, in that, I wrote these songs for you as much as I did for me. And right now when you are listening to my voice, by yourself, it really is just you and I.” In attempting to craft songs that meant something not only to himself but that could be meaningful to others as well, he found himself working with some universally human and fragile themes. “The songs focus primarily on the joy and heartbreak of relationships, love lost and rediscovered, battles with monogamy, battles with identity,” Pat says. “It came out much darker than I had intended, but sometimes you only have so much control.”
The grand, cinematic scope of Pat’s artistic vision is apparent on You Are All I See, which owes as much to his wide array of influences as it does to Pat’s own knack for employing these influences in fresh, forward-thinking ways. With triumphant synths and shimmering, contrapuntal harp lines, songs like the title track and “Hanging On” are reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack,” but improve upon that template with layered vocals not far removed from Bon Iver or even James Blake, who Active Child recently opened for on tour. “High Priestess” and “See Thru Eyes” are stunning forays into electronic music territory, littered with samples, drum machines, and keyboards that propel the songs forward while simultaneously seeming weightless and suspended. It is in this tension that You Are All I See lives, breathes, and thrives so magnificently. The album is indebted to the sounds of the 1980s, from New Order’s drums-and-synths to danceable hip-hop beats, and it’s all topped off with soaring r&b melodies. The album’s first single, “Playing House,” features guest vocals from Tom Krell, the crooner of lo-fi r&b project How To Dress Well. Pitchfork Media recently premiered the track, noting “Active Child’s sound now seems positively ahead of its time.”
Reflecting on the album’s finished product, Pat says “I think more than anything, I see this debut release as a bridge towards something bigger and truer. Something I can look back on and think, ‘damn, you really did it’.” When you finally hear You Are All I See you’ll think the very same thing.
You Are All I See
Active Child Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh huh, this is getting tough sitting here waiting for you,
And I think you fought enough cause I know what’s wrong,
This is going on, going on from way too long,
I think you wanna know, I just can’t wait
Uh huh, I’m trying to find you,
Uh huh, I’m trying to reach you girl!
Baby we’re just playing house,
Just closing it feels good!
Baby we’re just playing house,
Just closing it feels good!
That don’t make it good for anybody,
Don’t wanna be in love just with anybody,
I’m tired being just Mr. Anybody,
So baby come with me, let’s just make,
Between us, I need you to see me,
When you go I will always be there
Uh huh, I’m trying to find you,
Uh huh, I’m trying to reach you girl!
I don’t mean to know, just wanna hold!
Baby we’re just playing house,
Just closing it feels good!
The song “You Are All I See” by Active Child talks about the desire to be with someone despite the difficulties and challenges that come with it. The first verse speaks about waiting for someone and feeling that the waiting has gone on for far too long. The singer wants to find and reach out to the girl but is uncertain about how to do it. The chorus then says that being together, even if it’s just playing house, feels good. This is further emphasized in the second verse which speaks of not wanting to be in love with just anybody, but wanting a real connection with someone.
The bridge is a plea for the girl to see the singer and not just anyone. It's an admission that the singer wants more and is willing to go through the difficulty to get it. The chorus is then repeated again, as if to reaffirm that even if it's just pretending, being together is worth it.
Overall, the song is about the uncertainty and difficulty that comes with pursuing love, but being willing to do so nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
It feels good!
The singer gets a pleasant feeling from the situation.
Uh huh, this is getting tough sitting here waiting for you,
Waiting for someone is becoming difficult for the singer.
And I think you fought enough cause I know what’s wrong,
The singer believes the other person has put in enough effort as they know what the actual issue is.
This is going on, going on from way too long,
The situation has been happening for a long time.
I think you wanna know, I just can’t wait
The artist is confident that the other person wants to know and they can't wait to tell them.
Uh huh, I’m trying to find you,
The singer is searching for the other person.
Uh huh, I’m trying to reach you girl!
The singer is attempting to contact the other person.
I don’t mean to know, just wanna hold!
The artist does not require information but only wants to hold the other person.
Baby we’re just playing house,
The relationship is not very serious.
Just closing it feels good!
The physical aspect of the relationship is enjoyable for the artist.
That don’t make it good for anybody,
The singer understands that physical pleasure doesn't equate to a good relationship for either party involved.
Don’t wanna be in love just with anybody,
The artist doesn't want to be in love with just anyone.
I’m tired being just Mr. Anybody,
The singer is exhausted with being a generic person.
So baby come with me, let’s just make,
The singer invites the other person to come with them and make something real.
Between us, I need you to see me,
The singer wants the other person to truly understand them.
When you go I will always be there
The artist promises to always be present for the other person no matter what.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Patrick J Grossi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Irma Womack
This was the song that played when I walked down the aisle for my wedding. Was the perfect song! It was a beach wedding too! Love ya Active Child!
Jimmy Russell
Yooo I’m doing the same exact thing in December!
Irma Womack
@Jimmy Russell Yessss! Wishing you a awesome wedding! The song is so beautiful!
Jimmy Russell
@Irma Womack thanks! Couldn’t agree more. She introduced me to active child when we first started dating. This has been our song ever since :)
atrocious _ pr0xy
What an amazing choice! Wow!
Noone
I played this song as my mother passed a couple years ago. She loved music and I thought it was such a beautiful thing for her to hear in her last moments. Thank you for creating it.
420Chrissss
What you said just gave this song such a more powerful meaning to me ❤ I bet she loved hearing this. You're an amazing daughter for doing that for her.
Lasersloth 42
Oh hell no. If that's true, that's invasive and creepy as hell. You're either a sad compulsive liar or perturbed enough to decide that for someone. Damn.
Jon Serra
@Lasersloth 42 that would be a fair statement if there wasn't tons of research to support the positive effects of music. i'm sure dying can be pretty scary. music therapy is a thing for a reason.
Lasersloth 42
@Jon Serra I'm not arguing that, I'm ARGUING that no one should be allowed to MAKE THAT CHOICE FOR A PERSON.