“We know that every single kid out there is tired of the same old dance-pop record that gets released every single week. Our goal is to be the music scene’s saving grace,” says guitarist Mike Kitlas. “It will tell our listeners that we are here to stay and we are not a fad band that will fade out as soon as dance-pop is outdated.”
Free Your Mind extends beyond the cut-and-paste albums being churned out, instead infusing dynamic guitars behind the soul-shaking howls and relatable melodies from frontman Slade Echeverria. Crafted in Los Angeles by producer Mike Green (Paramore, Good Charlotte) over a four-week span in Los Angeles, Free Your Mind's formation came from a desire to break out from the "fad band" chokehold and delve into what was real.
The EP's lyrical themes of drama-addled love are age-appropriate for this band still fresh from cap and gown status, yet show emerging maturity and growth while navigating the waters of life on the road and in the press, as well as their loss of anonymity. Not one track doesn’t contain a purpose or reason ripped from the band’s own personal headlines, and the EP title wasn’t without a conscious peek into their agenda, either.
“We want to challenge kids to think outside of the norm, and really find themselves, rather then just following what the crowd is doing,” Kitlas said. “We want to show our listeners that they are not alone, we all go through our struggles and everyone has their ups and downs in life.”
The seven-track EP, kicks off with a mischievous call to a wayward paramour on “Let The Games Begin,” before sliding into the instant hip-shaking grooves of “The Brightest Green,” a slice of Maroon 5-ish soul that takes on a life of its own. Anarbor takes a familiar formula but adds a warmth and genuineness to every guitar lick and lyric that keeps them relatable yet unique. Each track seamlessly follows the next, spinning clever lyrics and brisk guitars, and each adds another deft chapter to this memorable volume.
“The distinctive sound we are reaching for is rock and roll. We don't use any instruments in our songs that we don’t play live, we are going for a very raw and real sound for this record,” Kitlas said. When noted that shared influences range from Third Eye Blind to Red Hot Chili Peppers, it’s even more apparent where the EP’s driving and fully-executed rock-based energy gained its roots.
The easy nature and chemistry of the band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2003 is more than just a cosmic luck for an emerging band. Because this, in years of formation, is by no means a freshman band. Echeverria and Kitlas became friends in grade school, and continued to grow up experiencing many life-changing events together, securing a bond that eventually extended to music, and a decision to make it their ultimate ambition. The band signed to Hopeless Records before they even received their high school diplomas.
More than just a sum of its parts, the writing process for Anarbor is a group united, with each member adding input in acoustic jam sessions that allows everyone to collaborate and contribute creatively. It’s a cohesion that allowed each member’s personal preferences and talents shine when it came to recording.
Sharing the stage with everyone from Fall Out Boy to the Gin Blossoms, as well as a coveted spot on this year’s Take Action! Tour, Anarbor is gaining steady recognition as the diverse band to watch among a sea of faux rock ‘n rollers. This motivated and utterly gifted band will resonate with any listener who knows a thing or two about learning who you are and putting your ambitions into motion.
“We want people to walk away feeling comforted and confident in themselves,” Kitlas said. “Music is a universal language that everyone can relate to. We talk about our real life stories, feelings and situations. You can expect real music and real lyrics, no filler.”
Passion For Publication
Anarbor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alcohol sits nicely in your stomach warm
When you wake up hungover
You wish you were sober.
I've danced with the devil
And dreamed with the demons
Fell asleep with debt
When you wake up hungover
You wish you were sober
[Chorus]
Just be pretty but naive
Anything you hear is what you believe
Let the rhyme get stuck in your head
Wish you had undressed me in your head
It's the low before the high
It's been so long you thought you would die
When you wake up hungover
You wish you were sober
And I'll be counting the days that the sun goes past
With the clouds beneath my feet
[Chorus]
Cause we've been falling apart
Built to crumble from the start
I'm a cold metal machine
And I'll do things you've never seen
[Chorus: x2]
Cause we've been falling apart
Built to crumble from the start
I'm a cold metal machine
And I'll do things you've never seen
And what they don't tell you in church is
Saints are sinners too.
The lyrics of "Passion For Publication" by Anarbor showcases the negative effects of alcohol and its impact on human emotions. The first two lines in the lyric speak of the aftermath of a drinking session, which is the calm before the storm. The next lines mention how alcohol affects the body by causing a hangover, which makes the person feel regretful of their actions. The verse then moves forward with two contrasting statements, where the singer of the song talks about the devil and the demons he has experienced and the burden of debt he is carrying. Then, the song moves towards the chorus where the singer talks about the societal pressure to be pretty but naive and how the music takes over their mind.
The song then talks about the highs and lows of the emotional state of the singer. It mentions an overwhelming feeling of wanting to die after a long low phase but eventually reaching the high of the emotional state. The song continues to talk about counting down the days and the mental state of the singer. In the last lines of the chorus, the song mentions how people are built to crumble from the start and the singer is a "cold metal machine" who will do things that people have never seen before. The last line sums up the song by mentioning that even saints are sinners in disguise.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the calming before the storm
The momentary peace before something bad happens.
Alcohol sits nicely in your stomach warm
The pleasing feeling of having just consumed alcohol.
When you wake up hungover
Waking up after a night of heavy drinking feeling sick and tired.
You wish you were sober.
Regretting having consumed too much alcohol.
I've danced with the devil
Experienced something risky or dangerous.
And dreamed with the demons
Had unsettling or disturbing thoughts or dreams.
Fell asleep with debt
Going to bed with financial troubles on your mind.
Then fell short of breath
Feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
Just be pretty but naive
Societal pressure to prioritize appearance over intelligence or awareness.
Anything you hear is what you believe
Believing everything that is heard without being skeptical or critical of the source.
Let the rhyme get stuck in your head
Allowing oneself to enjoy a catchy tune or lyric despite knowing it may not be deep or meaningful.
Wish you had undressed me in your head
Imagining a sexual encounter with someone.
It's the low before the high
A bad feeling before something good or exciting happens.
It's been so long you thought you would die
A sense of time dragging on endlessly that makes someone feel exhausted or overwhelmed.
And I'll be counting the days that the sun goes past
Anticipating or looking forward to future events or milestones.
With the clouds beneath my feet
Feeling as though you have control over a situation or that things are going well.
Cause we've been falling apart
Acknowledging that things have not been going well or that a relationship is deteriorating.
Built to crumble from the start
Awareness or acceptance that something was destined to fail.
I'm a cold metal machine
Feeling like a well-oiled, calculated, and unfeeling person.
And I'll do things you've never seen
Being unconventional or extraordinary in behavior or choices.
And what they don't tell you in church is
An implication that religious institutions hide certain truths or realities.
Saints are sinners too.
The confession that even those who are held in the highest regard or moral standing are capable of making mistakes or having flaws.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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