People are pleasantly surprised to learn that Ascendant Stranger is a solo … Read Full Bio ↴People are pleasantly surprised to learn that Ascendant Stranger is a solo project -- even though the music relays a full-band sound. Each track is self-produced by Justin Hicks, a wizard of sorts, who tediously lays down every square inch of each track -- including every instrument, writing the lyrics, designing the cover art, web design, and even programming the website.

"All in a days work," laughs Hicks, who spends most of his nights producing tracks after coming home from his day-time web programming job.

"I feel like musicians have gotten 'soft,'" he continues. "I'm constantly looking for a way to keep a listener's interest, and studying what it really means to have a good 'hook' and grab attention. I grew up listening to all types of music and was able to identify quickly what justified a solid sound. I hope that people hear that through my work."

Finding the Surface
Ascendant Stranger Lyrics

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Rain is coming —
A deathly pour,
Devouring oceans
To toss ashore.

Hopeless souls will become swallowed whole,
And those who live will live to die no more.

And do you know where you will go?
And do you know where you will go?

I've fallen under; I wander alone.
In finding the surface — above this — towards home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ascendant Stranger's Finding the Surface create an atmosphere of darkness, grief, and helplessness. The central theme of this song lies in the vastness and unpredictability of life, and how it can plunge someone into an abyss of hopelessness. The first two lines of the song are a metaphor for the impending doom that awaits people. The deathly pour signifies the inevitability of death and the futility of fighting against it. The line Devouring oceans to toss ashore refers to the cyclical nature of life, where death consumes everything, only to bring it back to life again.

The next few lines of the song paint a picture of the aftermath of this catastrophic event. The hopelessness of those who will be swallowed whole and the realization that there is little chance of survival implies the inevitability of death. The last two lines, And do you know where you will go? And do you know where you will go? leave a haunting question about life's ultimate purpose and what waits beyond our current reality.

The final line of the song, I've fallen under; I wander alone. In finding the surface — above this — towards home, can be interpreted as a call to overcome hopelessness and search for meaning in life. The desire to find the surface, to break through the darkness, and to strive towards home (a place of belonging) symbolizes the resilience of human spirit and the ability to turn despair into hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Rain is coming
A deadly downpour is imminent.

A deathly pour,
The rain is life-threatening.

Devouring oceans
The rain engulfs the seas.

To toss ashore.
The waves bring destruction to land.

Hopeless souls will become swallowed whole,
The rain will claim those without hope.

And those who live will live to die no more.
Even those who survive will not escape death forever.

And do you know where you will go?
Do you have a plan or direction in the face of danger?

And do you know where you will go?
Reinforcing the importance of having a plan or direction.

I've fallen under; I wander alone.
The singer feels lost and abandoned in the chaos.

In finding the surface — above this — towards home.
In search of refuge and safety, aiming to return to a familiar and comforting place.

Contributed by Sophia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.