Originally, the duo consisted of Anders Hagström and Yasmine Uhlin. However, she announced her surprise departure from the band in Hamburg at the last concert of the Out Of line festival tour 2008.
Anders and Yazmine met in November 2005 and, upon discovering that they shared the same musical vision, decided to form a band. Their collaboration soon came to fruition with the release of a 9 track demo entitled "Angora Overdrive" after a very intensive month in the studio.
The second four track demo, "Parliament of Rooks", which was finished in February 2006, had a more refined sound compared to their first offering. They decided to send it to a few select labels because the reaction they got to the first demo was quite overwhelming. Having sent the demos on Monday, Ashbury Heights was contacted and contracted by German Out of Line records on Wednesday, only an hour after the label had received the CD. This probably makes Ashbury Heights one of the fastest signings in history. Several other labels expressed an interest in the band, but there was no bidding war as Out of Line moved so quickly.
Although having signed the famous German act "And One" at about the same time as Ashbury Heights, which ate a lot of the labels' resources, Out of Line wasted no time. The legendary producer John Fryer was brought on board to produce the promotional single "Cry Havoc" in April 2006, something quite unheard of in the world of the electronic underground. Very few bands in the synth-genre get to release promo-CDs (if any), and certainly no other band in modern synth-history has released a promo-CD produced by a celebrity of the likes of Fryer.
John Fryer would eventually mix their first album "Three cheers for the newlydeads". Released in october 2007, the debut album was recieved with overwhelming optimism from press and audience alike proving once and for all that Ashbury Heights truly is a force to be reckoned with.
In 2008 Ashbury Heights returned with the "Morningstar in a Black Car" EP, containing five new songs and four remixes. The EP received good reviews and helped keep up interest for the band. A video was made for the track "Spiders", a low budget affair which nevertheless managed to project some of the bands unique flair.
Ashbury Heights, with brand-new female vocalist Kari Berg, released their new album 'Take Cair paramour' on the 2nd of july 2010. In 2010, following a long running dispute between Hagström and the record label Out Of Line the band disbanded. This dispute was settled in 2011, whereupon Hagstöm and Out of Line renewed their collaboration. However, it took until 2013 for Hagström to find a new singer. The new singer is Tea F. Thimé, the first female to co-write lyrics for Ashbury Heights.
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Mad
Ashbury Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
King of hearts
I was made
From spare parts
I was born
Into arms
How they'd scorn
Mad
Can't you see that I am mad
What a blessing to be mad
Now I thrive
On solitude
Dead alive
Altitude
Proximity
Frightens me
All I see
Is devilry
Mad
Can't you see that I am mad
What a blessing to be mad
The lyrics in Ashbury Heights's song Mad convey the story of a character who feels like an outsider and has faced rejection and isolation from the people around him. The first verse begins with "Make a spade, King of hearts, I was made from spare parts," indicating that the character wasn't created with the utmost care but instead pieced together from whatever was available - signifying that he isn't anyone's first choice. He then states, "I was born into arms, how they'd scorn my lack of charms," which suggests that he didn't fit the mold of what was considered appealing or desirable.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal that the character has found solace in his solitude and that he feels most alive when he's alone. "Now I thrive on solitude, dead alive altitude," he declares. The character also expresses fear towards other people, stating "proximity frightens me, all I see is devilry," revealing his lack of trust in others which may have been built up over time due to past experiences of rejection or betrayal.
The chorus is a repetitive chant of the phrase "Mad, can't you see that I am mad, what a blessing to be mad," which indicates that the character has embraced his madness as a source of power in a world where he felt weak and powerless. It's possible that the character sees madness as the only way to gain control in a world where he feels constantly victimized. Overall, the song Mad expresses the emotions of isolation, fear, and empowerment.
Line by Line Meaning
Make a spade
I am creating something from nothing, probably something sharp and pointed like a spade.
King of hearts
I am putting on a brave face, pretending to be in control even though I am not really the one in charge.
I was made
I was not born into privilege or success, but rather I had to work hard to get where I am today.
From spare parts
I have been pieced together from the remnants of other people's lives, and my scars and flaws are a testament to my journey.
I was born
I have always existed in this world, but I was not necessarily welcomed or celebrated by those around me.
Into arms
I was embraced by people who saw my potential and my value, despite my outward appearance or behavior.
How they'd scorn
Even though I was loved, there were still those who judged me and looked down on me, seeing me as worthless or ugly.
My lack of charms
I did not have the charisma or charm that others possessed, so I had to find other ways to gain respect and admiration.
Mad
I am not crazy, but rather I see the world differently than most people. I am passionate and intense, and my emotions can be overwhelming at times.
Can't you see that I am mad
I wish others could understand me and appreciate me for who I am, rather than judge me for being different.
What a blessing to be mad
Although it can be difficult to be different, I am grateful for my unique perspective and the gifts that come with it.
Now I thrive
I have learned to cope with my differences and find happiness and fulfillment in my own way.
On solitude
I do not need others to validate me or make me happy; I am content with my own company.
Dead alive
I feel like I am caught between life and death, neither fully alive nor fully dead, but rather suspended in a state of limbo.
Altitude
I have risen above my past and my hardships, and I am now moving forward with a renewed sense of purpose and energy.
Proximity
Being close to others can be scary and overwhelming, as it forces me to confront my own fears and insecurities.
Frightens me
Although I am strong and resilient, there are still certain things that terrify me and make me feel vulnerable and weak.
All I see
My perspective is colored by my own experiences and emotions, and I cannot always trust what I see or hear.
Is devilry
There is evil and darkness in the world, and it can be difficult to resist its temptations and influence.
Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tootsie Clap
It's so hard to believe
That's how it used to feel
Walking like a part of me
Was grounded actually
All of our memories
Separated by the seas
Alone in the debris
My insecurities
Wild eyes burning through the ceiling
Watching the skies
And trying to breathe
White scars never heard of healing
Watching myself
While trying to leave
Wild eyes burning through the ceiling
Watching the skies
And trying to breathe
White scars never heard of healing
Watching myself
While trying to leave
I can remember you
From when I thought I knew
That you were being true
And we were pulling through
I cannot understand
Just how you could hold my hand
While you were making plans
To feed us to the sand
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes (wild eyes)
Wild eyes burning through the ceiling
Watching the skies
And trying to breathe
White scars never heard of healing
Watching myself
While trying to leave
Wild eyes burning through the ceiling
Watching the skies
And trying to breathe
White scars never heard of healing
Watching myself
While trying to leave
Meich
2020 has been a weird year, but the new Ashbury Heights content has really been making up for it.
Bill A
When he sings "Wild Eyes", it sounds a bit like "White Lies" or "Wise Guys" which is just fine by me. hehe
Curtis Helsley
Dear god yes!
Gloria Zuniga
Agree!
ted brown
Exactly!
Антон Раевский
Отличное видео, музыка и потрясающий голос!!! Ребята продолжайте в том же духе!!! Удачи!
Noisecode's Archive
I Just recently discovered Ashbury Heights and I've fallen in love with their sound and this song in particular. Love it.
Palwanda
According to Spotify I spent 21,000 minutes listening to Ashbury Heights this year and this was my top song. Still can't stop listening to it. So thank you for making my year a little bit brighter :)
Stephen Moody
I love your music so much! I've been playing this on my night drive home, please keep making your music!
Niall Parkinson
Another fantastic song from Ashbury Heights. As usual, it is as catchy as covid.