The band released their self-titled debut EP shortly after they emerged onto the local new wave scene, giving them the opportunity to play live shows while continuing to experiment with their sound. Blending different genres of indie, alternative/dark wave and electronic pop, the band carved out a unique identity and style that appealed to broader audiences. Within a short timespan, Astari Nite became a regular feature at several monthly parties and showcases – and also a favorite among South Florida’s club promoters and music fans alike.
The band’s follow-up EPs, Winter’s Gone and Requiem Mass, established them as a regular live act on the club circuit. Astari Nite headlined a steady string of shows throughout 2009-2011 and also opened for such noteworthy national acts as Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Cold Cave, Modern English and Apoptygma Berzerk.
A highlight from this time period in the band’s history was their performance at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival in 2011. Ultra is one of the largest and longest running music festivals in the world, and draws hundreds of thousands of fans each year with headliners such as The Cure, Crystal Castles and New Order. This exposure catapulted their prominence on the local scene and garnered respect amongst their peers as a viable live act with dance appeal.
Using the Ultra experience and momentum, the band hit the road for their first tour in support of Requiem Mass, their third studio EP. On the tour they played shows at several venues on the East Coast of the U.S., with both the EP and the tour being well received at stops in Florida, Georgia, New York City and Philadelphia.
Astari Nite has also released several music videos, with the band showcased for the first time on screen in True Romance. This black-and-white video tapped into the lyrical world of singer/songwriter Mychael Ghost and was also featured on many prominent web-radio stations and music blogs.
Another fan favorite, Astrid was a video diary of sorts and documented the band on their first tour, as they made their way north from their native Florida up the East Coast. Astrid shows the band in a candid setting, experiencing many of the highs and lows associated with being on the road together for an extended amount of time.
It wasn’t until meeting with Grammy-award winning producer Stephen Thompson (Whitney Houston, Blues Traveler, Korn) that Astari Nite took their songwriting to a new – and slightly more mature – direction. Thompson seamlessly allowed for their style to find a natural home in the new wave/indie market.
After hitting the studio for months on end to find the right combination of feel and technique under Thompson’s direction, Stereo Waltz was released in 2013. The band’s first full-length album featured their acclaimed single, Pyramids. This song highlighted the band’s now-crystalized electro-dance sound and received many accolades from local DJ’s and critics. Pyramids solidified the band’s claim as a viable act on the brink of success, worthy of all the attention they were getting.
After undergoing several line-up changes, the band has come into its own with Mychael Ghost (Vocals), Michael Setton (Guitar), Monch Sallons (Bass) and Illia Tulloch (Drums & Keyboard). Their next EP is slated for release in late-2014 on Danse Macabre Records.
Dearly Beloved
Astari Nite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As we feel nothing - in the dark
Maybe we′re confined to misery
I plead forsaken, I'm so ashamed
Wonder where you are now
Comeback, comeback to me
Want to see the stars now
And we′ll dance to, the sadness of our emptiness, most of the time
As much as I try, to close my eyes, I fall for you
Inside of me, I hear you whisper
Wonder where you are now
Comeback, comeback to me
Want to see the stars now
Crashing inside of me
And we'll dance to, the sadness of our emptiness, most of the time
I was yours; you were mine Now I lay, far away from you
Can't forget the way you loved me
I tried to let you know I was alive When I cried
Can′t forget the way you loved me
I died to let you know I was alive
The way I cried
I, I, I tried most of the time
The lyrics of Astari Nite's song Dearly Beloved paint a picture of longing and loss, mixed with a sense of regret and hopelessness. The opening lines describe the burning candles yearning like a cross, which could signify the pain and regret the singer feels. The feeling of darkness and confinement helps to amplify the sense of hopelessness and despair being conveyed. The singer pleads forsaken and is ashamed, indicating that they feel responsible for some sort of loss or separation.
The lyrics continue with the singer wondering where the person they are lyrically speaking to is, hoping for a comeback, and wanting to see the stars to crash inside of them. The sense of loss and absence continues with the line "I was yours, you were mine, now I lay far away from you." The chorus reaffirms the emptiness both the singer and their significant other feel as they "dance to the sadness of our emptiness most of the time," indicating that they have had many moments of pain and despair.
The second verse of the song conveys the singer's attempts to make their significant other aware of their love, with lines like "I tried to let you know I was alive when I cried" and "I died to let you know I was alive the way I cried." These lines showcase the depth of feeling the singer has for their lover and how much they want to make things right.
Overall, the lyrics of Astari Nite's song Dearly Beloved convey a sense of emotional turmoil, regret, loss, and hopelessness. The imagery and language used lend themselves well to expressing the pain and longing someone may feel when they have lost someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Her candles burn and yearn like a cross
She lights candles that burn intensely and flicker in the darkness, like a cross symbolizing hope and faith.
As we feel nothing - in the dark
Despite the candles, we still feel empty and alone in the darkness.
Maybe we're confined to misery
Perhaps we are doomed to feel unhappy and unfulfilled in life.
I plead forsaken, I'm so ashamed
I feel abandoned and ashamed of myself for not being able to change my circumstances.
Wonder where you are now
I often wonder about your whereabouts and what you're doing with your life.
Comeback, comeback to me
I wish you would return to me, so I don't have to feel so alone and lost.
Want to see the stars now
I long to see the stars and feel their beauty and wonder, as a way to forget my troubles.
Crashing inside of me
My emotions and thoughts are overwhelming me, like waves crashing against the shore.
And we'll dance to, the sadness of our emptiness, most of the time
We will use music and movement to express and cope with our inner emptiness and sorrow, which we experience often.
As much as I try, to close my eyes, I fall for you
No matter how hard I try to forget you, I keep falling in love with you all over again, each time I close my eyes.
Inside of me, I hear you whisper
I can hear your voice and your words echoing inside of me, as a reminder of your presence and influence in my life.
I was yours; you were mine Now I lay, far away from you
We used to belong to each other, but now I am alone and far away from you.
Can't forget the way you loved me
I cannot erase from my memory the way you loved me and how it made me feel alive and cherished.
I tried to let you know I was alive When I cried
When I was vulnerable and emotional, I hoped to show you that I was still alive and capable of feeling love and pain.
Can't forget the way you loved me
I am unable to forget the way you loved me, even though it is painful to remember.
I died to let you know I was alive The way I cried
I felt like a part of me died when you left me, but my tears showed that I was still alive and human, needing love and connection.
I, I, I tried most of the time
I keep trying and struggling to deal with my pain, most of the time, even though it is exhausting and seemingly pointless.
Writer(s): Fred Wilhelm, Georgia Leigh Middleman
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.