Influenced by coldwave, early-'80s synth pop, and the mighty bass playing o… Read Full Bio ↴Influenced by coldwave, early-'80s synth pop, and the mighty bass playing of New Order's Peter Hook, Black Marble is the project of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Chris Stewart. When Stewart debuted in 2012 with The Weight Against the Door EP, he remained true to the frosty gloom of his influences, burying his monotone baritone with layers of echo, reverb, and analog synths. As time went on, however, he let more light and warmth into his music, particularly on 2019's Bigger Than Life and 2021's Fast Idol, both of which reflected his move from Brooklyn to the sunnier climes of Los Angeles.

Black Marble's roots go back to the early 2010s, when Stewart began making music on his laptop. When he played his songs for his friends, they liked his songwriting but thought the instrumentation could sound better, so he looked to the scene around him in Brooklyn for inspiration. He found it in Wierd, a dance party that brought in synth-driven acts from around the world (and also spawned the influential label Wierd Records). Stewart was particularly taken with the sound and analog gear of Martial Canterel's Sean McBride (also of Xeno & Oaklander), and started building his own arsenal of vintage synths, including a Juno and a Korg DW-8000. Not long after, he joined up with ex-Team Robespierre member Ty Kube. The duo made their debut in January 2012 with The Weight Against the Door, an EP released by the Seattle label Hardly Art that introduced Black Marble's faithful update of coldwave's stark-yet-murky, bleak-yet-beautiful sound. That September, their first full-length, A Different Arrangement, appeared on the label and presented a slightly warmer and more melodic version of their style.

Following the release of A Different Arrangement, Stewart began to tire of living in New York. He planned a move to Los Angeles, but wanted to finish Black Marble's second album before he left. During this time, Kube departed and Stewart was hospitalized with a serious case of pneumonia. These personal and physical changes were echoed on It's Immaterial, a lighter and clearer-sounding set of songs that Ghostly International released in October 2016. After settling in L.A., Stewart began work on his third album. Moved by the landscapes as well as the sense of community in his new home, he wrote more immediate songs that brought his voice front and center. In October 2019, Sacred Bones released Bigger Than Life. The following August, Black Marble issued I Must Be Living Twice, an EP of songs originally by Wire, Robert Palmer, and Grouper that were favorites at the band's shows. On October 2021's Fast Idol, Stewart incorporated the more impressionistic songwriting of his early albums with the brighter sound of Bigger Than Life.

A Different Arrangement
Black Marble Lyrics

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Day or night
There is landslide
This time, this time

Pay no mind
There will be landmines
This time, this time

Piece of mind say….

Stay behind
There's a crack in the railroad tie
This time... this time
These strange lines
Where your life is just alibis and no crimes, no crimes

Piece of mind… they're just pieces...
These strange lines say I…

Overall Meaning

The song "A Different Arrangement" by Black Marble speaks about the unpredictability of life and how one can never be sure of what might happen next. The opening lines "Day or night, there is a landslide" suggest a sudden and perhaps unexpected change that can happen at any time. The following lines, "Pay no mind, there will be landmines" emphasizes the concept that one should not worry about things out of their control and instead be aware of potential obstacles.

The chorus of the song "Piece of mind, say..." suggests that one can find peace in accepting the uncertainties of life. The lines "Stay behind, there's a crack in the railroad tie" convey the idea that it's essential to be aware of the faults in our lives and avoid potential dangers. The last lines "These strange lines, where your life is just alibis and no crimes," describe how life can be perceived as a series of stories or alibis to justify one's existence.

Overall, the song conveys the message that life is not always easy, and one must accept that there will be obstacles and unpredictability.

Line by Line Meaning

Day or night
No matter the time of day, there's always trouble brewing.

There is landslide
Danger is inevitable and looming.

This time, this time
The danger is particularly present in the current moment.

Pay no mind
Don't let the danger take hold of your thoughts or emotions.

There will be landmines
Obstacles and hazards will show up unexpectedly.

Piece of mind say….
Trying to find peace of mind amidst the chaos.

Stay behind
It's safer to stay put and not take any risks.

There's a crack in the railroad tie
Even the foundation of stability can falter and cause harm.

This time... this time
Once again, the danger is particularly present in the current moment.

These strange lines
The path ahead is uncertain and unfamiliar.