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.
MSQ No-Extra
Black Marble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you see this place of wine
glance in one home.
Every now.
You know by heart give me.
I felt a time
that the circus that was mine
looking out
You're not my.
there is .enough
The lyrics to Black Marble's song MSQ No-Extra are open to interpretation, as the singer uses abstract and poetic language to describe a feeling or experience. The lines "In the city I'm changing vibe / Where you see this place of wine / glance in one home / every now / You know by heart give me" suggest that the singer is going through some kind of transformation or shift in energy while being surrounded by a particular environment. The mention of a "place of wine" could represent a local hangout or a social setting where people gather to let loose and relax. The repetition of "every now" and "give me" creates a sense of longing or desire for familiarity and comfort in a new place.
In the next stanza, the singer reflects on a past experience that felt like a "circus" that belonged to them. They were "in the height looking out" which could mean they were on top of the world or feeling confident and in control. However, the line "You're not my" interrupts this narrative and leaves the interpretation open to the listener's imagination. The final line "there is enough" suggests a sense of contentment or acceptance, as if the singer is letting go of a desire for control or ownership.
Overall, the lyrics to MSQ No-Extra convey a sense of movement, change, and introspection. The singer grapples with identity and belonging in an unfamiliar environment, while also reflecting on their past experiences and relinquishing control.
Line by Line Meaning
In the city I'm changing vibe
I am adapting to the atmosphere of the city and evolving.
Where you see this place of wine
Somewhere in this area of the city, there is a place of pleasure and indulgence.
glance in one home.
Just briefly look at one of the houses here.
Every now.
Occasionally, pause and take in the surroundings.
You know by heart give me.
You know what I need intuitively and can provide it for me.
I felt a time
There was a period in my life where
that the circus that was mine
I had control over a chaotic and bustling environment,
but I was in the height
But I was in a position of power and dominance,
looking out
Surveying and evaluating what was happening around me.
You're not my.
You are not part of my inner circle or community,
there is .enough
There is a sufficient amount of distance and detachment that separates us.
Contributed by Connor N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.