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.
Portland U
Black Marble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sign me up, holding you, the future is in your room
Recite with us: "Only the future is here anew."
When the phone booth rings, itโฒs the happening thing
You need to change your tune
Sign the page, only the future is here anew
Sign with us, only the future is in review
"The keys are in your room."
When the monitor sings and the mission bell rings
You need to change your tune
With a sideways glance, are you acting by chance?
We need you in your room
The lyrics to Black Marble's song "Portland U" convey a sense of longing for the future and the need for change. The opening lines, "Sign me up, holding you, the future is in your room," suggest a desire to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. There is a call to recite with them: "Only the future is here anew." This could be seen as a mantra to focus on the possibilities instead of dwelling on the past.
The mention of a phone booth ringing as the happening thing signifies the need to adapt to changing times. The line, "You need to change your tune," implies that one must adjust their perspective or approach to fully embrace the future. By signing the page and reviewing the future, the song suggests that active participation is required to create a better tomorrow.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of satisfaction and fulfillment. The line, "Where the article led, the satisfied said, 'The keys are in your room,'" implies that the path to happiness and contentment lies within oneself. It suggests that by taking ownership and embracing change, one can unlock their own potential.
The mention of the monitor singing and the mission bell ringing could symbolize external influences or distractions that might sway one's focus. The line, "With a sideways glance, are you acting by chance? We need you in your room," seems to emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself and remaining committed to personal growth and transformation.
In summary, "Portland U" by Black Marble invites listeners to embrace the future, adapt to change, take ownership of their own happiness, and stay true to their personal journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Sign me up, holding you, the future is in your room
Enroll me, embracing you, the potential lies within your personal space
Recite with us: 'Only the future is here anew.'
Repeat along with us: 'Only the future exists anew.'
When the phone booth rings, it's the happening thing
When the telephone booth rings, it signifies something exciting is occurring
You need to change your tune
You must alter your perspective or approach
Sign the page, only the future is here anew
Put your name on the document, recognizing that only the future exists anew
Sign with us, only the future is in review
Join us in signing, as we assess and examine solely the future
Where the article led, the satisfied said
Where the publication guided, those content expressed
"The keys are in your room."
"The solutions are within your personal space."
When the monitor sings and the mission bell rings
When the computer screen sings and the bell of purpose chimes
You need to change your tune
You must shift your perspective or approach
With a sideways glance, are you acting by chance?
With a subtle look from the side, are you spontaneously performing?
We need you in your room
We require your presence within your personal space
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Martin Quintal
Sign me up, holding you, the future is in your room
Recite with us: "Only the future is here anew."
When the phone booth rings, it's the happening thing
You need to change your tune
Sign the page, only the future is here anew
Sign with us, only the future is in review
Where the article led, the satisfied said
"The keys are in your room."
When the monitor sings and the mission bell rings
You need to change your tune
With a sideways glance, are you acting by chance?
We need you in your room
รa Rodriguez
Sign me up, holding you, the future is in your room
Recite with us: "Only the future is here anew."
When the phone booth rings, it's the happening thing
You need to change your tune
Sign the page, only the future is here anew
Sign with us, only the future is in review
Where the article led, the satisfied said
"The keys are in your room."
When the monitor sings and the mission bell rings
You need to change your tune
With a sideways glance, are you acting by chance?
We need you in your room
Martin Quintal
Sign me up, holding you, the future is in your room
Recite with us: "Only the future is here anew."
When the phone booth rings, it's the happening thing
You need to change your tune
Sign the page, only the future is here anew
Sign with us, only the future is in review
Where the article led, the satisfied said
"The keys are in your room."
When the monitor sings and the mission bell rings
You need to change your tune
With a sideways glance, are you acting by chance?
We need you in your room
Eric Matรญas
Thank you!! ๐
Garry Shepherd
๐ค๐
bluelizard bass
thank you xD
le marquis de la motte en biais
i want to drive my car on a lost road in a forest by night with this song
S.I.A.C TwoHeart
le marquis de la motte en biais stop talking and do it. save up if you need to... for help if you get too lost I mean. I did that once it was great. I just got lost listening to music in my car!๐๐๐So good! I learned so much about my friends... Good Times
Jacob Salgado
Definitely my fav off "It's Immaterial"
Jacob Salgado
@Garry Shepherd thank you so much, this and self guided tours don't get much attention and a lot of people drop out when they hear Chris changing his albums. He keeps that same nostalgic synth vibe no matter what album I'm listening to. I don't care if it sits as "goth" or not
Garry Shepherd
...Great choice!! I love it too ...these deep haunting , nostalgic vocals , sublime synth , bassy drum.machimes etc ...this guy has immense talent beyond what I can describe ....
I love the entire album and especially ' Woods , well , don't you think Woods and Portland U are similar?
Both absolutely majestic, terrific tracks ๐ค๐๐ค๐๐
You've got outstanding taste!
Garry Shepherd
๐คGosh this really brings back my younger days living on a council estate & trying to grow up too fast!
Hold onto those care -free days as long as you can๐ค