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Blackchords have been chosen to support Jet and Powderf… Read Full Bio ↴LATEST NEWS:

Blackchords have been chosen to support Jet and Powderfinger on Oct 29th at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. This is Powderfinger's last ever tour and their last ever show in Melbourne.

Check out our new single 'As Night Falls' right here on Last.FM 'As Night Falls' was written specifically for new Australian suspense drama ‘BLAME’ directed by Michael Henry. 'These Lights' taken from the debut album also features in the film's trailer.

Blackchords released their self-titled debut album on October 5 through Dust Devil Music/Stomp. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Blackchords, fronted by songwriter Nick Milwright, have been widely acclaimed on their native turf (“One of the best Australian debut releases”, Reverb Magazine) with critics raving that their darkly majestic collection of understated songs recalls the best bits of Ryan Adams, Elbow and Jeff Buckley. “So far the response has been really positive, especially from the fans,” says Nick. “We strive to write music that moves and connects with people. It’s the reason we want to play professionally.”

Highlights include opening track ‘At World’s End’, which leaks a despair that defies its upbeat arrangement. Richly-scored ballads, ‘22’, and ‘These Lights,’ capture the quietness of intimacy, whilst ‘Broken Bones’ sees Milwright ponder existential matters: “This endless ride has got me I know/I’ve been holding on by a thread/falling towards the end, but I have been held by a thousand hands/we can scream out loud ’cause we’re all on this ride I know”. In ‘Raise My Hands,’ Milwright mourns “the thread coming undone/love it comes and goes” accompanied by a sympathetic string section; and ‘Disappear’ offers an introspective, ambivalent close to the album: “just give me a minute to gather my thoughts/disappear now”.

From an early age, and a childhood spent with, as Nick puts it, "the usual suspects" (The Beatles, Cat Stevens, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell & Van Morrison) Nick knew that there was something drawing him to music, but it wasn't until his early twenties that he was to pursue it full time. In the meantime he tried following in the footsteps of his family – and joined the military. Soon realizing that this wasn't for him, he left to begin training full time in Ballet and contemporary dance at one of Australia’s top dance schools, the VCA. Finally, forced to rest for 6 months after an injury, he decided to open his mouth. "It was something like taking a plunge off this huge cliff, and I'd been too scared to confront it for so long,” he says. “In the end I had to accept that the desire would never leave, and the real regret would be to grow old and to have never given it a shot.”

After collectively finishing uni or working in badly paid jobs, Blackchords began to take shape in 2005, their name originating, says Nick, “down in the belly of a bluestone basement”. In 2006 they created quite a stir when, as an unsigned band, their video for ‘Broken Bones’ won first place at Melbourne’s prestigious St Kilda Film Festival. In 2008 the same song went on to become a double finalist in the ISC (International Songwriting Competition, for best rock song & video). “I really love working with filmmakers and artists to help create the Blackchords landscape,” says Nick.

In 2008 the band were signed to Dust Devil Music, and began work on their debut full-length album. "In the beginning we were almost an alt country band. Then we found ourselves trying to resemble instrumental rock bands like Explosions In The Sky. Now I feel like we've found our own feet and sound like Blackchords. I knew we were walking the right path after hearing the first notes of the cello on ‘Raise My Hands.’ The whole time when the string quartet was recording I just sat there. I had goose bumps down my spine.”

So, now that ‘Blackchords’ is complete and ready to be set free, what does the future hold for the band? "We're just eager to get out there and push it as far as it can go. Blackchords want to make music for the rest of our lives and get better and better as musicians. If we can do that we’ll be very happy."

December
Blackchords Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Leaving through the front door
Dressed up for your eyes
And I hope that you’ll see me

Walking down the back streets
And all that’s on my mind
Is seeing you some how

Faces in the hallway
All look like strangers
And the crowd starts to form

Silence is stronger than words

I remember
Talking with you
And the dice began to roll
So I kept my fingers crossed

December fading quickly
In last hours of this night
I kept no thoughts from fading

Silence is stronger than words

Overall Meaning

These lyrics seem to be about someone leaving their house dressed up, hoping to catch the attention of a particular person. As they walk towards their destination, they can’t shake the thought of seeing the person they’re longing for. However, as soon as they arrive, they find themselves in a crowded place filled with strangers. The silence between them is palpable, and the singer realizes that sometimes, silence is more powerful than words could ever be.

The singer remembers a time when they were talking to this person, and something happened that caused them to take a chance. They say that “the dice began to roll,” which suggests that they took a risk, not knowing what the outcome would be. They kept their fingers crossed, indicating that they were hoping for the best.

Line by Line Meaning

Leaving through the front door
Departing from the front entrance

Dressed up for your eyes
Wearing special attire to impress you

And I hope that you’ll see me
Desiring to be noticed by you

Walking down the back streets
Strolling along the less-travelled roads

And all that’s on my mind
Only thing occupying my thoughts

Is seeing you some how
Yearning to catch a glimpse of you

Faces in the hallway
Countenances in the corridor

All look like strangers
None of them seem familiar

And the crowd starts to form
A group is beginning to assemble

Silence is stronger than words
Quiet can be more impactful than speech

I remember
I recall