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."
Sinking Like Stone
Blackchords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You’re unkind words
Do you ever just
Walk away
And head for the door
Buried inside
Sinking like stone
Drifting away
How quickly it unfolds
How far we fall
Does it ever just
Work out all right
Let you believe
Buried inside
Sinking like stone
Forget who I am
Drifting away
The lyrics of Blackchords' song 'Sinking Like Stone' are open to personal interpretation, but the most common interpretation is that the song is about distancing oneself from a toxic relationship. The first verse starts with the singer feeling like the relationship is just some kind of dream, and his partner's unkind words are causing him to want to walk away. The opening verse is setting up the rest of the song, where the singer expresses how they feel buried inside and is sinking like a stone. It seems clear that the singer is feeling lost, confused, and uncertain about the relationship and is struggling to remember who they are.
As the song continues, it becomes apparent that the singer is struggling with the difficulties of the relationship, and he expresses that he's forgotten who he is and is "drifting away." He wonders if the relationship will ever work out and if it's possible to let himself believe that it might. The chorus ends with the singer feeling like he is sinking further beneath the surface with each passing day, indicating his clear need for change.
Overall, 'Sinking Like Stone' has a quiet, reflective feeling to it, and the lyrics seem to capture the uncertainty, confusion, and hopelessness that someone might feel when they're in a relationship that is not working. The song's lyrics, coupled with the gentle melody, create a powerful emotional effect, evoking compassion and empathy for those struggling in similar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Some kind of dream
Living in a world of illusions and imagination.
You’re unkind words
The harsh words spoken by someone.
Do you ever just
Have you ever just
Walk away
Leave without looking back.
And head for the door
Towards an end without knowing what awaits.
Buried inside
Hiding the pain and suffering deep inside.
Sinking like stone
Slowly losing hope and descending into darkness.
Forget who I am
Losing one's identity due to hopelessness.
Drifting away
Slowly leaving everything behind.
How quickly it unfolds
How fast the situation worsens.
How far we fall
How much we lose ourselves.
Does it ever just
Is there ever a time when
Work out all right
Things go according to plan.
Let you believe
Making you think that everything will be fine.
Contributed by Annabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.