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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."

Sleepwalker
Blackchords Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was sleepwalking, I was in a daze, numb to this place
I was sleepwalking, I was in a haze, caught in this space
We were feeding from stale white lights you were full of praise
We were living off borrowed time I was full of lies.

I Get up
I Get up
I Get up

I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up

And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole
And we turned out the lights and closed the door
And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole
And we turned out the lights and closed the door
But we don't live here anymore

I was stationary, I was set up on the steps that night
I was stationary, I was watching with waking fright
When we started moving they were pushing us
Pushing us around
A neon football scrum was taking you to ground

I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up
I Get up

And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole
And we turned out the lights and closed the door
And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole
And we turned out the lights and closed the door
But we don't live here anymore
We don't live here anymore
We don't live here anymore

And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole
And we turned out the lights and closed the door
And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole

And we turned out the lights and closed the door
But we don't live here anymore

Overall Meaning

The song "Sleepwalker" by Blackchords is a powerful expression of an individual's struggle with feeling disconnected from their surroundings and their own truth. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who feels like they are sleepwalking through life, with no real sense of purpose or connection to the world around them. They are numb to the world and caught in a daze, but they eventually realize that they need to wake up and take control of their life.

The chorus, "I Get Up," represents the moment of awakening, where the individual decides to take action and break free from the cycle of complacency that they have been stuck in. But even as they wake up, they still feel like they are living in a world that is not their own. The lines "And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole / And we turned out the lights and closed the door" suggest that they have been numbing themselves with drugs or other distractions, trying to escape the reality of their situation.

Ultimately, the lyrics of "Sleepwalker" speak to the universal struggle of feeling lost and disconnected in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and confusing. The song encourages listeners to wake up and take control of their lives, even when the way forward is not clear.

Line by Line Meaning

I was sleepwalking, I was in a daze, numb to this place
I was wandering around without any real direction, feeling disconnected from my surroundings.

We were feeding from stale white lights you were full of praise
We were relying on artificial, dull sources of light and you were overly complimentary and optimistic about it.

We were living off borrowed time I was full of lies.
We were existing in a state of limbo, relying on borrowed moments to keep us going, while I was hiding behind dishonesty.

And we swallowed the blue, the blue pill whole
We accepted our current reality, even if it meant ignoring the truth or choosing ignorance.

And we turned out the lights and closed the door
We shut ourselves off from the outside world, pushing away potential danger or difficulty.

But we don't live here anymore
We have moved on from this false reality and are no longer trapped by it.

I was stationary, I was set up on the steps that night
I was motionless and stuck, sitting on the stairs that evening.

I was watching with waking fright
I was observing with intense fear and anxiety, unable to fully grasp what was happening.

A neon football scrum was taking you to ground
A chaotic and overwhelming scene was unfolding, with people moving aggressively and violently like a rugby scrum, bringing you down to the ground.

Contributed by Noah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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