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."
Switch
Blackchords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a broken record I sound
When I try to explain
That I cannot explain
You photographed
Then put the picture
Up on the wall
Things could be good
Each night when I’m closing my eyes
And try to escape
I know that I
Cannot ignore
This anymore
It sounds a lot
Like a broken
Record I know
When I try to explain
That I cannot explain
Can’t switch it off
I can’t switch it off
And I wish that I could
In Blackchords' song "Switch," the lyrics explore the theme of feeling trapped and unable to escape a difficult situation. The opening lines, "Time combs through lies, like a broken record I sound" suggest that the singer is struggling to find the right words to explain themselves, perhaps because they are living a lie or struggling with a hidden truth. As the song continues, the singer describes feeling haunted by the past, represented by the photograph that is "put up on the wall". This photograph reminds them of how things could be good, but also serves as a reminder that they are not in that happy place now.
The chorus, "Can’t switch it off, I can’t switch it off, And I wish that I could" speaks to the feeling of being stuck or trapped, unable to move on from a situation they feel powerless to control. The repeated line "Like a broken record I know, When I try to explain, That I cannot explain" reinforces this feeling of being trapped, as the singer continues to find themselves unable to articulate what is troubling them.
Overall, "Switch" is a poignant and reflective song that captures the feeling of being caught in a difficult situation. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but ultimately they suggest a theme of longing for escape, and the feeling of being unable to switch off one's own thoughts and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Time combs through lies
As time passes, it uncovers the truth and reveals the deception that was once hidden.
Like a broken record I sound
I repeat the same things over and over again, like a scratched record that keeps playing the same part of a song.
When I try to explain
I attempt to make sense of the situation and convey it to others.
That I cannot explain
However, I struggle to find the right words and express the complexities of the situation.
You photographed
You captured a moment in time through a photograph.
Then put the picture
You displayed the image for all to see.
Up on the wall
You hung it up in a prominent place where it is easily visible.
It reminds me of how
The picture evokes memories and serves as a reminder of happier times.
Things could be good
It prompts the thought that things may become good again.
Each night when I’m closing my eyes
At the end of each day, when I am alone with my thoughts.
And try to escape
I attempt to avoid or ignore the problems that are troubling me.
I know that I
However, deep down I am aware that this is not a solution to my problems.
Cannot ignore
I cannot continue to pretend that these issues do not exist.
This anymore
It is time to face them head-on.
It sounds a lot
My words may be repetitive and seemingly pointless.
Like a broken
Similar to a broken record that keeps repeating the same sound.
Record I know
I am aware that I sound like this, and it frustrates me.
Can’t switch it off
I cannot turn off my thoughts or feelings, no matter how much I try.
I can’t switch it off
It is a constant presence and cannot be ignored or forgotten easily.
And I wish that I could
But despite this, I still long to be able to escape from it all.
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.