In 2003, a three-song demo made its way overseas to Markus Acher of The Notwist. The two met at a Notwist show in Boston where they discussed their mutual love of harmoniums and Acher's newly founded label Alien Transistor. Acher personally signed Boy In Static and released Newborn in 2004, a debut album characterized by dead-of-night recording sessions, lush string ensembles, thunderous synths, and yearning vocals.
The following year, Chen and Ross formed a live band to introduce Boy In Static to worldwide audiences, supporting 13 & God (the collective of The Notwist and Anticon's Themselves) on their US and European tours. 2006 saw the completion of sophomore album Violet (Mush Records). Showcasing a stage show of combining Chen's viola and Ross's live electronic drumming, Boy In Static embarked on a tour of Japan with Lymbyc Systym, and two US tours supporting Freezepop.
In 2008, Chen and Ross returned to the studio with invigorated stage-trained vocal cords and a floor-stomping adrenaline born from months of touring. Recording was a variety show. Rickety 1960's toy pianos danced alongside 1980's synthesized drum machines. Precise viola arrangements swept over one-mic improvised drum takes. Intimate 1940's crooning floated over grand orchestral layers. Studio guests included Marc Bianchi (Her Space Holiday), Liz Enthusiasm (Freezepop), and Ulrich Schnauss. The result was 10 new songs flaunting an equal love for sonic experimentation and the verse-chorus pop structure. Candy Cigarette is slated for release in March 2009 (Fake Four Inc & Circle Into Square).
Chen has also shown interactive and sound art in various galleries around the world, including 2002's Sonata for the Unaware, a piece which generated music from video footage of Philadelphia subway commuters, "finding beauty in maddening situations" (The Guardian).
Boy In Static has shared the stage with artists such as 13 & God, Freezepop, Lymbyc Systym, Stereo Total, and Why?. Boy In Static has collaborated and been remixed by artists such as Her Space Holiday, Alias, Styrofoam, Montag, Helios, and Future Bible Heroes.
First love
Boy in Static Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With nothing left to say
Forgotten dreams about you
The sun looks new without you
It's come of age today
Let's sell our lies to shame
To keep our secrets safe
Let's fall in love with strangers
We looked our best today
With nothing left to say
Remember how we started
Naive and brokenhearted
We watched the violet fade
We looked our best today
And gave it all away
The days are breaking slower
I'll meet you when they're over
The lyrics of "First Love" by Boy in Static are a poignant commentary on the emotional dynamics of a romantic relationship. In the first two lines of the song, the singer describes a moment where they and their partner "looked our best today" with "nothing left to say". This could be interpreted as a moment where everything feels perfect, and both parties feel content in each other's presence. However, despite the image of perfection, there are hints of sadness and regret in the following lines, with the singer reminiscing about forgotten dreams and observing that "the sun looks new without you".
The next lines add to this sense of regret, with the singer suggesting that in order to "keep our secrets safe", they and their lover should "sell our lies to shame". This could be interpreted as acknowledging the fact that underneath the idealized exterior of the relationship, there are secrets and lies that need to be hidden away. In response to this, the singer suggests that the couple should "fall in love with strangers" and "reincarnate in changes", perhaps as a way of revitalizing their bond.
Later in the song, the singer reflects on the past, recalling how they and their lover started out as "naive and brokenhearted" and watched the "violet fade". The final lines of the song bring a sense of closure, with the singer noting that "the days are breaking slower" and promising to "meet you when they're over". This could be interpreted as a recognition that the relationship has come to an end, but that the singer is still holding on to hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
We looked our best today
We presented ourselves well today
With nothing left to say
We had nothing to talk about
Forgotten dreams about you
I have forgotten old aspirations about you
The sun looks new without you
The sunrise seems different without you
It's come of age today
Today is a milestone in our lives
Let's sell our lies to shame
We should confess our secrets to relieve guilt
To keep our secrets safe
We must keep hidden the things we don't reveal
Let's fall in love with strangers
We should look to form relationships with new people
Reincarnate in changes
We must adapt to changes in life
Remember how we started
We should recall how our relationship began
Naive and brokenhearted
We were emotionally vulnerable when we started this relationship
We watched the violet fade
We saw the color purple disappear
And gave it all away
We gave everything without holding back
The days are breaking slower
The days are feeling long and slow
I'll meet you when they're over
I'll see you after this difficult time
Contributed by Blake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ShutUpNtellMe
Boy in static is amazing. I usually dislike it when bands are so abstract and "artistic" but this is great. This, 65DaysOfStatic and Maybeshewill are groups I happen to respect.
nguyễn nguyệt thu
We looked our best today
With nothing left to say
Forgotten dreams about you
The sun looks new without you
It's come of age today
Let's sell our lies to shame
To keep our secrets safe
Let's fall in love with strangers
Reincarnate in changes
We looked our best today
With nothing left to say
Remember how we started
Naive and brokenhearted
We watched the violet fade
We looked our best today
And gave it all away
The days are breaking slower
I'll meet you when they're over
Keelah Se'Lai
This song is like walking in rain without an umbrella.
helenHeller01
so beautiful it kisses my soul.
armednation
great!!! ambient flashlights....
rospiltore
FAB!
slimmette
I love you, Alexander Chen.