Castlebeat's musical journey took shape during his high school years, beginning with guitar playing and later transitioning to music composition. The discovery of Garageband on his laptop ignited his passion for writing and recording indie rock. A diverse array of musical influences shaped his artistic sensibilities, including contemporary acts such as Wavves, Beach Fossils, and FIDLAR, as well as classic bands like Joy Division, The Cure, and The Chameleons.
In 2016, Castlebeat unveiled his debut self-titled album, "Castlebeat," a collection characterized by its melancholic pop melodies. All the tracks on the album were meticulously crafted in Hwang's own garage, a testament to his DIY ethos and resourcefulness.
Castlebeat's distinctive sound is marked by home recording and production, often guided by intuitive decisions rather than formal training. Notably, he relied heavily on a cream-colored American Stratocaster for guitar parts, occasionally introducing subtle effects like light distortion and compression pedals. Throughout his creative process, Castlebeat harnesses Logic Pro for sound design, seamlessly integrating both stock and third-party plugins. This approach culminates in a distinct sonic identity, characterized by reverb and effects that blend seamlessly with pop-infused melodic concepts.
The release of Castlebeat's album "Half Life" on July 27, 2022, marked a significant milestone. Reflecting a year and a half of work, the album revisits his earlier sound while incorporating expanded elements. The album boasts an eclectic range of styles, from bedroom pop and dream pop to alternative rock of the 2000s and post-punk shoegaze.
Rope
CASTLEBEAT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that i'm going away
everybody is okay
what you don't know
is so elementary
is it going very fast
when you're falling on your last gas
maybe next time we can hold on
and eventually
the sun in the sunset
you're starting to forget
the turning of summer
game over you're upset
the signs in the hallway
the car in the driveway
these kids have it made up
the fire the madness
oh, it's so slow
but i hope
life will flow away
oh, it's so slow
but i know
life's a rope away
oh, it's so slow
but i hope
life will flow away
oh, it's so slow
but i know
life's a rope away
The lyrics of CASTLEBEAT's "Rope" appear to depict an individual in the midst of the precarious experience of feeling lost and out of control, yet somehow still holding out hope for things to improve. The opening lines suggest that the singer is accepting of their own departure, and that everyone around them seems to be fine with it. But the line "what you don't know is so elementary" suggests that there is something deeper going on here, something that might be easily overlooked or underestimated. The mention of "falling on your last gas" and the idea of holding on for next time suggest that the singer is facing some kind of struggle or hardship, but still has faith that there is a way forward.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more fragmented and impressionistic, painting a series of disconnected images and sensations that seem to reflect the singer's inner turmoil. There are references to the passing of time ("the turning of summer"), feelings of disappointment and frustration ("game over you're upset"), and a sense of dislocation or disorientation ("the signs in the hallway / the car in the driveway"). But even as these images are presented, there is a sense that the singer is starting to lose touch with them, that they are slipping away like the "sun in the sunset" that is "starting to forget." And yet, despite all of this, the final lines of the song seem to offer a glimmer of hope - that life might still find a way to "flow away" or that the rope that connects us to the world might still be within reach.
Overall, "Rope" seems to be a song about grappling with the complexities of life and trying to hold onto something in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. The lyrics appear to reflect a kind of ambivalence - on the one hand, there is a sense of resignation and sadness, but on the other hand there is a persistent desire to keep moving forward and find a way out of the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind when you say
I am not bothered by your words
that i'm going away
that I am leaving
everybody is okay
everyone else is doing fine
what you don't know
there are things you are unaware of
is so elementary
they are very basic and simple
is it going very fast
are things moving quickly
when you're falling on your last gas
when you are running out of energy
maybe next time we can hold on
we can try to remain attached in the future
where we're going isn't far
our destination is not too distant
and eventually
eventually, at some point
the sun in the sunset
the sun setting in the evening sky
you're starting to forget
you are beginning to lose the memory of
the turning of summer
the transition from one season to another
game over you're upset
it is the end and you are bothered
the signs in the hallway
the symbols in the corridor
the car in the driveway
the automobile parked outside
these kids have it made up
these children have their plans figured out
the fire the madness
the passion and craziness
oh, it's so slow
it feels like time is moving very slowly
but i hope
despite that, I still have hope
life will flow away
life will keep moving forward and passing by
but i know
I understand that
life's a rope away
one's life can end at any moment, like a rope suddenly breaking
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@juliandavid5890
I don't mind when you say
That i'm going away
Everybody is okay
What you don't know
Is so elementary
Is it going very fast
When you're falling on your last gas
Maybe next time we can hold on
Where we're going isn't far
And eventually
The sun in the sunset
You're starting to forget
The turning of summer
Game over you're upset
The signs in the hallway
The car on the driveway
These kids have it made up
The fire the madness
Oh it's so slow
But i hope
Life will flow away
Oh it's so slow
But i know
Life's a rope away
@francescasoro8984
When I see those happy people I really wanna live in the 80‘s with those crazy hair, colorful clothes and some nice music
@Salamander676
It’s all just marketing lol. Must have been more convincing back then because of the cheesiness
@francescasoro8984
true tho
@Salamander676
Kecka_ S https://youtu.be/RYbe-35_BaA
Watch this video. It does feel like an 80s movie a bit haha, the one major difference I noticed was that people were more social and attentive to one another back then because no one had cell phones yet!
@asixtelevision
You are still on time, dude.. everything is completely identical to how it is today ... the only thing that changed was a bit of fashion and at some point the implementation of the Internet ... but as such not much has changed . I have relatives (adults) who still dress that way and I also have many groups of friends who like to dress like this and nobody says anything to them (at most they think they are hipsters) ah and they also continue to listen to the same music from that era (well, rather it depends on the person), for example, castlebeat has all that feeling of being something "old" but no, it is something quite updated ...
This is happening in a nutshell ... I don't understand why to feel nostalgic for a moment that is happening right now.
@lofi_bonsai
@@asixtelevision well said
@valoriewatson8515
I love the use of these commercials as a music video very nostalgic
@blueshirt725
You mean very lazy 😂
@ashyxt
I want to live in the 80's forever
@afroatheist-isnowafroantit6154
I want to cry. The '80's. 😭😭