The would-be next album, "Dear Tommy" (2016), was scrapped, and was meant to be re-worked for a subsequent release, however the fate of album is unclear, as on August 10, 2021, Ruth Radelet, Adam Miller and Nat Walker announced the breaking up of Chromatics. Later that day the label, Italians Do It Better, and Johnny Jewel's representative, also confirmed the breakup. Their last album is "Closer to Grey" (2019), which has a companion album, "Faded Now" (2020).
The band originally hailed from Seattle and formed in 2002 as a quartet featuring vocalist Adam Miller, drummer Hannah Blilie, guitarist Devin Welch, and bassist Michelle Nolan. That lineup debuted in 2002 with a Calvin Johnson-produced 7" on Gold Standard Laboratories -- a split with Die Monitr Batss -- and followed with the similarly GSL-issued Chrome Rats vs Basement Ruts LP.
While Chrome Rats was critically hailed, Chromatics couldn't keep it together, and Miller was soon the only member in good standing (Blilie, Welch, and Nolan went on to form the similar-sounding Shoplifting). Unworried, Miller added guitar and drum programming to his vocal duties and tapped bassist Nat Sahlstrom for the 2003 GSL 7" Ice Hatchets. That was followed by the February 2004 full-length Plaster Hounds (which featured the percussion work of Get Hustle's Ron Avila), and a repositioning of the Chromatics axis to greater reflect its dub and no wave influences.
This lineup too dissolved and Adam Miller relocated Chromatics to Portland, teaming up with Glass Candy's Johnny Jewel, Ruth Radelet on lead vocals, and Nat Walker on percussion and saxophone. The new lineup of Chromatics had a more lo-fi electronic sound as opposed to the earlier dub and no-wave sounds.
Camera
Chromatics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But sometimes life becomes too real
I want to see the things
In my heart I know I feel
I'd rather stay in my head
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
But I know I'll see you soon
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
I want to be with you
But sometimes life becomes too real
I want to see the things
In my heart I know I feel
When you turn me off at night
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
The lyrics to Chromatics' song "Camera" express a yearning for a deeper connection with a loved one, in the face of the harsh realities of life that can sometimes get in the way. The singer wants to be with their significant other, but acknowledges that life can be difficult, and as such retreats into their own headspace. They long to feel the emotions that they know they hold within their heart, but are struggling to reconcile these feelings with the reality of their situation. The repeated refrain "Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime" seems to underscore this longing for a sense of release from the pain and discomfort of everyday life.
This sense of disconnection is reinforced by the reference to the camera in the title and the final lines of the song. A camera is a tool used to capture memories and moments, and yet here it is presented as a source of regret and missed opportunities. The sentiment expressed is that it is too late to turn back the clock and capture those moments that have passed. This regret points to a wider sense of disillusionment and a longing for something that has been lost or is no longer accessible.
In conclusion, "Camera" is a song that expresses complex emotions around loss, longing, and disconnection from loved ones. The lyrics suggest a yearning for a deeper connection, but at the same time acknowledge the difficulties of life and the harsh realities that can get in the way. The repeated refrain suggests a deep-seated longing for release from the pain and difficulty of life, but this release is constantly out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be with you
The singer desires to be in the company of their loved one
But sometimes life becomes too real
However, the hardships and challenges of life make it difficult for them to do so
I want to see the things
The singer yearns to witness the beauty and wonder of the world
In my heart I know I feel
Their emotions and passions are truly genuine and unfeigned
I'd rather stay in my head
To escape from reality, the artist prefers to live in their thoughts and imagination
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
During such instances, the singer imagines being close to their loved one
But I know I'll see you soon
Regardless, the singer holds hope that they will soon be reunited
Spread thin to cover, battle spread
Life's struggles are widespread, making it hard for the artist to prioritize their relationship
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
The camera symbolizes a tool that could alleviate the artist's emotional pain
Oh camera, now it's too late
However, it is now too late for such a remedy to have a meaningful effect
When you turn me off at night
The singer feels similar to when the camera is turned off, they are a stranger to themselves and others
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Adam Miller, John Padgett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@days2723
I want to be with you
But sometimes life becomes too real
I want to see the things
In my heart I know I feel
I'd rather stay in my head
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
But I know I'll see you soon
Spread thin to cover, battle spread
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
I want to be with you
But sometimes life becomes too real
I want to see the things
In my heart I know I feel
When you turn me off at night
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late.
@days2723
I want to be with you
But sometimes life becomes too real
I want to see the things
In my heart I know I feel
I'd rather stay in my head
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
But I know I'll see you soon
Spread thin to cover, battle spread
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
I want to be with you
But sometimes life becomes too real
I want to see the things
In my heart I know I feel
When you turn me off at night
Pretend that I'm lying in your arms
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late
Wouldn't you like to cure the pain sometime
Oh camera, now it's too late.
@cheesecakelasagna
Thank you for your service
@brunotavares1642
so much glamour and retro style on their songs :) My favourite band :)
@tsturtz82
One of my favorites from chromatics
@morganbrown6995
God I love this track!
@morganbrown6995
this one's been on repeat :)
@morganbrown6995
the imagery goes so well with the music
@christopherblackwell8717
I love it.
@tobyarden9756
by far my fav song from chromatics , and only song i ever liked with a voice on a wawa , and the chicks from the 80's , perfection
@nicholasgrispino2000
I'm pissed spotify doesn't have this song