There are two bands going by the name Cinematic Sunrise:

1) One migh… Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands going by the name Cinematic Sunrise:

1) One might think that juggling two bands - and two different touring schedules, for that matter - as Craig Owens and Bradley Bell do with Chiodos and Detroit, Michigan's Cinematic Sunrise, would cause some major headaches. Fortunately, the pair's pop-rock project is strictly about having a good time and making music that is innocent and fun to play. "Basically, the whole idea - everything about Cinematic Sunrise - is just happy and fun. And there's nothing more fun than coloring," explains vocalist Craig Owens about the decision to include a coloring book with their aptly titled debut EP A Coloring Storybook and Long Playing Record, illustrated by Rob Dobi.

Owens certainly has a point, and he and his band mates capture that carefree pop sound in their music. The project is rounded out by Bradley Bell (keys), Bryan Beeler (guitar), Marcus VanKirk (bass) and Dave Shapiro (drums). "With Cinematic Sunrise, it's just more smiles," explains Owens of the main difference between their sound and Chiodos', for which he fronts and Bell plays keyboard. "To me, it's just good-time music," says Bell. "A soundtrack to a party... it's music for a wide audience, so I really hope a lot of people can appreciate it and understand what we're doing."

Bell and Owens enjoy the outlet Cinematic Sunrise gives them from the harder, more angsty sound of Chiodos - even if the band first began on somewhat of a whim. When Chiodos had completed writing their full-length debut, All's Well That Ends Well (2005, Equal Vision Records), most of the band were burned out on the creating process. Owens, however, still felt like he had songs he needed to get out. He assembled a group of friends from around his hometown in the Detroit area, never planning to make much of his new project other than having an energizing release mechanism. Fast-forward a couple years, and most of the lineup has changed (Beeler is the lone holdout from the original crew) and the group have completed a six-song EP.

The members' candor and happy-go-lucky attitude come through in the music, however that doesn't mean the band don't take themselves seriously. While Cinematic Sunrise is definitely an outlet from Chiodos, the band considers it a full project. "I think we're really lucky that we have that Chiodos fan base to begin with," explains Beeler. "Not too many bands have that. I like to think the music speaks for itself, and it doesn't sound like Chiodos. If there was screaming and breakdowns, I could understand people calling us 'Chiodos 2'. But we're two totally different bands with totally different sounds."

The band's debut EP, A Coloring Storybook... was recorded by the band in Beeler's home studio. "I'd produced a lot of local bands before, but this is the first time I did my own band," says Beeler of his responsibility helming the recording. "I found that it was a lot different because I was extremely hard on myself. There were some songs where I re-did guitar tracks three or four times because I went back and just didn't like the tone. After locking myself in my parent's basement for three months, I think the product came out really good."

The arrangements range from pretty ("You Told Me You Loved Me") to more driving ("Pulling a Piano From a Pond"), but they definitely remain "rock" songs, laced with catchy melodies and hooks that will likely remain in your head for days at a time.

"My favorite [song] is 'Goodbye Friendship, Hello Heartache,'" adds Owens. "I just absolutely am in love with the song. [Also,] I really, really love 'You Told Me You Love Me,' because I can't wait to perform that live. Music has always been a therapy, so being able to perform that live is just going to be great."

All the members of Cinematic Sunrise collaborated on the music-writing process, often sending files back and forth over the internet and taking turns working with pieces in the studio. Owens, as with Chiodos, composes the lyrics. It is well-known that he incorporates literary influences and daily observations into that band's lyrical content, though with Cinematic Sunrise, he remains a bit more vague, preferring to let listeners decide for themselves what the songs are saying. "My favorite thing about lyrics is that people are able to interpret them for themselves," he explains. "People can say they're about relationships, and maybe they are, but sometimes they're about different relationships than they think: Friendships or even situations - like relationships to careers, to everything."

With an EP under their belts and plans for a full-length in 2009, this band of best friends (VanKirk and Owens are roommates; Owens and Bell have played together since high school; Shapiro is Chiodos' booking agent) plan to tour as much as possible for the rest of the year. The band has booked a headlining run during the second half of May 2008 with My American Heart and Daphne Loves Derby along for support. They are also scheduled to appear on a week's worth of dates in July on the Vans Warped Tour and are starting to arrange their fall touring schedule, as well.

When asked to explain to fans - both new and old - what sets Cinematic Sunrise apart from other bands operating in today's scene, Owens is humble. "You know, maybe there's nothing that sets us apart," he begins, "but we're genuinely just five best friends who love each other and are just having a good time, not trying to be big; not trying to get anything. So many people just want so much more out of it, and musically, I'm not sure there's too much that sets us apart. But the actual motivation behind it, I think, is definitely what sets us apart because we're looking for nothing but to have a great time with each other."

2) A band of unknown composition creating movie like electronic landscape music released 6 compilation albums in short succession in the beginning of 2022.

Crossing Our Fingers For The Summer
Cinematic Sunrise Lyrics

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Winter's come,
Now I'm cold,
Singing along to this courtesy call,
A reminder that the season is near.
The wait's now over.

As I follow the skyline,
A familiar melody takes my breath away,

In time, the lights and the street signs show me,
I know I'm where I belong.

I wake up to
A mental feeling that I once knew.
Winter's passing as I slumber,
Crossing our fingers for the summer.

And I know that each night must end,
But with our eyes, maybe we'll just pretend
This weather could last forever
No need for saying goodbye.

As I follow the skyline,
A familiar melody takes my breath away,
In time, the lights and the street signs show me,
I know I'm where I belong.

I wake up to
A mental feeling that I once knew.
Winter's passing as I slumber,
Crossing our fingers for the summer.

We spent our nights searching for this,
A star to turn into a wave,
And I,
I think that we can make it rain

I wake up to
A mental feeling that I once knew.
Winter's passing as I slumber,
Crossing our fingers for the summer.
I wake up to
A mental feeling that I once knew.

Winter's passing as I slumber,
Crossing our fingers for the summer.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cinematic Sunrise's "Crossing Our Fingers For The Summer" is a nostalgic and wistful ode to the changing of the seasons. The song opens with the lines "Winter's come, Now I'm cold", which establishes the setting and mood for the rest of the song. The singer is feeling the chilly grip of winter and is pining for the warm embrace of summer. The following lines, "Singing along to this courtesy call, A reminder that the season is near," suggest that the character is listening to a song that serves as a reminder that summer is on its way. The phrase "courtesy call" could refer to the change in seasons that is expected and anticipated each year, much like receiving a phone call from a friend.

As the song progresses, the singer finds comfort in following the skyline and recognizing familiar melodies that take their breath away. The "lights and the street signs" not only guide the character but also serve as a metaphor for finding a sense of direction in life. The lines "I know I'm where I belong" suggest that the singer feels at home in the world when they are in tune with their surroundings and in sync with the rhythm of life.

The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "Crossing our fingers for the summer," which can be interpreted as a hopeful message that better times are on the horizon. The character reminds themselves that even though each night must end, they can still live in the present moment and enjoy the present season. The bridge of the song introduces the idea of the character searching for a star to turn into a wave, which could be a metaphor for their quest for finding their place in the world. Ultimately, the song captures the longing for change and hope for the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Winter's come,
The arrival of winter season.

Now I'm cold,
The feeling of being cold in winter.

Singing along to this courtesy call,
Singing to a song that reminds us of the coming winter season.

A reminder that the season is near.
The song is a reminder of the approaching winter season.

The wait's now over.
Winter season has arrived.

As I follow the skyline,
Observing the sky and its surroundings.

A familiar melody takes my breath away,
A familiar tune that captivates us.

In time, the lights and the street signs show me,
The street signs and lights guide us to where we belong.

I know I'm where I belong.
We have finally reached our desired destination.

I wake up to
We wake up to a particular feeling.

A mental feeling that I once knew.
A feeling that is familiar to us.