When the… Read Full Bio ↴What goes around comes around. Especially for Crash Karma.
When they roared to life with their super-powered debut album in 2010, the members of this Can-Rock dream team — singer Edwin (formerly of I Mother Earth), guitarist Mike Turner (ex-Our Lady Peace), drummer Jeff Burrows (The Tea Party) and bassist Amir Epstein (Zygote) — were musical peers with separate but equal pasts. Almost three years later to the day, with their fittingly titled sophomore album Rock Musique Deluxe, they have grown into a band of brothers with a shared musical vision they’re willing to fight for. Even among themselves.
“When we first got together, I didn’t know the guys,” says bassist and main songwriter Epstein, who set up the musical blind date that launched the band in 2008. “I wasn’t friends with them and they weren’t friends with each other — which I actually thought was kind of strange, being that they were in three of the most successful bands ever in Canada. They had crossed paths when they toured, but they weren’t super-tight. So we weren’t very comfortable in the studio. Everybody was on their best behaviour. If someone made a suggestion someone else didn’t like, there wasn’t much criticism. Nobody wanted to offend. “Since then, we’ve played together, we’ve recorded together, we’ve toured together. And we’ve become close, a bunch of buddies. We know everything about each other now — all the dark secrets. So it was a lot different in the studio. We were comfortable with one another, we were honest with one another, we were open with one another. And it was way more opinionated — ‘That sucks! Do it again!’ Instead of everybody doing what they want, we did what was best. And we all ended up making a stronger album because of it.”
That cocktail of camaraderie, confidence and creative conflict is the spark that ignites the high-octane Rock Musique Deluxe. Co-produced by the band and studio veteran Terry Brown (Rush, Max Webster, Voivod) in their Toronto hometown, the lean, muscular album takes up where previous hits like ‘Awake’ and ‘Fight’ left off and heads into new sonic terrain.
“You can tell that there’s a maturity in the band,” Edwin agrees. “It’s a step ahead, not a step back. It’s not remaking the same record. It’s a natural evolution. You could put it up against the first record, but it doesn’t sound like the first record. It sounds like a newer, fresher Crash Karma.” Also a more aggressive and progressive one. The just over 40-minutes Rock Musique Deluxe runs darker, deeper and heavier than its predecessor, thanks to Turner’s wall of serrated buzzsaw riffage and swirling flourishes, Epstein’s nimble, melodic basslines and drummer Burrows’ marriage of octopus dexterity and relentless propulsion. “We unleashed Burrows,” Epstein confirms. “If you listen to the drums, they’re ridiculous, animalistic. We kept encouraging him to give us more.” Once the drums were tracked, the musicians were compelled to follow suit, incorporating different time signatures, exotic percussion, unpredictable arrangements and atmospheric textures — the dividends paid by their newfound openness and drive.
“I always have to step back and take an audio picture of what we accomplish as a band,” Burrows says. “The sonic boom of four individuals from varied musical backgrounds creating something so powerful and to the point is amazing.”
Beneath the album’s brains and brawn, however, beats a sincere, passionate heart. In contrast to the more external perspective of their debut, this time it’s personal for lyricists Epstein and Edwin. The bulk of these 11 songs introduce protagonists standing at life’s crossroads and running emotional gauntlets. Meet the beleaguered star of the funk-flecked modern rocker “Man on Trial”. The self-recriminating anti-hero of the soaring slow-burner “Everything”. The empowering lead of the infectious first single “Tomorrow”. The protective champion of the ominous abuse-themed ‘Leave Her Alone’. All of them (and more) are personified via Edwin’s painstakingly crafted vocals, which move seamlessly from tough to tender in a single couplet.
“The way I see it,” explains Edwin, “the first record had a lot of angst and a little bit of love. This record has a lot of love and a little bit of angst. And from my perspective, the songs are more singable. We put a lot of backing harmonies on this one. On the first record, we tried not to use too many harmonies so it didn’t sound sweet and pretty. But this time, the songs really lent themselves to a diversity of harmonies. But ultimately, it’s not like we’re playing be-bop or anything. It’s still a rock album.” And at a time when real rock is in short supply, Crash Karma are proud to wear the genre on their sleeve. And their album cover.
“We’ve played shows with some bands — and I’m not going to name them — that weren’t rock bands, but were just pretending to be rock bands,” explains Epstein. “It was really irritating to see that. So our album title is just a way of just saying, ‘This is rock music. Take a listen to it, in case you forgot what it’s supposed to sound like.’ ”
Adds Edwin: “I know there’s still a lot of rock fans out there. I don’t think rock is dead. I think it will always make a revival in some form. And if we can have a part in that revival, in making it front and centre a little bit, I would be greatly honoured.”
Don’t be surprised if he gets his wish. After all, what goes around …
Energy
Crash Karma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So break through theses chains
That hold you down
Feel your heartbeat so loud
The moment is now
So leave the crowd
And go find your crown
Your life starts now
Feel the energy
I feel the energy
Breathe for the very first time
I feel the world and it's gravity
I'll live my life like it's finally mine
Let the light within you shine
Close your eyes
But not your mind
To see what's real
So much to feel
The language of these streets
The earth beneath my feet
Feel the energy
The lyrics of the song Energy by Crash Karma are about taking control of one's life, breaking free from the chains that hold one down, and discovering one's true potential. The song encourages the listener to leave the crowd and find their own path, to feel their heartbeat and the energy within them, and to live their life as if it is finally theirs.
The song speaks to the idea of self-realization and personal transformation. It encourages the listener to look within themselves, to close their eyes and open their mind, to discover what is real and to feel the energy of the world around them. The lyrics suggest that there is a language to be learned in the streets and in the earth beneath our feet, and that this knowledge can help us to find our own path and to live fully in the world.
Crash Karma's song Energy is an anthem for personal empowerment and transformation. It calls on the listener to break free from the constraints of society and to find their own way in the world. The song speaks to the idea that we are all capable of great things, and that with the right mindset and attitude, we can achieve our dreams and live the life we truly desire.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time for change
It's time for a change in one's life and situation.
So break through these chains
Overcome the obstacles and limitations that hold you back.
That hold you down
The things that are preventing you from reaching your full potential.
Feel your heartbeat so loud
Be aware of the excitement and anticipation inside.
The moment is now
It's time to take action and start making changes.
So leave the crowd
Don't follow the same path as everyone else, strike out on your own.
And go find your crown
Discover your own purpose, passion and identity.
Your life starts now
The past is behind you, the future is yours to make.
Feel the energy
Experience the excitement and intensity of the moment.
I feel the energy
The author is expressing their excitement and energy.
Breathe for the very first time
Experience the world with a sense of newfound clarity and awareness.
I feel the world and it's gravity
The author is expressing their connection to and understanding of the world.
I'll live my life like it's finally mine
The author intends to take charge of their own life, and not be held back by external factors.
Let the light within you shine
Release your unique brilliance and share it with the world.
Close your eyes
Focus solely on your inner feelings and emotions.
But not your mind
Don't shut off your intellectual curiosity, or your desire to explore the world.
To see what's real
To truly experience what is happening around you, and not just go through the motions.
So much to feel
There is a whole world of excitement and emotions to explore.
The language of these streets
The communication and connection of people in a vibrant, urban environment.
The earth beneath my feet
The physical connectedness to nature that grounds us and gives us strength to face the world.
Contributed by Kaitlyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.