The band, originally called Periwinkle, came together in the suburbs in 1997 when 15-year-olds Dave Rennick and Hugh Boyce were joined by Alex Moore and English-born Tim Derricourt. The line-up has occasionally expanded on stage to include keyboardists Mark Bradshaw and later Ned Cooke who is now a permanent member of the band.
The band played at various all ages shows and charity benefits until they reached legal age to play in the licensed venues which are the focus of Sydney's live rock scene. The band members moved to the inner suburbs of Sydney and after various name changes settled on Dappled Cities Fly, chosen because its inappropriateness as a band name made them laugh at the time although the band 'have regretted it ever since'. Their frequent live shows drew a regular following of fans and the band became popular supporting international acts touring eastern Australia.
The band also regularly headline their own shows, very often at the Hopetoun Hotel, with bills showcasing new local groups.
Dappled Cities Fly have enjoyed and helped foster the revival since 2000 of Sydney's live music scene and the opening of several new venues. The band have made several extensive tours of Australia and toured New Zealand in 2004. In 2006 the band performed in London and at various shows in the United States, including SXSW.
Dappled Cities Fly's several early single and EP releases were critically well received and played Australia-wide on various radio stations. Their first album, A Smile, after several years in the making, was released in late 2004 and featured as album of the week on radio stations FBi and Triple J, in most of the Sydney street press and in various other media. Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bernard Zuel wrote of A Smile that it "weaves between lo-fi indie rock, oddly bent pop and a kind of big-emotion, big-gesture music that seems refracted through a vaguely hallucinogenic mirror".
Their second album Granddance was recorded at various studios in Los Angeles, California. The album's cover artwork is noteworthy in having the band's name as just "Dappled Cities", minus the word "Fly"; however as Tim Derricourt explained to The Drum Media magazine, this was done mainly for artistic reasons, and does not amount to a formal name change for the band.
The band recorded a cover version of "November Rain" with local Sydney band Red Riders, a song which the two bands played together when they toured in 2007. They have also dropped the "Fly" from their moniker, simply calling themselves "Dappled Cities", though the band remains elusive as to why they have truncated the name.
On February 27th, 2008, a bulletin was posted on the band's myspace announcing that Hugh Boyce had left the band to pursue a career in bio-mechanical engineering. In the following months, the band announced the arrival of their new drummer, Allan Kumpulainen.
Colour Coding
Dappled Cities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seemed a digital incarnation of a life
And empty house dug foot holes ascending up my spine
But in your house
We gave our fantasies
Exchanged for currency
A valid colour code to blanket our natural feelings
I was the only man to return alive
Because in your house we gave our colour codes
Exchanged for clouded oaths
That made me feel at ease without giving up an apology
Did you ever try to find your colour code?
Did you ever try...
The lyrics of Dappled Cities's song Colour Coding seem to be exploring the idea of conformity and how it affects people's individuality. The first few lines talk about feeling guilty for following the teachings of someone who is "nice," which could represent societal expectations or pressure to conform to certain ideals. The mention of a "digital incarnation" could signify how people try to present themselves as perfect online instead of embracing their flaws in real life. The line "an empty house dug foot holes ascending up my spine" paints a vivid image of the weight of this conformity physically weighing down on someone.
However, the chorus introduces a new element to the song: the idea of a "colour code." This could symbolize the different ways people try to fit in, whether it be through dressing a certain way or adopting a particular personality. The exchange of this "valid colour code" for currency represents the idea that people are willing to give up their true selves to gain social standing or acceptance. The line "that made me feel at ease without giving up an apology" suggests that while conforming may make us feel more comfortable, we may also feel like we're betraying ourselves in the process. The final lines of the song pose a question to the listener, asking if they've ever tried to find their own "colour code" and be true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Being so guilty the teachings of Mr Nice
Feeling guilty for following the teachings of Mr. Nice
Seemed a digital incarnation of a life
Seemed like a virtual representation of life
And empty house dug foot holes ascending up my spine
Feeling empty and restless, as if holes were being dug up one's spine
But in your house
However, in the other person's house
We gave our fantasies
We shared our deepest desires and dreams
Exchanged for currency
Traded them for money or material possessions
A valid colour code to blanket our natural feelings
A way to hide and suppress our true emotions with a socially acceptable facade
I was the only man to return alive
Referring to the artist as the only one who managed to keep their true self intact
Because in your house we gave our colour codes
Attributing the ability to keep one's true self to being in the other person's presence
Exchanged for clouded oaths
Traded for empty promises and false loyalty
That made me feel at ease without giving up an apology
Providing a false sense of security without having to apologize for suppressing one's true self
Did you ever try to find your colour code?
Asking if the listener has ever tried to hide their true self behind a facade
Did you ever try...
Continuing the question from the previous line
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@robertmclean5356
Pretty sure this was first pulled out at the Annandale late 2000s? Love it.