Shine On, Dexter Freebish’s first full length album in over six years, explores new sonic territory and builds on the hook laden songs of previous releases. While creating Shine On, the band was inspired by 808 drum machines, beat up synths, and their I-phone apps. Produced by The Singularity, the album ranges from the dance, heavy beat influenced “Wide Awake,” to the rock anthem “Do You Want To.” They also collaborated with Greg Wells (Katy Perry, One Republic) on the song “Save the Last Dance.”
Dexter Freebish acknowledges the power of predestination and how it had a hand in them becoming a band. “I was just looking in the Austin Chronicle and had never been in a band or called an ad,” recalls lead singer Kyle. “At the time I wasn’t really a singer except for in school chorus, though I kept notebooks of lyrics. I saw an ad that read: “Singer Wanted. Influences Bono and Sting,” and I said, “what the heck and called, and because of reading the ad I met Chris Lowe (bass, keyboards, programming) and Scott Romig (guitars, programming) and Rob Schilz (drums.) It was the first ad I ever called and it’s still the only band I’ve ever been in.”
Their determination led to “Leaving Town,” Dexter Freebish’s 1999 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year (picked from 27,000 entries), which led to a record deal with Capitol Records for the band’s 2000 full-length debut A Life of Saturdays. After exuberantly received radio play (for “Leaving Town” and “My Madonna”), heavy video play on VH1 and MTV2, and enthusiastic tours both domestic and abroad, Dexter Freebish and Capitol Records experienced a regime change that would not allow the band to obtain the attention they deserved and both parties decided to part ways.
This set-back proved to strengthen Dexter Freebish’s resolve, and the believed this was fate’s way of telling them to independently release their 2004 sophomore album, Tripped Into Divine. Pressed by producer Matthew Wilder (No Doubt) Tripped Into Divine bridged the gap between the wide-eyed wonder of unbridled youth and the contemplative fortitude of experience. The single on this album was the fan-favorite, “Prozak,” which went on to win Rock Song of the Year in 2004 in the John Lennon Songwriting contest.
After touring the world to promote Tripped Into Divine, the band decided to go on permanent hiatus in 2005. “We all needed to do other things for a while,” says Lowe. He adds, “We never officially broke up and have all remained friends. But I can honestly say, there was never any hint that we would ever put out another Dexter Freebish record. We were pretty much done.”
In early 2008, the band decided, on a whim, to play a couple of shows throughout Texas. “It just felt right playing together again,” says Romig. “Soon after that, we started writing and recording some new songs.” One of those new songs captured the attention of Electronic Arts, garnering the band’s song “The Other Side,” a spot in the Sims 3 video game.
Steve Schnur, President of Electronic Art’s Publishing Company, Artwerk, comments, “I was in awe of the talent that Dexter Freebish exemplified when I first signed them to a record deal and these feelings have not changed. Ten years ago, I signed them to Capitol Records because of their incredible songwriting and performance abilities and ten years later I’m still working with them for the exact same reasons. The songs that they write are timeless.”
Lowe comments, “It’s crazy to look back to the days when we were on Capitol and how much money the labels would waste to record albums. With modern technology, it is so much easier and cheaper to record an album these days.” Romig adds, “We laugh because recording and mixing this new album cost less than 1/2% of our budget for the albums we made on Capitol. This is a great thing for independent artists and brings power to the people.”
Spotlight
Dexter Freebish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A temporary touch
Feeling so ashamed, don't wanna take the blame
Thinking it's too much
So now you've had a taste of what it's like to be
Sitting in the spotlight or would you rather be
In someone else's shoes not knowing who you are
But it's not the end of the world quite yet
And all of these things will get better I bet
Who do you believe now that you're in the spotlight
What do you choose to do
You come in throught the side door, people always want more
What are you gonna do
'Cause you're the one they want so keep 'em on their knees
Keep them asking please please please
They're eating from your hands, you make them understand
What it is to bleed
So now you've had a taste of what it's like to be
Sitting in the spotlight or would you rather be
In someone else's shoes not knowing who you are
But it's not the end of the world quite yet
And all of these things will get better I bet
Who do you believe now that you're in the spotlight
What do you choose to do
You come in through the side door, people always want more
What are you gonna do
But it's not the end of the world quite yet
And all of those things will get better I bet
Who do you believe not that you're in the spotlight
What do you choose to do
You come in through the side door, people always want more
What are you gonna do
Who do you believe now that you're in the spotlight
What do you choose to do
You come in throught the side door, people always want more
What are you gonna do
Now that your life is through
the eyes of the public, the pressure is on to maintain the image that you have created in that spotlight. You're the one they want, the one who can give them what they need - a brief moment of escape, a chance to see their dreams in someone else's shoes. But at what cost? You're ashamed of what you've become, and you don't want to take the blame, but you can't escape the reality of your situation. You can either embrace the spotlight or try to hide from it, but you can't deny the feeling that it's all too much.
In the chorus, the singer examines both sides of the situation - the glamour and attention of the spotlight, as well as the burden of living up to the public's expectations. The main question seems to be: Who do you believe? When you're in the spotlight, everyone has an opinion about you, but whose opinion really matters? What do you choose to do with the power you have been given - to use it for your own benefit, or to help those who look up to you?
Overall, "Spotlight" is a thought-provoking examination of fame and celebrity, speaking to the pressures and responsibilities that come with being in the public eye.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the one they want so give them what they need
You are the center of attention and people have expectations of you. You need to meet those expectations to maintain this attention.
A temporary touch
The attention you receive is fleeting and will not last forever.
Feeling so ashamed, don't wanna take the blame, Thinking it's too much
You feel overwhelmed by the expectations placed on you and unsure of how to handle them. Failure to meet these expectations will lead to guilt and shame.
So now you've had a taste of what it's like to be Sitting in the spotlight or would you rather be In someone else's shoes not knowing who you are
Being in the spotlight is both a blessing and a curse. You have an opportunity to define yourself, but with that comes intense pressure.
But it's not the end of the world quite yet And all of these things will get better I bet
Despite the difficulties of being in the spotlight, things can improve and you have a chance to persevere.
Who do you believe now that you're in the spotlight What do you choose to do You come in throught the side door, people always want more What are you gonna do
With this newfound attention, people will expect more from you. You need to decide how to handle these expectations and what kind of person you want to be in the spotlight.
'Cause you're the one they want so keep 'em on their knees Keep them asking please please please They're eating from your hands, you make them understand What it is to bleed
You have power over those who pay attention to you, but that power comes with responsibility. You can use it to make others understand and empathize with you.
Now that your life is through
The song ends with a line that seems out of place given the rest of the lyrics, but it adds to the idea that being in the spotlight is not all it's cracked up to be. Even once your time in the spotlight is over, you may still be faced with the consequences of how you handled it.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHARLES RICHARD II MARTIN, CHRIS DALE LOWE, ROB SCHILZ, ROB MICHAEL KYLE, SCOTT E ROMIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind