By 2000, Archer and Lynch were moving the project in a darker electronic/dance direction, resulting in a self-released full length album entitled ‘Dragonfly’.
After a short hiatus from recording and a lengthy period of trial, error, and revision, and many regional live performances, Ego Likeness signed with Dancing Ferret Discs/ Noir Records for the release of 2004’s ‘Water to the Dead’. This album featured the band’s electronic roots while exploring a bit of a heavier rock
sound.
2005 saw the band tour Germany, Luxembourg, and the continental US with label mates The Cruxshadows, as well as performing at several festivals on the east and west coast, including Convergence 11 (San Diego CA), Dracula’s Ball (Philadelphia PA), Black Sun Festival I (New Haven CT), Freaks United (DC), Eccentrik Festival I (Raleigh NC), and others.
Their first album ‘Dragonfly’ was re-released on Dancing Ferret Discs in 2005.
In addition to The Cruxshadows, they have had the honour to share the stage with Voltaire, The Damned, Chris Connelly, Collide, Razed in Black, Bella Morte, Das Ich, Rasputina, The Start, Iris, Decoded Feedback, The Azoic, More Machine Than Man, In Strict Confidence, Combichrist, and many others.
They have also appeared on numerous compilation CDs, including several Asleep by Dawn releases and 'Where's Neil When You Need Him?' (a tribute to the work of author Neil Gaiman, DFD July 2006); released remixes for The Cruxshadows (Cassandra-Fortress in Flames), The Last Dance (Terribly When- Reflections of Rage), Thou Shalt Not (Inside of You, In Spite of You- The Projectionist), and Black Tape for a Blue
Girl (Tarnished- Scarecrow); and appeared on Voltaire's album Then and Again. EL has also been featured in publications such as Gothic Beauty, Outburn, ABD, Sideline and Sonic Seducer, to name a few.
Their third full length album, ‘The Order of the Reptile' (release date July 4th 2006, Dancing Ferret Discs) ventures back into the realms of heavy electronica, a bit of trip hop, and darkwave.
Archer and Lynch have been married since October of 1999 and currently live in Baltimore. Steven is also the creator of the atmospheric electronica project Hopeful Machines, and performs with the industrial/ power noise act Blind Till Now. All three members of EL, along with Alexx Lackey of echomatrix make up the experimental/ spoken word outfit The Trinity Project.
Former band mate Justin ‘Dingo’ Sabe also lives in Baltimore with a lovely belly dancer and some rather large cats. When not performing with EL, he spends his time on fire and robots and knitting, and can often be found at festivals that involve fire, robots, and/or knitting. He also plays the tuba and hopes to form a marching band in the very near future.
Current line up:
Steven Archer - Guitar/ Programming/ Music & Words/ Vocals
Donna Lynch - Vocals/ Piano/ Words & Music
Mike K. Johnson - Drums
Former members:
Justin 'Dingo' Sabe - Keytar/ Synths/ Noise
Official Site: www.egolikeness.com/
Steven also works on a solo project at www.hopefulmachines.net
Now Until Forever
Ego Likeness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While I am dreaming
Searching for you
I have a message, but you're not sleeping
I wade through deep black waters, endless deserts
Turning my eyes away
From the criminals who seek to shame me
Meet me at the crossroads
Where we will come together
And nothing else will matter
From now until forever
These things
The only way I know to tell you
Whispered in the static
Screaming through the veil
Please say
The message came through
As intended
Code deciphered and recieved
Chorus
Repeat x 6
Code deciphered
Message recieved.
Chorus repeat x 2
The lyrics of Ego Likeness's "Now Until Forever" are deeply emotional, speaking of a dream-like state of searching for someone, and the importance of communication, even when it is difficult to do so. The singer is dreaming, but they are not asleep; instead, they are searching for the person they wish to speak to. They have a message for this person, perhaps one that is difficult to convey, but despite the obstacles in their way, they push ahead. They navigate deep waters and endless deserts, using their intuition to guide them as they try to avoid those who might shame them for their vulnerability.
The chorus serves as both a plea and a promise, as the singer implores the person they seek to meet them at the crossroads, where their souls will come together in a moment of perfect unity. All else will fade into insignificance, and nothing else will matter from "now until forever." In the following verse, the singer indicates that the message they bear is one that can only be communicated through whispered codes and screams, revealing how important it is that it be sent and received as intended. The repeated refrain of "code deciphered" and "message received" underscores the importance of successful communication, especially when it comes to matters of the heart and soul.
Line by Line Meaning
This night
Tonight, in this moment
While I am dreaming
As I am asleep and in my subconscious
Searching for you
Looking for your presence or essence
I have a message, but you're not sleeping
I have something I need to communicate to you but you are not physically present or receptive at the moment
I wade through deep black waters, endless deserts
I navigate through difficult and trying circumstances and situations
Turning my eyes away
Avoiding or ignoring
From the criminals who seek to shame me
From those who wish to cause me harm, discredit or embarrass me
Meet me at the crossroads
Let us meet at a pivotal and significant point
Where we will come together
Where we will reunite and be united
And nothing else will matter
Where all other distractions, hindrances or factors become irrelevant
From now until forever
From this point forward, throughout eternity
These things
What I need to reveal or express
The only way I know to tell you
The sole method or technique of communicating effectively with you
Whispered in the static
Shared among the noise, disturbances or interruptions
Screaming through the veil
Shouted through the barrier or obstruction
Please say
I implore you to acknowledge or confirm
The message came through
You received the communication
As intended
In the manner or way that it was meant to be conveyed
Code deciphered and received
The message was successfully decoded and comprehended
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.