What happens when dreams become real life?
The three Hume brothers of Evermore have come a long way since the release of their debut album Dreams. With over 300 live shows, an MTV Award, a NZ Music Award, the APRA Silver Scroll, five ARIA nominations, and hung a platinum record plaque on the wall of their home studio. It's a far cry from their humble beginnings in rural New Zealand, and it all culminates in their second album, Real Life.
The writing and initial recording took place in the isolation of their Central Coast abode, an isolation the boys were not only used to, but actively encouraged. Separating into different rooms, they each had their own private recording studio in miniature, working on tracks solo before bringing them together for the Evermore polish.
After two months in the warm environs of the Australian summer they leapt into the freezing winter of inland Massachusetts, USA. Actually, the term freezing is an understatement, we're talking temperatures of minus 25 degrees and below. Keeping true to their rural roots, they recorded in the oldest studio still operating in the US, Longview Farm. Artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith have all frozen their butts off there in the past. Respected engineer John Alagia (who mixed Dreams, and has worked with acts like John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band and Ben Folds) was chosen for the job for his twiddling tenacity and his striking good looks.
"I ended up doing a lot of the recording myself," explains Jon, speaking of their time at the farm. "We liked working with John Alagia because he believes in letting the artist have freedom rather than forcing ideas on to you. Plus he's a really funny guy. And when you're in the studio for months on end your sense of humor goes a little haywire!"
Allowing themselves freedom was also high on the agenda, with the two younger Humes contributing to the songwriting a lot more heavily than on Dreams. "Instead of me writing almost everything, we suddenly had three writers coming up with a lot," Jon says. "We could have made two albums simultaneously."
"Dann wrote nearly a song a day," echoes Peter. "He had over one hundred songs - which is insane! We definitely didn't have a lack of songs."
But perhaps the main difference between the two albums is in the songs themselves. From the epic energy of Running, the band's first single off the album, to the melodic harmonies of Never Let You Go; from the dynamic rock of Unbreakable to the uplifting lyrics of Light Surrounding You, this second album has seen the band's songwriting grow and diversify.
"Dreams was very atmospheric and mood-based," explains Jon. "This one jumps out of the speakers at you. The songs are more positive and sonically, it's more direct."
"Its louder and more to the point," agrees Dann. "We're going to grab people's attention, and leave them with something to think about."
With the likes of the Beatles, David Bowie and Bob Dylan on high rotation throughout the recording process, their shift to a focus on song writing seems only natural. "We've taken so much inspiration from classic songs," explains Pete. "We wanted to be sure all the tunes sounded great just played simply on a guitar, that way you know you have a great song."
"We're the kind of band that is going to change with every record," adds Jon. "We will always sound like us, but we'll utilise our strengths as three writers."
A new journey has just begun for this talented trio, whose sounds and lyrics have taught us how to dream.... Welcome to Real Life.
For Evermore management queries - info@scorpiomusic.com.au
SLIPPING AWAY
Evermore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your eyes, I see the day
Everything begins to fade
What you say, slipping slipping away
Somebody take my hand
And make me understand
Here in the light of day
Everything goes slipping away
Hard to find the words to say
Everything begins to fade
You give and then take it away
Everything goes slipping away
Higher and higher, closer each day
In my hands, time and again
Everything, slipping slipping away
Somebody take my hand
And make me understand
Here in the light of day
Everything slips away
The song "Slipping Away" by Evermore speaks about a feeling of helplessness and the realization that everything in life slowly fades away. The opening lines, "Everything goes slipping away, in your eyes, I see the day, everything begins to fade, what you say, slipping slipping away," sets the tone for the remaining verses of the song. In spite of our efforts to hold onto what is dear to us, time and circumstances slowly reduce everything to nothing.
The chorus, "Everything goes slipping away, hard to find the words to say, everything begins to fade, you give and then take it away," highlights the fleeting quality of life, how we often fail to express ourselves and how we cling to things that ultimately slip away from our grasp. The second verse, "Higher and higher, closer each day, in my hands, time and again, everything, slipping slipping away," expresses the idea that as time passes, the things we hold onto the most seems to slip away from us even faster.
Ultimately, the song makes one question the futility of human efforts to hold onto what is dear to us. The recurring theme of the song is the plea for someone to take our hand and make us understand that everything slips away, it is a universal truth of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything goes slipping away
Things and people we cherish and possess gradually lose value and disappear over time.
In your eyes, I see the day
Whenever I look into your eyes, I'm reminded that every day is a new beginning, and we should make the most of it.
Everything begins to fade
All things in life, including emotions, memories, and material possessions, lose their intensity and vibrancy over time.
What you say, slipping slipping away
The words we speak and the promises we make tend to slip away from our minds and these are often lost forever.
Somebody take my hand
The artist seeks comfort and guidance from a trusted person who can help them navigate through this difficult phase.
And make me understand
The singer wants someone to help them comprehend the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of loss.
Here in the light of day
The realization of things slipping away is more apparent in broad daylight, when everything is visible.
Hard to find the words to say
It's tough to articulate the anguish one feels when they are faced with the prospect of losing something precious.
You give and then take it away
Life can be unpredictable, and things that were once given can be taken away just as easily.
Higher and higher, closer each day
The passage of time is relentless, and each day we move closer to our inevitable destiny, as we scale greater heights in life.
In my hands, time and again
Repeatedly, the singer has held onto things that have ultimately slipped from their grasp each time.
Everything, slipping slipping away
All things in life are transient and temporary, and they tend to slip away from our grasp eventually.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL PUTTNAM, MICHAEL LAWRENCE DUNPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ash
Thanks so much for posting this video! I love this band & song so much
cheneree
I wondered if anyone else still listened to this song