www.fictionist.com
Fictionist has long been a secret of Utah’s music sce… Read Full Bio ↴www.fictionist.com
Fictionist has long been a secret of Utah’s music scene. The band boasts six members which permits them a dynamic and intriguing orchestration. Their unique sound derives from classic and modern rock, jazz, psychedelia, and even classical and folk music traditions. Their songs are honest, organic and graceful, with ear-catching textures and accessible yet atypical arrangements.

Since the band’s first album, Invisible Hand, they’ve worked tirelessly towards the most energetic and deliverable live performances around. Their live show has been described as “a menagerie of sounds, rhythms and tempos which enabled the listener a twisting, turning musical journey.” (groovinatthegrind.com)

Lasting Echo, the group’s second full-length effort to date, was recorded and engineered by Utah’s super-producer-extraordinaire Scott Wiley. After creating something truly universal, organic and heartfelt, Wiley and the band walked out of the studio to deliver their labor of love to the world in order to leave a lasting impression.

"Always," the album’s opener sets the tone for what’s to come—shrilling guitars, big drums, and a huge bass sound. Songs "Blue Eyed Universe" and "Strangers in the Dark" deliver very catchy pop qualities, ripped apart by Wilco-like guitar solos to achieve a sound that is both approachable and genuine. "Suffering Angel" and "Have Mercy" show us even more of the musicianship this band has to offer through vocal melodies and harmonies that would make Midlake swoon.

There are moments when singer Stuart Maxfield strays from his baritone croon and lets his inner “Robert Plant” shine with the class of a true gentleman, usually holding back until it is truly necessary (like in "Sunshine of a Shell"). Each song on Lasting Echo is a finely crafted and often romantic piece of art - this album is every bit as ambitious as it sounds.

The band followed the release of Lasting Echo with a large national (and even a bit international) tour that took them to festival stops at the Canadian Music Festival and SXSW, as well as famous venues such as Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, California and Mohawk in Austin, Texas.

Currently the band has adopted a unique strategy by releasing a new track each month specifically aimed at interacting with current fans and creating an opportunity to engage new music lovers alike.

Fictionist has proved time-after-time that they can create accessible and lovable art as well as maintaining a sound and heart that completely sets them apart from the typical indie-rock act. Fictionist is a band going somewhere and you should go with them.

Swept Away
Fictionist Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The flood come rushing down the canyon
But we didn't run for higher ground
Took a deep, deep breath and reached for your hand
And we were down, down, down
Ride until we reach the ocean
We're gonna ride until we reach the sea
With the planets we've been set in motion
Feel the gravity

I was swept away
Yeah, you were swept away
Not knowing what would follow
I was swept away
Yeah, you were swept away
And now it's sink or swallow
And now it's sink or swallow
I found myself in the city
High above and looking down
When she speaks it sounds like rushing water
And I am lost in sound
I was swept away
Yeah, you were swept away
Not knowing what would follow
I was swept away
Yeah, you were swept away
And now it's sink or swallow
And now it's sink or swallow
I was swept away
You were swept away
Not knowing what would follow
I was swept away
Yeah, you were swept away

And now it's sink or swallow
And now it's sink or swallow

Overall Meaning

In the song "Swept Away" by Fictionist, the lyrics describe a couple who faces a flood but decides to stay together rather than run to higher ground. They take a deep breath, hold hands, and ride the flood until they reach the ocean. The imagery of being "swept away" is used throughout the song to describe both the physical experience of the flood and the emotional experience of being overwhelmed by love. The lyrics suggest that the couple is willing to take risks and face the unknown together because their love has set them in motion like the planets. The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's individual experience: he finds himself in the city, high above, and hears a woman speaking in a way that sounds like rushing water. The singer is lost in the sound, swept away by his own emotions. The repeated line "now it's sink or swallow" suggests that the singer is faced with a choice: to be overwhelmed by his emotions or to face them and move forward.

The song "Swept Away" is a powerful exploration of the experience of being overwhelmed by emotion and choosing to face it head-on rather than run away. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery that helps to capture the feeling of being swept away, both literally and emotionally. The song is also notable for its use of repetition, particularly in the repeated phrase "swept away." This creates a sense of momentum and urgency that adds to the emotional impact of the song. Overall, "Swept Away" is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of the human experience of being overwhelmed by love and emotion.

Line by Line Meaning

The flood come rushing down the canyon
A flood is rapidly descending the canyon

But we didn't run for higher ground
Despite the danger, we didn't try to escape to safer land

Took a deep, deep breath and reached for your hand
We held hands and braced ourselves for what was to come

And we were down, down, down
We were carried away by the powerful floodwaters

Ride until we reach the ocean
We're going to ride the flood until it reaches the sea

We're gonna ride until we reach the sea
We're determined to keep going until we reach the ocean

With the planets we've been set in motion
The natural forces of the universe are propelling us forward

Feel the gravity
We are being pulled towards our destination by a force greater than ourselves

I was swept away
I was overcome by the floodwaters and carried away

Yeah, you were swept away
You also were carried away by the flood

Not knowing what would follow
We had no idea what would happen next