“Live music has so much potential for greatness,” expresses HRVRD vocalist Jesse Clasen. “To me, a studio recording is a snapshot of where a song is at that moment, and it should always continue to evolve and take on new perspectives. Live performances are opportunities to share something unique and beautiful with your audience…I’ve always admired the artists that let their songs blossom into something new and exciting even after they’ve been recorded.”
And while HRVRD’s performances let the band explore expanded artistic grounds, one simply cannot deny the power, quality and creativity found within the Charlotte, NC-based band’s recorded material that serves as their foundation. Founded in 2004 by guitarists Lee Herrera and Jason Shaw, the band progressively evolved into a quintet of brilliantly imaginative musicians, rounded out by drummer Tim Cossor, bassist Garrett Leister and the aforementioned hypnotic frontman, Jesse Clasen. Together the band, formerly known as Harvard, released their debut EP Animals in 2008 followed by the critically acclaimed full-length album The Inevitable and I less than a year later through Enjoy The Ride Records.
HRVRD also went on to release their self-produced album Interpretations in 2010, a five-track EP of reimagined versions of songs off of The Inevitable and I, followed by a year and a half of writing for their upcoming album. In January 2012, the band returned to Salad Days Studios in Baltimore, MD to reunite with renowned producer Brian McTernan (Circa Survive, Senses Fail), who had also produced The Inevitable and I. Clasen elaborates on their decision to work with McTernan again explaining, “We record our demos with the intention of listening to them more objectively in order to make them better; however, everyone gets attached to the way the demo sounds and so rarely do we ever make revisions…Working with Brian [McTernan] again makes everyone in the band more comfortable though and ready to make those revisions. It is an environment where everyone is ready to do what it takes to enhance the songs.” Shaw adds, “Brian is amazing to work with because he expects the best out of you and is going to reciprocate that ideal in his part of the recording process. He wants every song to have an identity, which is something I personally want in the music I play…it’s nice to work with someone who’s on the same page as you.”
On the new album, HRVRD’s haunting sound blends intricate and cinematic guitar riffs with dark, passionate lyrics and powerful, driving rhythms. Effortlessly encompassing the impressive technical qualities of underground progressive-rock and experimental outfits, while remaining accessible through honest, relatable lyrics, the fusion creates a full-bodied, dreamlike ambience filled with catchy, yet sonically sinister melodies. Clasen's ethereal voice defies genres and offers vast vocal range with a wide spectrum of stylistic tones that stand out as notable without overpowering the outfit’s more than capable instrumentations. Their true talent shines not only in their ability to perfectly juxtapose driving and atmospheric elements in a complimentary manner but also in their use of those musical elements to guide and balance the lyrical storytelling.
“The most important thing we kept in mind [on the new album] was a strict “less is more” rule,” Herrera notes. “In the end, I think the songs are more mature, more heartfelt and more honest, we used all of our experiences from the first record and tried to learn from them to make a better, shorter and more focused product.” Lyrically, the new album shares a journey of intense internal struggles of the ordinary man. “It’s about the tension between positive and negative perspectives on relationships, progression, religion, and science,” Clasen expounds. “And more personally, it’s me working out who and what I love, and why.” The band will release the sophomore, full-length album through Upstate NY-based independent label Equal Vision Records later this year, with the record’s release date and details yet to be revealed.
Members:
Jesse Clasen - Vocals
Lee Herrera - Guitar
Jason Shaw - Guitar
Garrett Leister - Bass
Tim Cossor - Drums
Futurist
HRVRD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In our futures, unlimited space
Why not draw a tiny box?
It is our coffin, a skeletons reprieve
Attempting to regenerate a history we denigrate
These are things, all the things, all the things we do
With you, with you
We don't see the broken part is our heart
All that we have learned, all that we are holding
Is all burned up, it's all burned
All that we have loved, all that we have broken
In other words, other words, we do
We have been in the dark for too long
We don't see the broken part is our heart
Your missing part, your missing heart
Dress me in the clothes of tomorrow
Dress me up, dress me up, dress me up
We have been in the dark for too long
We don't see the broken part is our heart
All the seeds that grow
Are the ones you sowed
The lyrics of HRVRD's "Futurist" speak to the human desire for progress and the pursuit of a better future. The opening lines express the idea that we have advanced technology, yet we are limited by our own mortality, so why not draw a tiny box, which in essence is our coffin. The irony in this line is that our pursuit of a better future may ultimately lead to our own demise. The next line, "Attempting to regenerate a history we denigrate," suggests that we are trying to rebuild and improve on past mistakes, but we are forgetting about the importance of our own history and the lessons that we can learn from it.
The chorus repeats the idea that we have been in the dark for too long, and we fail to recognize that the broken part is our own heart. The lines that follow speak to the idea of loss and how we tend to hold onto memories and experiences even though they may be burned out. The hope for a better future is also emphasized when the singer says, "Dress me in the clothes of tomorrow," suggesting that they are ready for a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
Progessive thoughts in our cars
Innovation in our lives is great, but we are moving forward without really looking at where we're driving.
In our futures, unlimited space
The possibilities for our future are endless, but we have yet to realize the dangerous impact of our actions.
Why not draw a tiny box?
Why limit ourselves to the small space of a coffin when there is so much more we could be experiencing in life?
It is our coffin, a skeletons reprieve
The idea that our small, limited perspective of the world is like a coffin, a place where we are not fully alive or experiencing life to its fullest potential.
Attempting to regenerate a history we denigrate
We often try to recreate the past in a way that we can make more progress, but by doing so, we're actually dishonoring that history.
These are things, all the things, all the things we do
Our actions have a much larger impact than we realize.
With you, with you
Together, we contribute to the larger impact of our actions on the world.
We have been in the dark for too long
We have been blind to the true impact of our actions and have not been living up to our full potential as humans.
We don't see the broken part is our heart
Our disregard for the impact of our actions is a reflection of our own damaged hearts and souls.
All that we have learned, all that we are holding
The knowledge and information that we possess is ultimately meaningless if we do not apply it in a way that benefits society.
Is all burned up, it's all burned
We have already lost so much of what we have learned because we have not been using it effectively to make the world a better place.
All that we have loved, all that we have broken
Our love and relationships are equally in danger of being destroyed by our lack of action.
In other words, other words, we do
In the end, all of our actions and decisions are what define us as humans.
Your missing part, your missing heart
Your own lack of action and disregard for the world around you is a reflection of the hole in your own heart and soul.
Dress me in the clothes of tomorrow
We must change our attitudes and actions in order to create a better future for ourselves and future generations.
Dress me up, dress me up, dress me up
We can't keep hiding behind our current actions and ideals. We need to dress ourselves in something new and progressive.
All the seeds that grow
The choices we make and the actions we take have lasting effects on the world around us.
Are the ones you sowed
We are ultimately responsible for the impact of our actions on the world, both good and bad.
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PROPANE33A
This went so under the radar!!!
Justin Flanagan
Im feeling an Engine Down vibe in the chorus I love it!!
UnitedStatesOfCoffee
This song is badass