Their sound is a fusion of future beats, hip-hop and soul with subtler influences of Latin, dubstep and opera.
Since forming in mid 2011, Hiatus Kaiyote have already shared the bill with such acts as Stones Throw Record’s Taylor McFerrin, Warp legends Chris Clark and Harmonic 313 and sound genius Robin Fox, Brainfeeder’s Lapalux and oOoOO as well as playing bills at Woodford Folk Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and headlined at stage at the final The Bohemian Masquerade Ball.
Hiatus Kaiyote's chief songwriter is Nai Palm, who pens intricate compositions, rich with colour and mystery. With her unique honey-velvet voice, she is supported by three of Melbourne's finest and most versatile musician/producers. Keyboardist Simon Mavin, who has graced the stage with such bands such as Australia’s premier soul outfit The Bamboos, rock jazz freakout crew Whitesploitation, reggae masters The Red Eyes and funk heavyweights The Firemen. Paul Bender on bass, laptop and guitar is a graduate of Miami Florida's indie, experimental and improvised music scenes, but with a passion for stank-funk basslines. Drummer Perrin Moss is a powerhouse of beats both jilted and slick and an experienced MC, producer, percussionist and turntabilist and is the former frontman of ten piece Blue Mountains hip-hop band Jumbledat, Perrin has collaborated with other crews such as Thundamentals.
In their short time as a band they have fused a unique sound held together by Nai Palm's smoke drenched vocals and innovative melodies, Simon Mavin’s hands on knowledge of synthesizers, keyboards, Latin and jazz structures, Perrin Moss's slippery drum beats and soul clap rhythms and Paul Benders waterfall thumbs of bass guitar and sample wizardry.
Their first residency, held on Tuesdays at The Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy Melbourne was extended from 4 weeks to four months due to popular demand. They sold out The Northcote Social Club for their EP launch (April 5th 2012) and received strong turnouts at Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane and Goodgod Small Club in Sydney as part of their debut tour in aid of the release.
Nai Palm - vocals, guitar, keys
Perrin Moss - drums, percussion, electronics
Paul Bender - bass, electronics
Simon Mavin - keys, synths, electronics
http://hiatuskaiyote.com/
Swamp Thing
Hiatus Kaiyote Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aftermath of the catch
Reeling in the secrets of the swamp
A motorcade
Harrowed and dapper underneath the surface
Founded, its talons curl they come to get you boy
Howling like "uh, uh"
A toothless
Grinned swamp thing
Is lurking
Come get you
Is lusting
For your skin
Its hunger
Is climbing
Oh
Mmm
Woah, woah
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Ooh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, ooh-ooh
A willow wisp, a rum soaked ritual
Ravenous its cold stare is habitual
Send a message with fire smoldering across the lily pad
Saffron tears the sweetest you've ever had
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
A toothless
Grinned swamp thing
Is lurking
Come get you
Come close dear
I could hold you
Safe in the water
Where the pressure
Crush you like
Pestle and mortar
Kiss your fever
Sleep forever
Forever
To sleep, to sleep
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Forever, ha
Forever, ha
Forever, ha
Forever, ha
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
The lyrics to Hiatus Kaiyote's song "Swamp Thing" can be interpreted as a warning against the dangers of the unknown and the consequences of curiosity. The "swamp" can represent the unknown, and "aftermath of the catch" suggests that something has been uncovered. The "secrets of the swamp" may be dangerous and destructive. The "motorcade harrowed and dapper underneath the surface" could represent the hidden dangers that lie beneath the surface of our everyday lives. The "talons curl[ing]" suggests that these dangers are ready to pounce and ensnare anyone who comes too close.
The lyrics go on to describe the "toothless grinning swamp thing" that is "lurking" and "lusting for your skin." This creature is hungry and dangerous, and its "hunger is climbing." The "willow wisp" and "rum-soaked ritual" suggest a mystical or supernatural element to the song. The "saffron tears" could be a reference to the spice's association with healing or forgiveness. The song ends with the suggestion of a choice to be made: to stay safe in the water or "kiss your fever" and "sleep forever" in the unknown.
Overall, the lyrics to "Swamp Thing" seem to caution against blindly seeking out the secrets of the unknown, for fear of the dangers that may lie beneath the surface. The song poses the question of whether the reward of discovery is worth the risk of danger and possible destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh, oh
The song begins with a series of syllables that add texture to the music.
Aftermath of the catch
The singer describes the aftermath of catching something in the swamp.
Reeling in the secrets of the swamp
The singer is metaphorically reeling in secrets from the swamp.
A motorcade
The singer sees something that reminds them of a motorcade.
Harrowed and dapper underneath the surface
The motorcade is both well-groomed and somewhat sinister.
Founded, its talons curl they come to get you boy
The singer sees something dangerous in the swamp coming to get them.
Howling like "uh, uh"
The thing in the swamp is making an animalistic, howling noise.
A toothless
The swamp creature is described as being toothless.
Grinned swamp thing
The creature is a "swamp thing," an animal that's well adapted to living in the swamp.
Is lurking
The creature is hiding in the shadows of the swamp.
Come get you
The creature poses a threat to the singer and may try to attack them.
Is lusting
The creature's desire to harm the singer is described as a kind of lust or craving.
For your skin
The creature wants to eat the singer's skin.
Its hunger
The creature's desire to feed on the singer is described as hunger.
Is climbing
The hunger is getting stronger and more urgent.
Mmm
The singer hums a quick note that adds texture to the music.
Woah, woah
The singer punctuates the end of the first verse with a series of exclamatory syllables.
A willow wisp, a rum soaked ritual
The singer describes a scene in the swamp that involves a will-o'-the-wisp (a ghostly light) and alcohol.
Ravenous its cold stare is habitual
The creature's stare is described as ravenous (voracious) and habitual (a common occurrence).
Send a message with fire smoldering across the lily pad
The singer wants to send a message with a fire smoldering on a lily pad in the swamp.
Saffron tears the sweetest you've ever had
The singer describes tears that taste like saffron, a spice known for its strong flavor.
Come close dear
The singer talks to someone who is nearby and encourages them to come closer.
I could hold you
The singer offers to hold the person they're addressing.
Safe in the water
The singer suggests that the swamp can be a safe place.
Where the pressure
The singer refers to the pressure of the water in the swamp.
Crush you like
The water's pressure is so strong that it could crush the person in the singer's arms.
Pestle and mortar
The singer uses a metaphor to describe how the water's pressure could crush someone - like a pestle crushing spices in a mortar.
Kiss your fever
The singer wants to comfort the person they're holding, who might be feeling ill.
Sleep forever
The singer suggests a kind of peaceful, eternal sleep.
Forever
The singer repeats the word 'forever' to emphasize the finality of sleep.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Naomi Saalfield, Paul Bender, Perrin Moss, Simon Mavin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind