It’s a feeling that comes through not only in the gauziness of the production, but also in the vulnerability of the songs themselves. Sagar began writing Helium shortly after completing Fresh Air, and in the middle of what he calls a “binge” reading of Haruki Murakami. It’s not hard to picture the narrator of these songs as a distinctly Murakamian character: He moves through time by himself, bemused by and insulated from a world he doesn’t quite seem to have been made for. Everyone Sagar encounters here — including himself — seems to be a step removed from present reality, whether by technology (“Anything At All”), solitude (“Just Like My”), or sweet fantasy (“Like Mariah”). The record is stitched together by a series of instrumental interludes, synthesizer explorations whose haziness adds to the suspicion that this is all an uncanny dream.
Which isn’t to say that Sagar is unmoored in his own world. In fact, much of Helium is the result of what he calls “a much clearer mental state” than the one he’d experienced shortly following Fresh Air’s completion. “I had a better idea of the sound that was working for this record and what it was turning into as I was writing the songs,” he says. That’s owing in part to the album’s genesis. Where his previous three records were recorded directly to one-inch tape in a local studio, Helium was recorded and mixed by Sagar alone in his apartment in Montreal’s Little Italy neighborhood between April and June of this year. Freed of the rigid editing process he’d endured before, he was able to lose himself in pursuit of tone and texture. “I didn’t have to book time, compete for good hours, wait on availability. I did a lot of it at home in the middle of the night,” he says. “It made me get more obsessive about details.”
A budding interest in ambient and experimental music — particularly Visible Cloaks, DJ Rashad, and Jlin — pushed him to tinker with the micro-sounds that surround the songs here. It’s a process he found creatively invigorating; even the tinkling boom-bap of Young Thug informs “All Night Long.” It’s a far cry from the chorus-laden guitars of his earlier work. “Ever since I started introducing synthesizers into my music, I’ve gotten more interested in texture,” he says. “I’d hit a creative dead end [with guitars], so synths took over.” The warm chords of a Roland Juno 60 form the album’s base, and gave him a clean palette with which to work. “No tape hiss, no humming power outlets and shitty mixing boards,” as he puts it. “Everything just came out nice and pure.”
Still, for all the growth it demonstrates and the ways it luxuriates in its discoveries, Helium is at its core a record that isn’t beholden to any particular set of sounds, textures, or instruments to get its point across. In that sense, it feels closer to the bone, at once assured of its vision and remarkably vulnerable. It’s perhaps our purest view yet of Homeshake’s home country.
Don't Try
Homeshake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tells me whenever you've been crying
And [?] better all the time, yeah
Spin 'round until you get a [?]
Things could be better, that's for sure
I know it's hard
But I'm never gonna be so far
Cause you'll never find a reason why (Ha)
Your [?]
Make sure you [?]
You speak and everybody claps
Tuck in your pants between your boots
Roaming [?]
I know it's hard
But I'm never gonna be so far
I know, don't try
Cause you'll never find a reason why
In Homeshake's song "Don't Try," the lyrics explore themes of emotional vulnerability and the struggles of daily life. The opening line, "The [?] tells me whenever you've been crying," suggests that the singer has an intimate connection to the subject of the song, and can tell when they are upset or hurting. The subsequent line, "And [?] better all the time, yeah," could be interpreted as the singer offering comfort and reassurance to the subject, telling them that things will improve even though they may be currently struggling.
Throughout the rest of the song, the lyrics continue to touch on ideas of personal growth and self-improvement. For example, the line "Your [?] make sure you [?]" could be viewed as urging the subject to keep their appearance and behavior in check, in order to present themselves in the best possible light. The line "Roaming [?]" is a bit enigmatic but could be interpreted as the singer encouraging the subject to explore and be adventurous in life.
Overall, the song seems to be both a message of comfort and support, and also a gentle push towards self-improvement and growth. The repeated hook "I know, don't try / Cause you'll never find a reason why" suggests that the singer understands the difficulty of life and the search for answers, but ultimately believes that growth and happiness come from within and cannot be found externally.
Line by Line Meaning
The sign tells me whenever you've been crying
The intuition inside of me can sense whenever you're upset or crying.
And you're getting better all the time, yeah
You're constantly improving and rising above your hardships.
Spin 'round until you get a little high
When you're feeling down or lost, sometimes you need to let loose and indulge to cope.
Things could be better, that's for sure
Life isn't always perfect or easy, and sometimes it's okay to accept that fact without dwelling on it.
Your haircut and your new shoes
Your appearance and material possessions don't define your worth or character.
Make sure you hide your attitude
Don't let negative thoughts or behavior dictate how you present yourself to others.
You speak and everybody claps
People will often like you or agree with what you say even if it isn't genuine or true.
Tuck in your pants between your boots
Conform to societal norms and expectations even if they don't make sense or align with your personal style or preference.
Roaming around without a clue
Feeling lost and directionless in life is a common experience, but it's important to keep moving forward and trying to find your path.
I know it's hard
Acknowledging the difficulties and challenges one faces in life.
But I'm never gonna be so far
Reassuring someone that no matter how difficult life may get, you'll always be close to them and support them through it.
I know, don't try
Advising against trying to find a deeper meaning or reason behind difficult situations.
Cause you'll never find a reason why
Sometimes there isn't a clear reason or explanation for the hardships we face, and that's okay.
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrWideballs
this is friggin awesome!
@katyjuno420
This reminds me of Ed edd n Eddy, idk why lol
@natalievillalobos9622
The music video is amazing
@starfcy
Weird how long it took someone to upload this song, cheers man
@watchvdjxigp23mrq
starfcy Hehe, cheers bro.
@darckgangrel666
The [?]
Tells me whenever you've been crying
Angry about you all the time, yeah
Spin 'round until you get a Shiner
Things could be better, that's for sure
[Chorus]
I know it's hard
But I'm never gonna be so far
I know, don't try
Cause you'll never find a reason why (Ha)
[Verse 2]
Your [?]
Make sure your brothers [?]
You speak and everybody claps
Tuck in your pants between your boots
Roaming [?]
[Chorus]
I know it's hard
But I'm never gonna be so far
I know, don't try
Cause you'll never find a reason why
@valentinayanez3495
lyrics? anybody? :c
@natalievillalobos9622
Probably not gonna happen. I emailed Peter and he politely declined to share them
@The1977Punk
So rad! If you like Homeshake, check out
Ted Duchamp - Jealous of You :)