There’s been a lot of praise and accolades over the years, from television placements to awards, but the band still had growing to do. From The Coast is Clear (2006) to We Are an Empire, My Dear (2009), In-Flight Safety was building a solid fan-base in North America, the UK and Germany. Whether it was a performance on BBC Radio in London or a SXSW showcase, the band was outwardly focused during those years, playing copious shows and making new music for their fans.
Pre-2011 In-Flight Safety was by all accounts an extrovert. In 2011, the gears shifted. John Mullane (Vocals/guitars) spent time scoring films and Glen Nicholson (Drums) went to school to study architecture. At a glance the band had a record’s worth of new material ready to go. “At the end of 2011, I listened all our demos but all I saw was trees. No forest. I called Glen and was totally honest. To me, that’s when we started working on the album – during that conversation,” says Mullane.
From this introspection, confidence and maturity, Mullane and Nicholson came together to construct Conversationalist. It was built, literally and figuratively, on the backs of thousands of conversations between Mullane and Nicholson. Inspired by contemporary bands like Wild Nothing, The Walkmen and DIIV, In-Flight Safety created an album that is true to their history, but their most adventurous and honest. “There’s a celebratory feeling in the new songs. If we have a playful side, it’s on this album,” says Mullane.
The ten tracks on Conversationalist balance the light and the dark that is In-Flight Safety. You’ve got guitar hooks that will get stuck in your head and make you want to dance all night, but the imagery is more mysterious. It can be raw and haunting, but always uplifting with rich, thoughtful production that’s anything but indie. Mixed by Gus van Go (The Stills, Hollerado) in Brooklyn NY, Conversationalist is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. There’s beauty in opposites and this record is both pragmatic and ethereal, it builds and burns, leaving you wanting more. It’s a love letter and a breakup in one album.
But even introverts need to get out. Conversationalist will be released late summer 2014 (tour dates to follow) and In-Flight Safety will head out on the road, crossing oceans and continents. It’s good to talk.
Fear
In-Flight Safety Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The city awaits you there
Or you can carry on at home
But, I know that you need it
And footsteps behind you there
But love will find you in a crowded room
Or follow you home
And all the fear, I lost in a day, love
I turned around, I turned and I saw you there
And all the fear I lost when I knew that
I'm gonna change
Cars roll on their way to work
And I recall something you said about the world
And how, love will find us in the end
Or follow us home
And all the fear, I lost in a day, love
I turned around, I turned and I saw you there
And all the fear I lost when I knew that
I'm gonna change
I'm gonna change
The song "Fear" by In-Flight Safety is a beautiful and poetic exploration of finding hope and love in the face of fear and uncertainty. The song opens with the suggestion that the listener can either go outside alone or stay at home, but the singer knows that they need to face their fears and venture out into the world. As the song progresses, we hear about the danger of walking to school alone and the anxiety of feeling like someone is following you, but the singer assures us that love will ultimately find us, whether it's at a crowded party or in the safety of our own home.
The chorus of "Fear" is particularly powerful, as the singer reflects on all the fear they have lost thanks to the support and love of someone special. When they turn around and see that person, they know that they have the strength to change and overcome their fears. The song ends with a peaceful acceptance of the world and a resolution to change for the better.
Overall, "Fear" is a beautiful and contemplative song about finding courage and hope in the midst of fear and uncertainty. It reminds us that no matter how scary and overwhelming life may feel at times, love and support are always there to guide us through.
Line by Line Meaning
You, you can go outside alone
You have a choice to go out on your own and face the world.
The city awaits you there
The city is full of opportunities and possibilities that await you.
Or you can carry on at home
You can stay in your comfort zone and not take any risks.
But, I know that you need it
I understand that you need to explore and experience new things.
Cold now and on your way to school alone
It may be cold and lonely when you're on your own journey to school.
And footsteps behind you there
You may feel like someone is following you, but you are not alone.
But love will find you in a crowded room
You may find love unexpectedly, even in a crowded room.
Or follow you home
Love may follow you wherever you go.
And all the fear, I lost in a day, love
Love can make you feel fearless and help you overcome your fears.
I turned around, I turned and I saw you there
Love can come into your life when you least expect it.
And all the fear I lost when I knew that
When I found love, I no longer felt afraid.
Cars roll on their way to work
Life goes on, and people continue with their daily routines.
And I recall something you said about the world
You may remember something someone said to you that gave you a new perspective on the world.
And how, love will find us in the end
No matter what, love will always find its way to us.
Or follow us home
Love will always be with us, even in our homes.
And all the fear, I lost in a day, love
Love has the power to make us brave and conquer our fears.
I turned around, I turned and I saw you there
Love can come into our lives when we least expect it.
And all the fear I lost when I knew that
When I found love, I no longer felt afraid.
I'm gonna change
Love can inspire us to make changes in our lives and become better people.
Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
glcinc
This is a beautiful song and video....love this band!
the Russians
It may have taken some time but this has become an absolute treasure to me.
ltflermy
Great song! My fave is still Coast is Clear :)
goglydes
The break with the little Xylophone/Chime is very nice. :)
exuu
the lil kid isnt in college yet D:
iolarah
Isn't that Central Tech in Toronto?
exuu
i no him too!! hes soo cute lol!! im so gonna bug him about this
willcaputo
guitar chords are: verse/instrumental: Bm A Em D Bm A G F#/D chorus: Gmaj7 D Em A x3 Gmaj7 D A end Gmaj7 D A
CanotSpel
@iolarah yea it is
ServantoftheKing
im the kid at 1:33