Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Islands is a 6 piece band founded in 2005 by The Unicorns co-founder/songwriter Nick Thorburn (often performing as "Nick Diamonds") and drummer J'Aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of The Unicorns as they teetered on the brink of breaking through, Islands' debut release entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies includes collaborations with members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. This debut picks up where The Unicorns left off and takes the music to new heights without departing from The Unicorns' unique if sometimes peculiar appeal.
Islands plays beautiful pop melodies, intertwined with elements of afro-pop, hip hop, and indie rock, among others. One of the main gimmicks of the band is the recorder brought over from The Unicorns, which is prominently featured in the song "Jogging Gorgeous Summer." Nick Diamonds rules over the band with an iron fist. Other members include: Patrice Agbokou, Aaron Harris, Alex Chow, Sebastian Chow, and Patrick Gregoire. Return To the Sea, their rookie effort, was released on April 4th, 2006 on the brand new label, Equator Records, and Rough Trade in the UK. Digital Distribution handled by Alpha Pup.
On May 20, 2008, Islands released its second album, Arm's Way, on Anti- Records.
On September 22, 2009 Islands released their third full length album, Vapours.
On February 14, 2012 Islands released their fourth full length album, A Sleep & A Forgetting.
On September 17, 2013 Islands released their fifth full length album, Ski Mask
On May 13, 2016 Islands released their sixth and seventh full length albums, Should I Remain Here, At Sea? and Taste.
Hushed Tones
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All those colors
On that painting
Representation of
My own
Hushed tones
When you went under
Can feel the sun burn
But still got hotter
My own
Hushed tones
You know I will
I always do
Give you my love
It's all for you
When you hear thunder
You come running
Ain't it something
You come running back to me
And my own
Hushed, hushed tones
You know I will
I always do
Give you my love
It's all for you
My own
Hushed, hushed tones
Hushed tones
Hushed tones
Hushed tones
Hushed tones
You come running
Ain't that something
You come running
Into my own
Hushed, hushed tones
The song "Hushed Tones" by Islands is a melancholic track that talks about the emotional complexity of a romantic relationship. The first verse refers to a painting that was made for the singer, but despite the beautiful colors, it only represents hushed tones - the quieter and more subdued parts of the singer's emotional spectrum. This could mean that the singer feels as though their partner doesn't truly understand the entirety of their emotional experience, or perhaps that the singer is only comfortable expressing certain parts of themselves to their partner. The second verse uses water as a metaphor for the ebbs and flows of an emotional connection - the singer still feels the power of their love despite the difficulties of the relationship. The chorus repeats the singer's promise to always give their love to their partner, even in the midst of thunder and chaos.
Overall, the song is a poetic exploration of the nuanced emotions that come with loving someone deeply. The hushed tones represent the parts of ourselves that we keep hidden, but that still affect the way we interact with others. The water metaphor suggests that love is not always smooth sailing, but that true connection can still be found despite the challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
When you wasted
When you spent all of your energy and creativity
All those colors
On producing something that was vibrant and eye-catching
On that painting
In the form of an artistic work
Representation of
A reflection of
My own
My personal and intimate
Hushed tones
Feelings that are not loud or overt, but quietly expressed
When you went under
When you disappeared from sight or withdrew from the world
Beneath the water
Into a depth that is out of immediate reach
Can feel the sun burn
Still able to sense the warmth and brightness of the outside world
But still got hotter
Despite this, the inner intensity grew stronger
You know I will
You can count on me to
I always do
Consistently and without fail
Give you my love
Offer you my affection and devotion
It's all for you
Without any ulterior motives or benefit to myself
When you hear thunder
When you experience something loud and intimidating
You come running
You seek comfort and support
Ain't it something
Isn't it remarkable
You come running back to me
You return to the safety and familiarity of our relationship
Hushed, hushed tones
Our private and confidential emotional connection
Hushed tones
A recurring theme emphasizing the depth and subtlety of our emotional bond
You come running
You look for refuge and reassurance
Ain't that something
Isn't it amazing
Into my own
In the space that belongs exclusively to me
Hushed, hushed tones
The quiet and profound emotional language that only we share
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.