"Kiven is a magnetic trio fitting fire and refinement in a swiftly orchestr… Read Full Bio ↴"Kiven is a magnetic trio fitting fire and refinement in a swiftly orchestrated back and forth between generous textures and explosive build-ups" - The Deli Magazine

"Kiven conjure up a unique and unrestrained amalgam of sounds and styles that's for some truly intoxicating and infectious tunes. It'll make you think and it'll make you dream—like all great daring rock bands do." - Artist Direct

Tyler Demorest, Danny Schnair, and Matt Cohen, known collectively as Kiven, hail from the smog-swept city of Los Angeles. While their musical influences have undoubtedly come from a wide array of musical and artistic spectrums, this trifecta ultimately blends together to create the band’s unique and personal sound. The band released their first EP, Two In The Same, in 2010 while still studying in school, and then followed with STEP in the spring of 2012, featuring their hard-hitting single, “Release.” Shortly after their sold out CD Release Show at the Bootleg Theatre in Silverlake, Kiven has continued to pack venues in the Los Angeles area on a nightly basis. Following the initial momentum and direction of sound from STEP (their previous EP), the recently released EP, "1840" continues to progress forward both sonically and emotively, reflecting Kiven's musical and personal growth. The tracks off of 1840 build in a more organic sense and with a naturally touching pull on the listener with pocket drums, grooving bass lines, hard hitting guitars, soaring vocals and lush harmonies. With the excitement of their new single, "Hope & Smoke", which reached #11 on Hype Machine and was featured on Indie Shuffle and Red Bull Soundstage, Kiven made their East Coast debut in New York for CMJ 2012 as an official artist – playing a handful of showcases including The Deli Mag, Audio Perv and a handful of other buzz-worthy CMJ bills. Shortly after, Entertainment Weekly went on to name Kiven as the #2 "Great Indie Discovery" from CMJ 2012. Debut full-length out Spring 2013.

Before We Wither
Kiven Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take your time
(All greats speak for the others - so -)
Hone in your design
(But hold yourself back for others - go -)
then carelessly resign and
let your dark dreams see the light
blindly go outright

Come a little closer let me in
before we wither
This isn't how I dreamt you here my dear
when I signed that letter
I hoped love
that I'd know you
never spoke love
to see this through

Lay my eyes
(Sudden throw of art for all the covers - exposed -)
Once my throne has died,
(an ounce of doubt that your brothers - are gone -)
so go and show the lie
of the meaning in your sight
and blindly go outright

Come a little closer let me in
before we wither
This isn't how I dreamt you here my dear
when i signed that letter
I hoped love
that I'd know you

never spoke love
to see this through

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kiven's song "Before We Wither" are a reflection on the impermanence and fleeting nature of life. The opening lines, "Take your time, Hone in your design," suggest the importance of taking the necessary time and effort to create something meaningful before it's too late. However, the next line warns against being overly selfish and to hold oneself back for others. The phrase "carelessly resign" suggests a sense of giving up on oneself or one's dreams without much forethought. The following line, "let your dark dreams see the light, blindly go outright," could be interpreted as a call to not hesitate and to take risks, even if they seem daunting or uncertain.

The chorus of "Come a little closer let me in, before we wither" speaks to the idea of not letting time slip away without taking the opportunity to connect with someone. The lyric "This isn't how I dreamt you here my dear, when I signed that letter" suggests a sense of disappointment or betrayal, perhaps suggesting that the relationship didn't turn out as expected. The lines "I hoped love that I'd know you, never spoke love to see this through" emphasize the importance of communication and expressing one's emotions, as well as the consequences of not doing so.

The second verse continues the theme of impermanence, with the lines "Lay my eyes, Once my throne has died, so go and show the lie." Here, the singer seems to be reflecting on their own mortality, and the idea that everything they've worked for will eventually wither away. The phrase "of the meaning in your sight, blindly go outright" again suggests taking risks and pursuing one's desires even when they seem irrational or uncertain.

Overall, Kiven's "Before We Wither" encourages listeners to seize the moment, take risks, and not let time slip away without making meaningful connections with others. The song is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of every moment.

Line by Line Meaning

Take your time
Don't rush, take as much time as you need

(All greats speak for the others - so -)
Great people speak for the ones who can't

Hone in your design
Perfect your craft and skills

(But hold yourself back for others - go -)
Don't be selfish, make sure to consider others

then carelessly resign and
Quit without any thought or care

let your dark dreams see the light
Take your deepest desires and fears and expose them to the world

blindly go outright
Take action without thinking or analyzing the consequences

Come a little closer let me in
Allow me to enter your world and understand you better

before we wither
Before we decay and disappear

This isn't how I dreamt you here my dear
Your current state is not what I envisioned for you

when I signed that letter
When I committed to our relationship