Founded in 2009, Lo-Fi Resistance is the creation of 24 year-old guitarist,… Read Full Bio ↴Founded in 2009, Lo-Fi Resistance is the creation of 24 year-old guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Randy McStine. Once dubbed as a “guitar prodigy,” McStine began playing guitar at the age of five and performing publicly at the age of ten. His formative years were spent playing in classic rock cover bands, while also pursuing original music. Randy’s early work was focused on guitar-driven, instrumental rock until he began to sing at the age of fifteen. McStine would spend the remainder of his teens crafting his voice and songwriting, while continuing to expand his diverse musical tastes.

Setting up a small studio in his Upstate New York apartment, McStine started writing and recording new material in 2009 with no clear agenda. As he pooled together funding from solo gigs, guitar lessons, and landscaping work, a new passion and focus was evident as the unnamed project continued. Completing a new, full-length album was now McStine’s goal.

Initially performing all of the album’s instrumentation himself, Randy eventually decided to bring in outside support for the drum tracks. McStine blindly reached out to ex-Spock’s Beard and Tears For Fears drummer Nick D’Virgilio to fill the seat. D’Virgilio would not only perform on most of the songs, but also offer and accept the role of mixing the entire album. Amongst other additional musicians, McStine enlisted longtime vocal favorite and personal friend Dug Pinnick (King’s X), for the end of a song entitled “Moral Disgrace.”

As recording sessions for the new album wrapped up in late 2009, McStine named the project Lo-Fi Resistance. The debut album, A Deep Breath, was released independently on April 6th, 2010. Praised for its unique blending of Progressive Rock, Power Pop, and Singer-Songwriter influences, the album has drawn comparisons to diverse artists such as Todd Rundgren, Roger Waters, Yes, Crowded House, and The Police.

Randy began writing for a second Lo-Fi Resistance album in April of 2011. The new album, Chalk Lines, is undoubtedly the most ambitious project of McStine’s career to date. Throughout the eight songs and fifty-one minutes, Chalk Lines both expands on and abandons the foundations of the first album. Drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson) is featured throughout the entire album, along with bassists Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), John Giblin (Kate Bush), and Dug Pinnick (King’s X) among its roster. Dave Kerzner (Kevin Gilbert, Steve Hackett) splits keyboard duties with McStine, along with co-writing three songs and co-producing the album.

To aid in the production costs of the album, McStine launched a successful fundraising campaign through Kickstarter. A single edit of the title track was also released on May 1st, 2012. As if that track wasn’t enough of an indication, Chalk Lines will be a bold step into new and exciting territories for Lo-Fi Resistance.

Chalk Lines will be released on the Burning Shed label in December of 2012.
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On My Own
Lo-Fi Resistance Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I came up from the curb
Had no food up in the crib
It'll make you be discouraged
I had to feed them kids that's right
It made me who I am
And I'm blessed to be here living
I just want you to know one thang I ain't gone stop cause I'm on a mission
Yeah I did it on my own

Ain't nobody gave me shit I swear
I did it on my own
I get it how I live it
I did it on my own
Never worry bout no money
Now I get it and I spend it man it's nothing
I did it on my own

Never had no food to eat
Couldn't let this world beat me
So discouraged like defeat
Had to get up on my fucking feet
Pushed around we felt so weak
Beaten everyday and week
Hustling on the fucking streets
I could just never ever sleep
Never sleeping when you running from the reaper
Cause I never knew which way is next and hoping was just pointless
When im looking deep thru into people
Try to keep them off, my feet moving, chains off my soul
I hold no secret or regrets
Satan trying to keep me
Theres no one out there that can ever reach me
When you feel and look diverse
It's such a curse but do I let it take me
Embedding as I watch it seeping into my fucking soul
Roam this earth on the streets, without a home I'll do it on my own

I came up from the curb
Had no food up in the crib
It'll make you be discouraged
I had to feed them kids that's right
It made me who I am
And I'm blessed to be here living
I just want you to know one thang I ain't gone stop cause I'm on a mission
Yeah I did it on my own
Ain't nobody gave me shit I swear
I did it on my own
I get it how I live it
I did it on my own
Never worry bout no money
Now I get it and I spend it man it's nothing
I did it on my own

It's cool man take the credit
I'm not that competitive
Always fucking anxious
Until I beat your fucking ass for it
I'm ahead of it and asking God why it led to this
Being broke is the issue because my money's hella spent
I got this fucking ticket and front row is where I'm sitting
Hell is where I went but you won't ever catch me bitching
Because I'm taking what I'm dealt and I will turn it into riches
With this I take and I accomplish you won't ever halt my mission
Hanging with the homies selling drugs proposition
No home lonely moms is on drugs
So I hold my position
Father long gone hungry on my own don't need permission
Because I do it on my own and there is no one I am missing

I came up from the curb
Had no food up in the crib
It'll make you be discouraged
I had to feed them kids that's right
It made me who I am
And I'm blessed to be here living
I just want you to know one thang I ain't gone stop cause I'm on a mission
Yeah I did it on my own
Ain't nobody gave me shit I swear
I did it on my own
I get it how I live it
I did it on my own
Never worry bout no money
Now I get it and I spend it man it's nothing
I did it on my own

This grew my ambition
The environment I'm living in
Repetition of conditions
Like I should be forgiving them
Limited editions
In with this and the addictions
I've envisioned and committed man I'm never giving in
My world is caving in
My heart as far as the Mediterranean
My mind was slaves to them cause they were in my radius
I made it this way
Made it here
So you can feel my radiance
With the presence of God which almost turned me into and atheist
Always hating this it hurts to think about the way I lived
When they were in disguises that are many and just various
Lived life wild like my choices were spontaneous
It's a miracle I made it thru all this craziness

I came up from the curb
Had no food up in the crib
It'll make you be discouraged
I had to feed them kids that's right
It made me who I am
And I'm blessed to be here living
I just want you to know one thang I ain't gone stop cause I'm on a mission
Yeah I did it on my own
Ain't nobody gave me shit I swear
I did it on my own
I get it how I live it
I did it on my own
Never worry bout no money

Now I get it and I spend it man it's nothing
I did it on my own

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lo-Fi Resistance's song "On My Own" are a reflection on the hardships that the artist has faced, including poverty, the struggle to provide for family members and the feeling of being alone. The opening line "I came up from the curb" indicates that the artist has struggled and had to work hard to get to where they are. The artist emphasizes the point that they achieved their success on their own, without any external assistance. They mention how they had to feed their kids, which was a responsibility that they took seriously and that shaped and defined their character.

The second verse emphasizes the tough circumstances that the artist had to overcome, including homelessness, hustling on the streets, and dealing with addiction in their family. They express the sentiment that searching for hope and relying on others was futile, and instead chose to focus on their own drive to succeed. The artist's commitment to self-reliance and resilience is evident throughout the lyrics.

Overall, the lyrics to "On My Own" explore themes of adversity, perseverance and self-sufficiency. They acknowledge the hardships that the artist has faced, but also celebrate the strength and determination that allowed them to overcome those challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

I came up from the curb
Started from the bottom

Had no food up in the crib
Struggled with poverty and hunger

It'll make you be discouraged
Difficult times can be discouraging

I had to feed them kids that's right
Responsibilities as a parent

It made me who I am
Experiences shape a person's identity

And I'm blessed to be here living
Grateful for life

I just want you to know one thang I ain't gone stop cause I'm on a mission
Determined to succeed

Yeah I did it on my own
Self-made

Ain't nobody gave me shit I swear
No handouts

I get it how I live it
Making the most of what one has

Never worry bout no money
Financial stability achieved