Gonzalez and Fromageau parted ways shortly after touring their second album Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. Gonzalez records primarily on his own, with other artists as guest musicians. The band is signed to Mute Records and found international success in 2011 with the single "Midnight City". Their most recent album Fantasy was released on 17 March 2023.
Anthony Gerard Gonzalez (born March 13, 1980) grew up in Antibes, France together with his brother Yann. His family had a great interest in football and Gonzalez had trials with AS Cannes, while his maternal grandfather is the French international Laurent Robuschi. At the age of 14 he got injured and turned to music instead after his parents bought him a guitar. Gonzalez developed his interest in music and American culture while at secondary school. Together with Fromageau he formed a post-rock outfit called My Violent Wish.
At the age of 17, Gonzalez bought a synth to record a demo, which he sent to a number of French labels. When the Paris-based Gooom Records appeared interested, he recruited Fromageau to "help me because I didn't feel like I had the shoulders to carry the project on my own". The band is named after the galaxy of the same name.
The band's musical aesthetic is characterized by extensive use of reverb effects and lyrics spoken softly over loud instruments. Gonzalez has been inspired by aspects of the American Dream and his songs have been outlined as themed around "adult-scripted teen dreams". Inspiration for the 1980s style found in much of Gonzalez’s music includes bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Pink Floyd, and Tangerine Dream. Between various electronic music properties and album artwork, M83’s style includes a mix of both contemporary pop and 1980s dream pop.
Addicted To Self Mutilation
M83 Lyrics
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The lyrics to M83's song "Addicted To Self Mutilation" seem to be an exploration of the dark parts of the human psyche. The line "We are the children of tomorrow" seems to suggest that this behavior is something that is an issue in society as a whole, rather than just something that's unique to the individual speaking in the song. The line "We are the children of tomorrow" creates a tone of despair and hopelessness, as if to say that this kind of behavior is going to continue and possibly get worse in the future.
The line "Addicted to self-mutilation" is particularly disturbing, as it suggests that the singer is not only engaging in this behavior, but they have an addiction to it. They may be turning to self-harm as a coping mechanism for other issues that they are facing, such as depression or trauma. The line "The pain I feel is not real" seems to suggest that the singer thinks that the physical pain they are experiencing is a way of dealing with emotional pain, but in reality, the emotional pain will not be resolved by causing physical harm.
Overall, the lyrics of "Addicted to Self Mutilation" delve deep into the darkness of the human psyche, exploring the possible reasons behind the self-harm and the helplessness that surrounds it.
Line by Line Meaning
We are the children of tomorrow
We are the future of the world and will shape it with our actions
We're born with the potential of a new world
We come into this world with the ability to create positive change
We're born with dreams and ideals
We are born with hopes and aspirations for a better world
A promised land, a new beginning
We envision a better future for ourselves and others
But as we grow older
As we age and experience life
We realize that the world is not as perfect as we once thought
We come to understand that the world is flawed and imperfect
We see the darkness
We become aware of the negativity and cruelty in the world
And the light fades away
Our optimism and hope begins to dwindle
We become addicted to self mutilation
We turn to self-destructive behaviors as a coping mechanism for our despair
Contributed by Ruby J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.