In early 2003, Costa's homemade demo reached No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont, who offered to record more demos for Costa in his home studio. Those first recordings led to two EPs that Costa and Dumont distributed themselves. These were later combined and mixed by Phil Ek in order to form Costa's first full-length CD entitled Songs We Sing.
Costa spent the summer of 2005 opening on Jack Johnson's summer tour. He has since toured with Modest Mouse, Oasis, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Death Cab for Cutie. Costa joined Jack Johnson for his 2006 European tour. He has also contributed to the Jack Johnson and Friends Curious George soundtrack; his track is entitled "Lullaby". This song was taken from his The Elasmosaurus EP. Costa has also toured extensively in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and South America.
The video for Costa's first single "Cold December" was released February 2, 2006. On July 31, 2007, he released a song titled "If You Took To Me" as part of the environmentally minded polar bear documentary Arctic Tale and its soundtrack.
On October 7, 2007, Costa released the first single, "Mr. Pitiful," from his record Unfamiliar Faces. The song "Mr. Pitiful" was used during a scene with Paul Rudd in the movie I Love You, Man, the redband trailer for the film Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera, and the movie Marmaduke. The song is featured during the opening credits of The Answer Man (film). Apple also used an instrumental cut of this song for the worldwide iPhone 3GS ads.
Mobile Chateau, Costa's next album, was released on September 21, 2010, via Brushfire Records. His 2013 self-titled album was recorded at Pheasant Studios in Santa Ana, CA, as Costa's first solo production.
Unfamiliar Faces
Matt Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of your truths masquerade around on hallows eve
So I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
So impressed by you undressing
Did you take his hand aside from love
The truth would break me in two
I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
So this is the void, we'll leave a hole in space
I'll take it kindly if you blindly
Holding inside the thoughts I have
Inquisitively wondering
I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
But this is the voice that's scared to hear those names
So this is the void, we'll leave a hole in space
I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
Unfamiliar faces (repeat 'til end)
Matt Costa's "Unfamiliar Faces," is a song that reflects on the difficulty of fully knowing someone who keeps their true self hidden from others. The lyrics describe the various ways in which the subject of the song disguises their true self when around others, leading the singer to feel as though they will never fully understand this person. The reference to Halloween and the idea of "truths" masquerading around highlights the strong symbolism used throughout the song. The lyrics also suggest that the singer may be in a romantic relationship with the subject, as they imagine them taking another person's hand and the truth of this breaking them in two. Ultimately, the singer realizes that there is a void in their relationship as they are unable to truly connect with the person who wears these unfamiliar faces.
The song's melancholy tone is conveyed through the use of slow, harmonious guitar chords and Costa's soft, almost whisper-like vocals. The repetition of the phrase "I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces" in the chorus adds a sense of resignation to the singer's voice as they accept that they will never fully know this person. The final repetition of the chorus, "unfamiliar faces," adds a sense of finality, the singer accepting that this person will always be somewhat of a mystery to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Your surprises wear disguises
You conceal your true intentions behind a disguise
All of your truths masquerade around on hallows eve
Your honesty is masked like the costumes of Halloween
So I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
I'll never be aware of how you act around strangers
So impressed by you undressing
I'm attracted to the way you reveal yourself
Did you take his hand aside from love
Did you hold hands with someone for reasons other than love?
The truth would break me in two
The reality would shatter my emotions
This is the voice that's scared to hear those names
This is the part of me that fears hearing certain names
So this is the void, we'll leave a hole in space
This emptiness will leave a gap in our world
I'll take it kindly if you blindly
I'll accept it graciously, even if done without thought
Holding inside the thoughts I have
I'm keeping my thoughts to myself
Inquisitively wondering
Curiously questioning
I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces
I'll remain unaware of your conduct around strangers
Unfamiliar faces (repeat 'til end)
Unknown individuals
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW ALBERT COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind