Hallmarked by Hollie’s seductive, dreamy vocals and a succession of memorably soaring choruses, all of it etched with Keith’s vivid, glinting keyboards, towering guitars and miscellaneous instrumental hooks, Mint Julep make lustrous modern pop music that is wistful and mellifluous yet simultaneously powerful, even epic – equal parts shoegazing romanticism and cool, Kraftwerkian polish. Their songs seem instantly familiar, like old musical friends, a ’classicism’ offset by the freshness and luminosity they exude as they usher you on a breathless ride through the sunlit uplands of electronic indie-rock.
Mint Julep was designed as a conscious departure from Keith’s previous, ambient- orientated projects. “When Hollie and I set out to do something, I wanted to find some way to incorporate her vocals into a slightly different style, rather than just write similar material to my solo work and lay her vocals over top”, he says. “I had the need to write something that had some distorted guitars, loud drums and was a little bolder than what I had previously done. We messed around with a track one night (which became ‘Stay’) and it was a fun process, so we just kept writing more songs so we could do a project together.”
Soon a working pattern emerged, with Keith composing music around Hollie’s lyrics or making tracks which Hollie would then add to. “It just developed after a lot of trial and error, and after a while the material started to plateau and began to sound like an album…”
A Pennsylvannian by birth, Keith Kenniff is an honours graduate of Boston’s esteemed Berklee College of Music, best known as the brains behind dulcet ambient/electronic practitioners Helios and the fingers on the ivories of post-classical piano minimalists Goldmund (the latter’s music once described by no less an authority than Ryuichi Sakamoto as “…so, so, so beautiful…”). A succession of albums under those aliases has made Kenniff the darling of discerning critics and his music has also been widely used in film, television and advertising, not least on the soundtrack to Harmony Korine’s 2007 comedy-drama Mister Lonely and the trailer for the 2009 Academy Award-nominated Revolutionary Road, directed by Sam Mendes.
Originally from Ohio, singer Hollie Kenniff maintains dual US/Canadian citizenship, having spent part of her life in Ontario. Aside from Mint Julep, she has collaborated on several additional musical endeavors in tandem with husband Keith, including a children’s music project, Meadows, (inspired by the couple’s young son), whose debut longplayer was recently released, and an ambient diversion under their own names.
www.mintjulepmusic.com
Mint Julep on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mintjulepmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/_MintJulep
Other projects by Keith Kenniff: Helios and Goldmund.
The Promise
Mint Julep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't look to a stranger
You know in the end, I'll always be there
But when you're in doubt
And when you're in danger
Take a look all around, and I'll be there
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
But if you wait around a while, I'll make you fall for me
I promise, I promise you I will
When your day is through
And so is your temper
You know what to do
I'm gonna always be there
Sometimes if I shout
It's not what's intended
These words just come out
With no gripe to bear
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be
But if you wait around a while, I'll make you fall for me
I promise, I promise you I will
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be
And if I had to walk the world, I'd make you fall for me
I promise you, I promise you I will
I gotta tell you
Need to tell you
Gotta tell you
I've gotta tell you
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be
But if you wait around a while, I'll make you fall for me
I promise, I promise you
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be
And if I had to walk the world, I'd make you fall for me
I promise you, I promise you I will
I will
I will
The song "The Promise" by Mint Julep is about the singer's commitment to a loved one to always be there for them. The singer tells their lover that they do not have to rely on strangers when they are in need because they will always be there for them. When the lover is in doubt or danger, they should look around, and the singer will be there. The singer acknowledges that sometimes they may shout, but that does not mean they have any gripes to bear; the words just come out. The chorus essentially repeats these sentiments of the singer promising to always be there for their lover, even if the words they use may not sound exactly how they want them to.
The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer is willing to go to great lengths to make their lover fall for them. The line, "And if I had to walk the world, I'd make you fall for me," indicates the singer's determination to keep their promise to their lover. The singer apologizes for not being able to find the right words to express their love but promises that they will eventually find the right words to make their lover fall for them.
In conclusion, "The Promise" is a heartfelt song about a lover's commitment to always be there for their partner. The song implies that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes, including finding the right words or walking the world, to ensure that their promise is kept. It's a song that will resonate with anyone who's ever made a promise to someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you need a friend
In times of trouble, if you require someone to confide in or a shoulder to lean on.
Don't look to a stranger
Don't seek out unfamiliar faces for comfort or help, may it be due to fears of not being understood or a sense of vulnerability.
You know in the end, I'll always be there
Trust that in life, through thick and thin, when it comes down to it, I'll be by your side.
But when you're in doubt
When you struggle with confusion or uncertainty.
And when you're in danger
And when you find yourself in a perilous situation, where your safety is put at risk.
Take a look all around, and I'll be there
Take a moment to survey your surroundings, and you will find me there beside you, ready to help and protect you.
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
Please forgive me, as my thoughts are jumbled and I am searching for the best way to express myself.
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be
I acknowledge that what I am saying may not sound as articulate or as eloquent as I hoped it would.
But if you wait around a while, I'll make you fall for me
If you are patient with me, and give me the opportunity to show you, I promise to make you deeply care about me.
I promise, I promise you I will
I swear to you that I will follow through, and do all that I can to make you feel valued and loved.
When your day is through
Once your day has come to an end, and you are tired and emotionally drained.
And so is your temper
When you are quick to anger or irritable due to fatigue or frustration.
You know what to do
You are aware of what will calm you and soothe your mood, and bring you back to a place of contentment.
I'm gonna always be there
Assurance that I will always be there for you, even during times of emotional intensity or exhaustion.
Sometimes if I shout
At times, I may raise my voice or speak sternly.
It's not what's intended
However, this is not my intention, and I do not mean to cause offense or harm with my tone.
These words just come out
I may not have full control over my emotions or my chosen words, and they may come out more forcefully than intended.
With no gripe to bear
Despite the strength at which I may speak, it is not due to any personal frustrations or resentments.
And if I had to walk the world, I'd make you fall for me
Even if it meant traveling the globe, or facing impossible challenges, I am so deeply committed to you that I will do whatever it takes to make you love me.
I gotta tell you
I need to express something to you urgently, and with great earnestness.
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
Once again, I apologize for my hesitance in expressing myself, as I am striving to convey my thoughts in the best possible way.
I promise you
I vow to you.
I promise you I will
I swear that I will be at your side, and do everything in my power to love you as fully and completely as possible.
I will
I commit to my promise, and devote myself to you without hesitation or reservation.
Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.