New Musik were a London based Synthpop group active from 1979 to 1982.
… Read Full Bio ↴New Musik were a London based Synthpop group active from 1979 to 1982.

The lead singer and frontman was songwriter/producer Tony Mansfield, who was also a former member of the Nick Straker Band. New Musik first appeared on the BBC TV pop programme, Top Of The Pops in October 1979 with their debut hit single "Straight Lines" which received airplay on BBC Radio 1 from special guesting DJ Frank Zappa.

Their debut album "From A To B" (1980) reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart and contained four UK chart hit singles; "Straight Lines", "Living By Numbers", "This World Of Water" and "Sanctuary". New Musik also topped the French singles chart with "On Islands" from this album.

Touring the UK in 1980, New Musik performed at both the Oxford and Cambridge Balls (with Elvis Costello) and at the Rotterdam New Pop festival in the Netherlands, and did a second UK tour in 1981.

Their second album, Anywhere (1981) reached #68 in the chart, but despite gaining international acclaim, neither of its singles "Luxury" or "While You Wait" charted in the UK.

In 1981 a compilation album, Sanctuary, was released in the U.S., consisting of four tracks from From A To B and eight from Anywhere. Previous to this release, there had also been a four song 10" vinyl Straight Lines released by CBS Records in the U.S. as part of their short-lived Epic "Nu-Disk" series, which had also included The Clash's Black Market Clash.

After the demise of GTO Records, New Musik released their third and final album, Warp (1982) which was more experimental. Oddly, it featured a synth version of The Beatles "All You Need Is Love", alongside an identically titled track of their own. Tracks such as "Hunting", "A Train On Twisted Tracks" and "Kingdoms For Horses" showed much promise, but without promotion and with limited record company support, the group disbanded shortly after.

Known for their originality and innovative approach to recording, New Musik specialised in catchy synth-pop with clever, often thought-provoking lyrical content. Tracks such as "Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home)" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind" highlighted environmental issues, still a minority interest in the early 1980s.

Several artists have covered tracks by New Musik, including Camouflage who did a version of "On Islands" in 1989.

Mansfield went on to achieve considerable success in the field of production for the likes of After The Fire, A-Ha, Aztec Camera, The B-52s, The Damned, Captain Sensible, Naked Eyes, Mari Wilson, Jean Paul Gaultier, Miguel Bose and Ana Torroja, some of his most successful projects.

From A To B and Anywhere were released on CD in 1994, and again in 2001, remastered and with bonus tracks. Warp was also released (with bonus tracks) on CD for the first time in 2001, in Japan. This remains its only CD release.

A Map Of You
New Musik Lyrics

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Decide where you're going to
And how far you should go
Can't you see
Don't you know
You are here
Decide where you're coming from
Make your way passing by
Can't you see

Don't you know
You are here
You are here
You are here
Decide where you want to be
And arrice when you can
Can't you see

Don't you know
You are here

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to New Musik's "A Map Of You" are centered around the theme of self-discovery and making important life decisions. The first verse encourages listeners to decide on where they want to go and how far they should go in order to achieve their goals. The repetition of "can't you see" and "don't you know" emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and self-awareness. The next verse tells us to look back on where we came from and the journey we've taken to get to where we are now. The chorus reinforces the idea that we are here, and we need to make the most of the present moment by deciding what we want and taking action to achieve it.

The overall message of the song is one of empowerment, encouraging listeners to take charge of their lives and make bold, informed decisions based on their own desires and needs. The repetition of "You are here" throughout the song serves as a reminder that despite the twists and turns life may take, we are always in the present moment, and we have the power to shape our future.

Line by Line Meaning

Decide where you're going to
Determine your destination, make a decision about where you want to go

And how far you should go
Consider the distance you need to travel to reach your destination, plan accordingly

Can't you see
Are you not aware, do you not understand

Don't you know
Have you not realized

You are here
You are currently present at this location

Decide where you're coming from
Reflect on your starting point, from where you began your journey

Make your way passing by
Travel through the path leading towards your destination

You are here
You are presently situated at this place

You are here
You are currently situated at this location

Decide where you want to be
Determine your goal, decide where you want to end up

And arrive when you can
Reach your destination whenever it is feasible and practical for you