June 14, 2011 will be a bigger day.
On the former, they decided to put off the next year of college, giving themselves 365 days to make a career out of rock n' roll.
On the latter, Paradise Fears will release "Yours Truly," their debut full-length album, as one of the most potent and rapidly-growing young pop rock acts in the country.
In July 2010, just months after the majority of the band's high school graduation, they released Make Them Believe EP, produced by Jordan Schmidt (All Time Low, Sing it Loud). In just 8 months, the album has sold several thousand copies nation-wide, and the band's career has taken off. They've completed nation-wide tours with Quietdrive and Floral Terrace across 32 different states, and have shared the stage with acts like Stereo Skyline, The Audition, and You, Me, and Everyone We Know.
Coming from a town of 3,000 year round residents in a state noted for its lack of a music scene, nothing has come easy. But these six kids grew up fast. "It's been an entirely self taught process...with a very steep learning curve. We've had to teach ourselves how to promote, how to book shows, how to tour, how to record, everything…but it gives us a very unique approach, because in our area, what we're doing is so unprecedented that we haven't fallen victim the generic, cookie-cutter career path, and instead we've received a tremendous amount of support from our home town." explained lead singer Sam Miller.
Though they may be young, Paradise Fears has several things going for them:
First, an incredibly energetic and engaging live show that can win over even the most uninterested bystander, described by one Battle of the Bands judge as "N'Sync meets a UFC cage match." They were crowned champions of a 65-band, Midwest-wide Battle of the Bands in October, sponsored by Rawkzilla magazine, scoring them $14,000 in endorsements, equipment, and cash. Their performance, described by Paul Pederson (Prince, Steve Miller band), was "absolutely spectacular, one in a million, and completely breath-taking."
Second, an arsenal of infectiously catchy and musically developed rock-pop songs, some of which received airplay on top 40 radio stations throughout the Midwest. David Hooper of Music Business Radio described Make Them Believe as "catchy and remarkably polished, particularly given the age [of the members.]"
Third, an incredibly loyal internet following of all different ages. In just 8 months, their Facebook, Twitter, and social networking profiles have acquired tens of thousands of fans/ followers, and are still rapidly expanding by hundreds daily. "One of the best parts about our style of music has always been that it's not limited - it's the kind of music that someone can appreciate with their 12-year-old sister or their 70-year-old grandmother," said keyboard-player Michael Walker.
Finally, and most importantly, an insatiable drive for success. Paradise Fears is constantly touring or recording, and when they aren't, they're exploring new and creative ways of expanding their fan base. Most recently, the band split into three teams, racing around the country following large tours in a competition to meet the most potential listeners. 50,000 miles, 10,000 demos, and 5,000 CDs later, their "Amazing Race" has created both hundreds of fans and a Paradise Fears buzz in every major market in the United States.
The large-scale release of a full-length album will be a huge step forward in the band's career. Recording time for "Yours Truly" was split between Schmidt and Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (Mayday Parade, Cartel). It will feature 11 new songs, tremendously evolved in music and lyrics. "It's a new found maturity for us...these songs are real. We wrote songs about people we love, songs about people we hate, songs that tell stories…it's an album full of songs we really love," described guitarist Cole Andre.
But why so independent? Says Miller, "That's the way we want to do it, and the dream we've always envisioned. We're financing it, we're writing it, we're releasing it, we're promoting it. It started out as just the six of us, and come good or come bad, we've still always got that. We're committed to being able to make it ourselves."
More Than Lust
Paradise Fears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In and out and I'm fading fast
Here's how it happens with boys like me:
I make it seem like I'm so in love
With you, but it never does
Mean anything to me
Oh, oh, I'll fake a smile to make this so dangerous
You'll watch the line drop speed it up 'till we make your heart stop
You're a tease
You're the reason I lost it
You're the worst of the best and I want it
Make you believe this is more than lust tonight
Hold another drink 'till you fall
Take another pill for your high
This is the sound of breaking, this is the sound of breaking
Another silent assault, another unreturned stare
Another time you give up, another time I don't care
This is the sound of breaking, this is the sound of breaking
Oh, oh, I'll fake a smile to make this so dangerous
You can watch me take this so slow
You'll watch the line drop speed it up 'till we make your heart stop
You're a tease
You're the reason I lost it
You're the worst of the best and I want it
Make you believe this is more than lust tonight
Giving in to this feeling of sinking
So far in that I can't return safely
Make you believe that this is more than lust tonight
It's never been this hard
You don't seem to let go
I've been thinking far too long and I'm losing all control
And there's a voice inside screaming for love and I know, I know
You're a tease
You're the reason I lost it
You're the worst of the best and I want it
Make you believe this is more than lust tonight
It's never been this hard
You don't seem to let go
I've been thinking far too long and I'm losing all control
And there's a voice inside screaming for love and I know, I know
The lyrics to Paradise Fears's song "More Than Lust" depict a man who is struggling with the concept of love versus lust. He is aware that his love for someone will never last as he constantly goes in and out of temporary infatuations. He knows he is not capable of genuine love, yet he continues to lead the other person on, making it seem like he is fully committed to them. The lines "Oh, oh, I'll fake a smile to make this so dangerous" and "You'll watch the line drop speed it up 'till we make your heart stop" highlight his thrill in leading someone on while knowing their hearts will eventually be broken.
The chorus of "You're a tease, You're the reason I lost it, You're the worst of the best and I want it, Make you believe this is more than lust tonight," showcases his internal conflict of wanting to make the other person believe that he wants more than just physical intimacy, even though he knows it is not true. The bridge highlights his realization that he is sinking too deep and losing control, as he struggles with an innate desire for love that he is unable to fulfill.
This song represents a toxic and damaging relationship, where one person is leading the other on with no real intent for a genuine connection. The lyrics delve into the concept of wanting something that you know you cannot have and the internal struggle that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a love that can never last
The singer knows that his love will never endure.
In and out and I'm fading fast
The singer's emotions are fleeting and he is losing them quickly.
Here's how it happens with boys like me:
The singer notes that this is a common occurrence with men of his type.
I make it seem like I'm so in love
The singer puts on a façade that he is madly in love with his partner.
With you, but it never does
The love he displays is never enough and always falls short.
Mean anything to me
The love he feels is not genuine, and he only pretends for his partner's sake.
Oh, oh, I'll fake a smile to make this so dangerous
The singer will pretend to enjoy the situation to make it more risky and exciting.
You can watch me take this so slow
The singer will prolong the romantic phase to draw out the anticipation.
You'll watch the line drop speed it up 'till we make your heart stop
The singer will escalate the romantic encounter until his partner is overwhelmed with passion.
You're a tease
The singer's partner is leading him on and causing frustration.
You're the reason I lost it
The singer's partner is the cause of his emotional instability.
You're the worst of the best and I want it
The singer's partner is the most alluring out of all potential partners, despite causing distress.
Make you believe this is more than lust tonight
The singer will try to convince his partner that this encounter is deeper than just physical attraction.
Hold another drink 'till you fall
The singer urges his partner to keep drinking until they can no longer resist each other.
Take another pill for your high
The singer's partner is taking drugs to heighten their experience together.
This is the sound of breaking, this is the sound of breaking
The fragile emotional state of the singer and his partner is at risk of shattering.
Another silent assault, another unreturned stare
The lack of communication between the singer and his partner is leading to misunderstandings and disagreements.
Another time you give up, another time I don't care
The singer's partner is ready to give up, whereas the singer has grown indifferent to their relationship.
Giving in to this feeling of sinking
The singer has surrendered to his depressing emotions.
So far in that I can't return safely
The singer has immersed himself so deeply that he cannot easily return to a stable state of mind.
It's never been this hard
The singer is struggling more than ever before.
You don't seem to let go
The singer's partner is unwilling to end their relationship.
I've been thinking far too long and I'm losing all control
The singer is preoccupied with his thoughts and losing his grip on reality.
And there's a voice inside screaming for love and I know, I know
The singer feels a desperate need for genuine love, but knows that he is incapable of it.
Writer(s): Samuel Miller
Contributed by Alexandra A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.