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Kaleo Wassman – Vocals/Guitar
Bret Bollinger – Vocals/Bass
Yesod Williams – Drums
“It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever done as a band to make this record,” says guitarist/vocalist Kaleo Wassman of Pepper, in speaking on the recording process of their new self-titled album. “It speaks loudly and widely to a broader audience while maintaining everything good about the band, which, first of all, is our positive attitude.” After releasing five albums, Pepper has opened a new chapter in their storied career. Drummer Yesod Williams adds, “This record feels very cohesive in a way our past releases maybe didn’t. I think it’s an album that can appeal to everyone, as well. We’ve been pigeonholed in the past so this is an opportunity to transcend all that and spread our wings even wider.”
The trio, who formed in 1997 and moved to the mainland from their hometown of Kailua Kona, Hawaii in 1999, pressed pause after the release of their fifth album, Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations, in 2008. There was a sense of fatigue and disunity amongst the three musicians, who took some time off from music both apart and together before rejoining to create an EP, Stiches, in late 2010. The songs on that release re-energized the group, revealing an urgent desire to make a new album that reflected where they are in their lives and career now. After some tour dates in support of the EP, Pepper sat down and focused on their sixth album, a self-titled released that swings open the door on this new chapter.
The musicians went into the studio with Matt Wallace, a producer known for his work with Maroon 5, O.A.R. and Faith No More, in early 2012. Matt helped focus the group’s vision and expand their musical knowledge base, an experience the band members compare to being in their own version of college. The album was recorded in various studios over the course of a year, honing in on Pepper’s re-defined self-identity and how that focus was reflected in the songs.
“We learned so much,” Yesod says. “Matt help us really focus on the art of songwriting. He sat in the room with the three of us with a fine-tooth comb and went over every word, every melody, every sound. He showed us that it’s important what you do play as well as what you don’t play, creating both spaces in the songs. We learned how powerful simplicity can be. Plus, we had such a good time recording this album and I think that shows.”
The resulting album, self-titled to accentuate where the band feels they are presently, broadens Pepper’s style, veering into new sonic territory while still retaining all the fun elements that make the band so beloved by their fans. The ever-present sense of life surges through the tracks, bolstering the sense of optimism throughout. The party anthems, the beach hang melodies, and the boisterous rhythms are all there, each song carefully crafted to best express these sunny moments by the ocean.
“This album is basically 12 snapshots of where we are,” vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger says. “There are songs that will remind you of your favorite Pepper songs, but by the end you’ll hear some unexpected things. You’ll realize that the songwriting is so much more refined. And there’s laughter in the background of the songs. That’s how good the vibe is on the record.”
Pepper has toured extensively with groups like 311, Slightly Stoopid, Flogging Molly and Sublime With Rome, and spent several summers on Warped Tour – and this live sensibility shows. You can almost feel the sand in your toes and the sun on your back as the album progresses, the musician’s amiable personalities palpable beneath the island rhythms and mellow tones. The band’s music – both live and on their releases – is really about enjoying life and being grateful for each experience, a sensibility that’s very familiar to the three musicians currently in their career. From their 1999 debut Give’n It to their 2006 standout album No Shame, which was recorded with 311’s Nick Hexum, No Doubt’s Tony Kanal and Butthole Surfers’ Paul Leary, Pepper has embodied not only a style of music but a lifestyle, one that’s most easily found on beaches across the world, but also one that’s relatable to anyone anywhere.
Released via their own label LAW Records, their universal appeal has led their music being placed in various movies and TV shows, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Good Luck Chuck, as well as several video game soundtracks. The band’s story to date has been a prolific one. But as Pepper turns the page into a fresh chapter with this new album, it’s clear that the band’s passion for music and life will continue on for years to come.
“We’re so blessed to be in this position,” Kaleo says. “We want to do the best we can with it. We had humble beginnings in our small town in Hawaii and we’re still that same humble band. We don’t take any of this lightly. Every day I wake up and think about how I have the best job in the world. The level of gratitude and happiness I have that we’re able to do this is incredible and I hope people can hear that when they listen to our new songs.”
Ashes
Pepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A face of steel just melts away in the weather
You got a lot to weigh so weigh it
If you got a lot to say just say it
Aren't you tired of wasted fuel
So now I hand the fuse to you
Burn it all lets burn it all
What's done is done its in the past
Its ashes
I'm tired of you, you're tired of me
I hate the things you said to me
Now here's the chance to take it back
Its ashes, as ashes
Maybe I should drive home,
Far from sober
Maybe I should sleep alone,
Cause I don't have a rubber
You got a lot to weigh so weigh it
If you got a lot to say just say it
Aren't you tired of wasted fuel
So now I hand the fuses to you
Run away and see, how much it really means to me
Oh my God, who in the hell has been washing your brain
Just lose the girl and start again
Maybe then, maybe then
Maybe then, maybe then
Let's burn it all lets burn it all
Let fire fall and buy the fall
What's done is done its in the past
Its ashes
I'm tired of you, you're tired of me
I hate the things you said to me
Now here's the chance to take it back
Its ashes, oh its ashes, ashes,
Its ashes, ashes [Repeat x3]
Oh ashes
The song Ashes by Pepper is a powerful commentary on the feelings of frustration, disappointment, and heartbreak that arise when trust is lost in a relationship. The opening lyrics create a sense of suffocation, as the singer is struggling to breathe in a space where trust has evaporated. The metaphor of a "face of steel" melting away in the weather suggests that the strength and resilience of the relationship that the singer has been relying on has crumbled under pressure. The lines "You got a lot to weigh, so weigh it / If you got a lot to say, just say it" highlight the importance of communication and owning up to one's actions, as well as the potential for resolution if both parties are willing to put in the work. However, the chorus "Burn it all, let's burn it all / Let fire fall and buy the fall / What's done is done, it's in the past / It's ashes" suggests that there may be no going back, and that the relationship is irreparably damaged.
The second verse of the song adds a layer of complexity, as the singer considers the possibility of infidelity ("Maybe I should drive home, far from sober / Maybe I should sleep alone, 'cause I don't have a rubber"). This creates an additional source of tension and mistrust in the relationship, as it suggests that the singer may have already checked out emotionally. The lines "Run away and see how much it really means to me / Oh my God, who in the hell has been washing your brain" suggest that the singer is struggling with conflicting emotions, torn between a desire to escape and a sense of longing for what once was. The final repetition of "ashes" in the chorus emphasizes the finality of the situation and the need to move forward.
Overall, Ashes is a powerful and emotional song that reflects the pain and frustration of a relationship that has broken down. The lyrics are full of vivid metaphors and subtle nuances that reveal the complicated emotions and thoughts of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been so long, it's hard to breath when the trust is gone
After a long time, breathing becomes difficult as trust between two persons doesn't exist anymore.
A face of steel just melts away in the weather
Even the strongest of personalities can melt away when faced with difficult, unpleasant situations.
You got a lot to weigh so weigh it
You should consider all the options before taking any major decision.
If you got a lot to say just say it
Speak your mind if you have something important to say, don't hold back.
Aren't you tired of wasted fuel
Why keep expending energy and effort towards something that is not worth it?
So now I hand the fuse to you
The responsibility for making any further decision or taking action now completely rests with you.
Burn it all lets burn it all
Let's destroy everything and be done with it.
Let fire fall and buy the fall
Let everything fall into destruction that comes from the burning flames.
What's done is done its in the past
What's happened cannot be changed, it's already done and dusted.
Its ashes
All that remains now is just ashes of the past.
I'm tired of you, you're tired of me
Both individuals are done with each other and not willing to reconcile.
I hate the things you said to me
Words uttered have deeply hurt the other person.
Now here's the chance to take it back
This is the opportunity to attempt to return to the good times of the past.
Maybe I should drive home, Far from sober
Maybe it's best to drunkenly leave the situation and remove yourself from it completely.
Maybe I should sleep alone, Cause I don't have a rubber
Maybe I should just be on my own to avoid any unwanted consequences, as I don't have any contraception.
Run away and see, how much it really means to me
Leaving and being away from the person can help to realize how important they really are.
Oh my God, who in the hell has been washing your brain
Who is the one who influences you so much that you've started thinking this way?
Just lose the girl and start again
Forget everything that has happened and start afresh.
Oh ashes, ashes, ashes
All that is left is ashes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID VINCENT WILLIAMS, DEAN DILLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind