Facebook www.faceboo… Read Full Bio ↴New self-titled Pepper album drops Fall 2013!!
Facebook www.facebook.com/pepperlive; Twitter www.twitter.com/pepperlive; Instagram www.instagram.com/pepperlive
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.”
slave
Pepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm standing right there staring at my phone
I'm not your slave
Trust has lost its way back home, yeah
And you're a mean little girl who loves to throw, oh no, no, no
I believe all that you're telling me
I swallow all your words, I do all your deeds, yeah
All I ever wanted was to be your slave
Now that you don't want me I?ll throw your clothes away
Oh, oh, oh, oh, no, no
There's dreams around my feet
There's no escaping you
Or the slave you've made of me
Lust is worth its weight in gold, yeah
Well, maybe that's how I let myself get sold, sold, sold
You believe in pain and misery
I swallowed all my pride and every trick up your sleeve, yeah
All I ever wanted was to be your slave
Now that you don't want me I?ll throw your clothes away
Oh, oh, oh, oh, no, no
There's dreams around my feet
There's no escaping you
Or the slave you've made of me
Oh, oh, oh, oh, no, no
You've lost your sanity
Your lies are chasing you
But your mind is blowing me
I wanna be there, tell me how to be there
I wanna be there, be there, be there, be there where you are?
Oh, oh, oh, no, no, no
There's dreams around my feet
There's no escaping you
Or the slave you've made of me
All I ever wanted was to be your slave
Now that you don't want me I?ll throw your clothes away
The song "Slave" by Pepper is a piece that speaks of the wounds of a broken relationship. The lyrics of the song speak of a relationship that has turned toxic, where one partner dominates and controls the other, reducing their partner to nothing more than a slave. The lyrics talk about the singer's deep-seated desire to be with this person despite everything they do, and the realization that they have become a slave to the relationship. The song is quite raw, with lyrics that express longing and despair.
The lyrics of the first verse talk about the singer's feelings of loneliness and emptiness when they are away from their partner. They are aware of the toxic nature of the relationship but cannot let go. The lines "I'm not your slave, trust has lost its way back home" show that the singer is aware of the situation and wants out. However, they find it challenging to move on from their partner, who, in turn, enjoys controlling and hurting them. The lyrics further say, "And you're a mean little girl who loves to throw... I believe all that you're telling me... I swallow all your words, I do all your deeds, yeah." These lines clearly show the manipulative nature of the singer's partner.
The chorus "All I ever wanted was to be your slave, now that you don't want me, I'll throw your clothes away" shows the singer's realization of the kind of relationship they were in. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, showing the drastic change from wanting to be a slave to the complete rejection of the relationship. The singer has finally seen the light and is throwing away the memories of their slave relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "Slave" are a testimony to the emotional and physical abuse that comes with being in a toxic relationship. The lyrics express the singer's longing to be free from their partner's grasp but also their deep-seated desire to be with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Every once in awhile when the city gets cold
Sometimes when the weather is cold and lonely, I feel vulnerable and alone.
And I'm standing right there staring at my phone
I stare at my phone waiting for a message, feeling anxious and helpless.
I'm not your slave
I'm not going to do everything you want just because you ask me to.
Trust has lost its way back home, yeah
I no longer trust you, and it's because you've shown me that I can't.
And you're a mean little girl who loves to throw, oh no, no, no
You're cruel and enjoy lashing out at me for no reason.
I believe all that you're telling me
I trust you and believe the things you say, even if they hurt me.
I swallow all your words, I do all your deeds, yeah
I take your words and actions to heart, even if they're harmful to me.
All I ever wanted was to be your slave
All I wanted was to be with you and make you happy, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness.
Now that you don't want me I'll throw your clothes away
Since you've abandoned me, I have no use for the things you left behind for me.
There's dreams around my feet
My dreams and aspirations are being crushed under your control.
There's no escaping you
I feel trapped and unable to break free from your hold on me.
Or the slave you've made of me
You've turned me into a slave, doing everything you want without questioning or protesting.
Lust is worth its weight in gold, yeah
Having a physical relationship with you is valuable to me no matter the cost.
Well, maybe that's how I let myself get sold, sold, sold
Perhaps I let myself be bought by your love and desires without thinking of the consequences.
You believe in pain and misery
You seem to enjoy inflicting pain and hurt on those around you.
I swallowed all my pride and every trick up your sleeve, yeah
I gave up my dignity and fell for every trick you had up your sleeve because I was in love with you.
You've lost your sanity
You've gone crazy and lost touch with reality.
Your lies are chasing you
Your past lies and actions are catching up to you and causing you trouble.
But your mind is blowing me
You're messing with my head and my emotions, making it difficult for me to think straight.
I wanna be there, tell me how to be there
I want to be with you and support you, but I need your guidance and direction to do so.
There's no escaping you
I feel trapped and unable to break free from your hold on me.
All I ever wanted was to be your slave
All I wanted was to be with you and make you happy, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness.
Now that you don't want me I'll throw your clothes away
Since you've abandoned me, I have no use for the things you left behind for me.
There's dreams around my feet
My dreams and aspirations are being crushed under your control.
There's no escaping you
I feel trapped and unable to break free from your hold on me.
Or the slave you've made of me
You've turned me into a slave, doing everything you want without questioning or protesting.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SCOTT JONATHON KINGMAN, CAMERON WALLACE MC KENZIE, ANDREW DONALD MCLEAN, MICHAEL JAMES VALLANCE, CRAIG DOUGLAS WAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind