Bands overflowing with the wide-eyed exuberance of youth are not hard to fi… Read Full Bio ↴Bands overflowing with the wide-eyed exuberance of youth are not hard to find, but Nashville's Pico vs Island Trees are a rare commodity: a group able to back up its innocence and enthusiasm with musical proficiency and keen pop sensibilities. By fusing genres ranging from indie rock to jazz, Pico vs Island Trees avoid the common temptation for musicians today to subscribe to a certain 'scene.’ "We don't want to be pigeonholed as being a certain 'type' of band," says vocalist Bryan Carter. "We just want to make music that anyone can listen to, from our little brothers to our grandmothers.”

Pico vs Island Trees, affectionately called “Pico” by their friends and fans, are some of the freshest faces on the growing Nashville pop scene. Their roots go deep; Bryan and guitarist Jeremy Bullock formed the band after a 7th grade talent show. The boys’ search for a band name ended when they watched a classroom film about the famous 1982 Supreme Court case against the Island Trees School District, which, according to the video’s main character, sounded "like a rock band." Pico vs Island Trees was born.

Over the next few years, Pico brought in bassist Brian Howell and toured extensively along the east coast, gaining a respectable following in their home state of North Carolina. In 2004 the band released their first full-length independent album, Just Wait. However, despite these small triumphs, the group had grown tired of operating as a ‘weekend band.’ With college plans looming on the horizon and mounting geographical challenges, Pico seemed to have reached a frustrating plateau.

The impasse that all bands dread was soon replaced by the opportunity which all bands dream of: Los Angeles producer David Kershenbaum (Duran Duran, Joe Jackson) heard one of their songs on the radio, loved it, and looked them up. In the blink of an eye the boys were on a plane to sunny California.

After 8 months of palm trees, click tracks, and mix downs, Pico had written and recorded a full album and were ready to hit the road with their full five-piece ensemble, with drummer Tommy Perkinson and keyboardist John Henry Trinko rounding out the lineup. The first song to emerge from the California sessions was the bossa-flavored “Open Doors”. Mixed by Mark Endert (Maroon 5, The Fray), the song has piqued the interest of both fans and industry types alike.

As the group settles into their new hometown of Nashville and awaits the release of their album, Pico vs Island Trees overflow with the optimism and energy that has made an indelible mark on their music -- and hopefully, your ears.

-A.W./G.B

Turn It Up
Pico Vs. Island Trees Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't put your faith in me,
I'm gonna let you down.
You gotta say some things,
You better say them now.

Cuz when the moment's past,
That moment's gone
I get up and I'm up and I'm over

And I'm moving on
No it won't be, won't be long

Try to love
I'm already decided, who I'm gonna be.
But I never really noticed if you liked it or not
So I'm finally doing something
Just incase you forgot,
So guess what?
I'm gonna turn it up,
I'm gonna turn it up.

So you've got your eyes on me,
You've got your fingers crossed
You're hoping and you're waiting,
You're praying that I'll just walk

Looks like I'm dying here,
A little more each day
As the pressure builds
Pretty soon I'm bound to break
That's your number one mistake

Try to love
I'm already decided, who I'm gonna be.
But I never really noticed if you liked it or not
So I'm finally doing something
Just incase you forgot,
So guess what?
I'm gonna turn it up,
I'm gonna turn it up.

Come on and turn it up
That's your number one mistake

Try to love
I'm already decided, who I'm gonna be.
But I never really noticed if you liked it or not
So I'm finally doing something
Just incase you forgot
So guess what,
Guess what?

I'm gonna turn it up,
I'm gonna turn it up.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pico Vs. Island Trees's song Turn It Up is about a person who feels the pressure from others to conform to their expectations. The singer is aware that they are going to let down someone who put all their faith in them, so they urge the person to communicate their thoughts before it is too late. The singer feels burdened by the expectations that others have put on them, but they have decided who they want to be. The singer is finally doing something about it, just in case they forgot about their dreams and desires.

However, the singer's actions are also in response to the pressure they feel from others, as everyone has their eyes on them, fingers crossed, and hopes that the singer will walk according to their expectations. The situation is taking a toll on the singer, and the pressure builds a little more each day. The singer reminds the listener that their number one mistake is to put pressure on others to conform to their expectations. As a result, the singer is going to turn it up, meaning they have decided to follow their path, regardless of the pressure from others.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't put your faith in me,
I can't promise anything and will probably disappoint you.

I'm gonna let you down.
I will cause you to feel let down.

You gotta say some things,
Speak up if you have something to say.

You better say them now.
Say what you need to while you still have the chance.

Cuz when the moment's past,
Once the opportunity is gone,

That moment's gone
It's gone forever.

I get up and I'm up and I'm over
I move on from things very quickly.

And I'm moving on
I'm already moving forward.

No it won't be, won't be long
It won't take me long to move on.

Try to love
Make an effort to love.

I'm already decided, who I'm gonna be.
I know who I want to be.