Daniel Hunter began creating music in his garage, but it was not until he discovered music programming in music theory class at Aledo High School he began to create electronic-based music.
After rapidly gaining popularity on Myspace, Hunter signed with Island/Stolen Transmission midway through his senior year of high school. Hunter released an EP entitled The Frequency EP on April 27, 2007, which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Electronic chart and No. 27 on the Heatseekers chart. A full-length album entitled Texas was released March 18, 2008 debuting at No. 157 on the Billboard 200. In support of the album, he toured nationally with American rock bands Fall Out Boy, Secondhand Serenade, Yellowcard, The Spill Canvas, Hellogoodbye and Making April.
Hunter left Island Records in late June 2008 after a two-year run. He described his affiliation with the company as a "nightmare" in his Myspace blog. Shortly after, on June 27, 2008, Hunter announced in his Myspace blog he had demoed a new EP entitled The Organic/Synthetic along with another unnamed EP; its songs were eventually released on his 2010 releases, Ancient Electrons and Besides, Nothing (B-Sides and Rarities, 2003–2009).
On July 27, 2009, Hunter announced he would be simultaneously releasing a full-length album with new songs and a B-Sides album featuring songs from 2003–2009. Some of the songs had been posted on the Internet on different file-sharing sites, or performed live; others were songs that did not make it onto The Frequency EP or Texas, and some were PlayRadioPlay! 'classics' in their original form.
On September 17, 2009 it was announced the band's name would be changed to Analog Rebellion. On October 13, 2009 Hunter confirmed he would be releasing a new full-length album called Ancient Electrons under the new name.
Decipher Reflections From Reality
PlayRadioPlay! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and when my back up failed
the pixie dust prevailed
and i woke up next to you
all i wanted was to hold you
i was born in a city
however small
for location where i came into being
it was all down hill from there
what do you do
when your lifes a disaster
and your moving faster
and its getting harder to breathe
what do you say
if some is right but
you disagree
even if its the truth
i was told you are depressed
by a little bird
that was severly hurt
as it did not notice my window
it just flew wherever the wind blows
as it convulsed on the pavement
it whispered i am hated
your genetic flaws
i said say it all
you cant decipher reflections form reality
but neither can i
i noticed neither can i
i noticed neither can i
i noticed neither can i
you are the circle
i am the square
i have the none cut
you have the cool hair
we both take showers
for almost an hour
but only once a week or two
what do you do
when your lifes a disater
and your moving faster
and its getting harder to breathe
what do you say
if someone is right but
you disagree even if its the truth
In "Decipher Reflections From Reality," PlayRadioPlay! conveys the desperation and confusion of facing an uncertain life. The first stanza speaks about losing control and relying on faith or some mystical force to save you, represented by the "pixie dust" that prevailed. The dreamy quality of the verse, which leads into a desire for connection and comfort, serves as a metaphor for our desire to find meaning in life, no matter how chaotic or unpredictable it may be.
The second stanza portrays a sense of being born into a world full of limitations and hardships, represented by the hills that he faces strictly after being born. The lyrics are sad and melancholic, as though he has been set up for failure from the very beginning, yet it also shows that we all have a starting point and must persevere through tough times.
The chorus addresses the feeling of being lost and not knowing what to do or say in difficult situations, as well as coping with the truth even if it didn't work for us. The concept of deciphering reflections from reality can be interpreted as the process of figuring out how our perceptions and emotions color our understanding of the truth. The song speaks about finding a person to hold and move forward in a disaster, being understanding but not agreeing, and showering only once a week or two.
Line by Line Meaning
My parachute didn't open
The safety measures I had in place failed me.
and when my back up failed
Even my contingency plans did not work.
the pixie dust prevailed
Despite all odds, something miraculous happened.
and i woke up next to you
I found comfort in being with you.
all i wanted was to hold you
In the midst of chaos, all I desired was your embrace.
i was born in a city
My existence began in a particular location.
however small
Even though it was not a big city.
it held a hospital
It had a medical facility nearby.
for location where i came into being
This was where I was brought into the world.
it was all down hill from there
Things went downhill from that point forward.
what do you do
What actions do you take?
when your life's a disaster
During times of chaos and turmoil.
and your moving faster
When life seems to be moving too quickly to keep up.
and it's getting harder to breathe
When it becomes increasingly difficult to cope with the situation.
what do you say
How do you respond?
if someone is right but
Even if what they say is factually correct.
you disagree even if it's the truth
If it goes against your personal beliefs or values.
i was told you are depressed
I heard that you were struggling emotionally.
by a little bird
Through an anonymous source.
that was severely hurt
Even though the messenger was in pain.
as it did not notice my window
It was not aware of the obstacles in its path.
it just flew wherever the wind blows
Without any clear direction or plan.
as it convulsed on the pavement
The messenger suffered on the hard ground.
it whispered i am hated
It expressed its feelings of rejection and pain.
your genetic flaws
Your inherent imperfections.
i said say it all
I encouraged it to express itself fully.
you can't decipher reflections form reality
It's impossible to differentiate between what's real and what's imagined.
but neither can i
I am also struggling to discern reality from the mirage.
you are the circle
You are unique and different from me.
i am the square
I am the more conventional and traditional one.
i have the none cut
I lack any unusual or distinctive features.
you have the cool hair
You possess something that makes you stand out and unique.
we both take showers
We both practice basic hygiene.
for almost an hour
For extended periods of time.
but only once a week or two
But not frequently enough to consider it a regular habit.
i noticed neither can i
I have come to the realization that I struggle with distinguishing reality from fantasy.
i noticed neither can i
I acknowledge that I have the same inability to differentiate between what's authentic and what's not.
i noticed neither can i
I am aware that I share a common struggle with the messenger about separating fact from fiction.
Contributed by Austin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.