The band operates independently and initiated their musical journey with the self-release of their debut 7" single "Renee/Tonka Time" on December 1, 2013, via Bandcamp. Following this, their debut EP emerged in September 2014, with their inaugural album following suit in April 2016.
The formation of SALES occurred in Orlando, Florida, where long-standing friends Morgan and Shih had been collaboratively recording music over the years. Their present project, SALES, accentuates vocal and instrumental improvisation, as well as the incorporation of sampling.
One of their notable singles, "Chinese New Year," was introduced on January 31, 2014, coinciding with the Chinese New Year. This track garnered favorable attention from music blogs such as CMJ, Stereogum, and Pigeons and Planes. Described by CMJ as a "...sandy, sashaying tune with singer Lauren Morgan's slightly cooing vocals skipping over upbeat guitars and a little synthy buzz. At least the Year of the Horse is sounding pretty good so far."
In July 2014, SALES was identified as "Ones to Watch" for the latter half of 2014 by The Hype Machine, underscoring the band's prolific blog presence.
The release of their debut EP was announced on September 16, 2014, complemented by a remix from fellow Orlando artist XXYYXX. The EP's unveiling, along with the track "Getting It On," occurred on September 22, 2014.
A significant event took place on April 12, 2016, when the band conducted a live Twitch stream and listening session, previewing tracks from their forthcoming eponymous debut. The subsequent album, titled "Sales LP," emerged on April 20, 2016, and received positive feedback. The album was praised for its blend of shyness and directness.
The band expanded in August 2016, welcoming drummer Joy Cyr to their lineup for the 2016 touring season. By April 2017, Malcolm Martin succeeded Cyr as the touring drummer, a role he continues to occupy.
SALES released the single "Talk a Lot" in September 2017, followed by "Off and On" in February 2018 and "White Jeans" in May 2018. In July 2018, the band unveiled their second album, "Forever & Ever," featuring cover photography by Malcolm Martin.
As of April 26, 2020, SALES boasts 3,647,906 monthly listeners on Spotify. The band embarked on a tour across the southern United States from March 28 to May 5, 2019. In 2020, two of their tracks, "Renee" and "Chinese New Year," achieved virality on TikTok. Additionally, the band's song "Pope Is a Rockstar" became a TikTok sensation in December 2021.
Spiral
SALES Lyrics
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Rolling down a hill made of your bones, were we alone?
Warm night of Southern Spain
Clinging on the spirals of your curls, you looked so bold
Catch me at five in wander - on the way
That leads me to the summer where I crossed your head
Our little sparkle has faded - far away
And it's laying on the floor of some distant sea
And use an eyelid to close outside the time
I rested my poor limbs upon your neck
While watching the sun set behind your skinny back
The thought of growing old without you leaves me paralyzed
I overslept on my night schedules for too long time
My friends can't even give a name to my pale melancholy
I vomited my last drink and I've ended my money
As the leaves have started falling, I'm turning yellow too
I let all of these people step on my waterproof mood
I laugh but I'm not here with my mind, I'm always into you
I'll try to blur all my memories and cancel all the good
Catch me at five in wander - on the way
That leads me to the summer where I crossed your head
Our little sparkle has faded - far away
And it's laying on the floor of some distant sea
When I'll be tired I might crouch - in your eyes
And use an eyelid to close outside the time
I rested my poor limbs upon your neck
While watching the sun set behind your skinny back
The lyrics to SALES's "Spiral" contain themes of memory, melancholy, and regret. The singer reflects on a past love and the memory of intimate moments they shared, such as watching a sunset and resting on their partner's neck. However, the relationship has ended and the singer is left feeling paralyzed by the thought of growing old without their former partner. The lyrics also touch on themes of self-destructive behavior, as the singer has overslept, vomited, and run out of money. The line "I let all of these people step on my waterproof mood" suggests that the singer has allowed the negative influence of others to impact their own emotions.
The title, "Spiral," represents the cyclical nature of memory and the emotions that stem from them. The singer is stuck in a downward spiral of melancholy and regret, unable to move on from their past love. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this struggle, with tears rolling down a hill made of bones and a lost sparkle lying on the floor of a distant sea. The Southern Spain backdrop adds to the sensory imagery and nostalgia.
Overall, "Spiral" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of memory and emotion. The lyrics capture the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of melancholy and regret, unable to move on from a past love. The use of vivid imagery and sensory descriptions add to the emotional weight of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Tears growing up in pearls
Crying tears which eventually form and grow into pearl shape
Rolling down a hill made of your bones, were we alone?
Tears streaming down from eyes originating from you, and wondering if it was just us two
Warm night of Southern Spain
A hot night spent in the southern regions of Spain
Clinging on the spirals of your curls, you looked so bold
Holding on and embracing the curls in your hair, appearing confident and daring
Catch me at five in wander - on the way
Find me at 5 o'clock, wandering on my path
That leads me to the summer where I crossed your head
Following a route that takes me to the summer where I met you
Our little sparkle has faded - far away
Our initial attraction and connection has vanished into the distance
And it's laying on the floor of some distant sea
It has been lost and forgotten, submerged in a faraway sea
When I'll be tired I might crouch - in your eyes
When exhausted, I might look to you and rest my eyes there
And use an eyelid to close outside the time
Closing my eyes to escape the concept of time
I rested my poor limbs upon your neck
I leaned on and found comfort in the support of your neck
While watching the sun set behind your skinny back
Observing the beauty of the sunset behind your slender posture
The thought of growing old without you leaves me paralyzed
The prospect of aging alone without you makes me feel numb and helpless
I overslept on my night schedules for too long time
I've been sleeping too much and ignoring my responsibilities for too long
My friends can't even give a name to my pale melancholy
My friends can't describe or understand the sadness that I'm feeling
I vomited my last drink and I've ended my money
I'm broke and have no more resources after drinking and throwing up my last bit of money
As the leaves have started falling, I'm turning yellow too
Like the leaves that fall during autumn, I'm also deteriorating and losing my vibrancy
I let all of these people step on my waterproof mood
I allowed people to affect my protective emotional state, causing it to break down
I laugh but I'm not here with my mind, I'm always into you
My mind is always focused on you, even when I appear to be laughing
I'll try to blur all my memories and cancel all the good
I'll attempt to forget all the good memories and experiences to escape the pain of missing you
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Marta Pastori
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind