A pastiche of post-rock, chamber-pop and contemporary classical composition, the self-titled debut album is strongly influenced by Ludwig-Leone's background in classical music, which includes a job assisting composer/arranger Nico Muhly.
After finishing his musical studies at Yale, Ludwig-Leone wrote the album in six weeks while holed up in a studio on the mountainous border between Alberta and British Columbia. He focused on lifeʼs top-shelf issues – youth, nostalgia, anxiety, unrequited love – and tied these vast themes to different characters through vocal contributions from longtime friend Allen Tate, as well as Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius.
The first track released from the album, Sonsick, tackles many of these larger themes head-on. ”It’s like a panic attack disguised as a birthday party,” Ludwig-Leone says. ”I realized that the most intense moments are the ones in which conflicting emotional worlds exist inside you, equally, at once.”
San Fermin is not an album of singles but rather a sweeping, full-bodied listen with multiple distinct peaks and ambitious thematic connections. Ludwig-Leone composed all of the album’s arrangements and lyrics in full prior to collaborating and recording, noting that “writing for a large group of unknown musicians infused the writing process with a kind of operatic scope.
Since then, the band has coalesced into a core of eight members in addition to Ludwig-Leone: Allen Tate and Rae Cassidy, lead vocals; Eliza Bagg and Rebekah Durham, vocals/violin; John Brandon, trumpet; Stephen Chen, saxophone; Tyler McDiarmid, guitar; and Mike Hanf, drums.
Lament for V.G.
San Fermin Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh...
Oh darling I
Addressing a loved one in a term of endearment.
can't relieve
Expressing the inability to ease someone's pain or suffering.
all your agony
Acknowledging the depth of someone's emotional distress.
I can't believe
Expressing disbelief or shock at a situation.
what you're telling me
Acknowledging disbelief or confusion about someone's words or actions.
But I know it's true
Accepting the reality of a difficult situation.
I see it in your eyes
Noticing the pain or sadness reflected in someone's gaze.
I'm sorry that I never
Expressing regret for not having done something in the past.
showed you what was true
Acknowledging a failure to demonstrate or communicate authenticity or sincerity in a relationship.
I'm sorry that I never
Expressing regret for not having done something in the past.
showed you what was real
Acknowledging a failure to demonstrate or communicate genuine feelings or emotions in a relationship.
'Cause when you're gone
Reflecting on the impact of someone's absence.
I'm gonna be alone
Expressing fear or sadness about the prospect of being without someone.
And it's all my fault
Accepting responsibility for a negative outcome or regrettable situation.
'Cause I couldn't be there
Acknowledging a failure to provide support or be present for someone in need.
when you needed someone
Recognizing someone's need for emotional or physical assistance at a difficult time.
Oh darling I
Addressing a loved one in a term of endearment.
Writer(s): Ellis Ludwig-Leone
Contributed by Keira A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.