Revealing a sharp songwriting instinct and unfolding a distinct indie rock influence, the Secret Machines unveil singular scenarios and refined tunes within the alternative pop/rock scene. Guitarist Benjamin Curtis, Drummer Josh Garza, and Brandon Curtis (vocals, bass, keys) formed the Secret Machines in the midst of summer of 2000, in Dallas, TX. The trio swiftly managed to create its own sounding marks, mostly due to a common musical and band experience. Before forming the Machines, the Curtis brothers played with the punk rock squad Ufofu; in addition, Brandon’s also a regular headliner of the Dallas underground music scene, namely through his active participation in projects such as captain audio alongside Garza. After several months of rehearsals and recording sessions in Chicago with engineer Brian Deck, the Machines offered their debut disc, the EP September 000, in March of 2002. After touring throughout much of 2002, the band returned to their adopted hometown of New York City and began recording the debut full-length for Reprise with producer Jeff Blenkinsopp. The album Now Here is Nowhere was released in May of 2004. This was then followed up by their second full length album Ten Silver Drops, released in April 2006 to mixed critical responses.
While working on their third album, Benjamin left the band to continue his work with School of Seven Bells, a new project with members of the disbanded On!Air!Library!. Josh and Brandon have been joined by guitarist and vocalist Phil Karnats, restoring the band to a three-piece.
The Secret Machines are featured on the soundtrack for Universal’s movie musical, “Across the Universe”.
In 2008, the Secret Machines joined the ranks of other iconic artists such as NIN, Radiohead, and Pearl jam, who are putting their music out without the support of a major label. Having recently parted ways with Warner Brothers, their follow up album to 2006’s Ten Silver Drops will be self-released on TSM Recordings on October 14, and features 8 new tracks: ‘Atomic Heels’, ‘Last Believer’, ‘Drop Dead’, ‘Have I Run Out’, ‘Underneath The Concrete’, ‘Now You’re Gone’, ‘The Walls Are Starting to Crack’, ‘I Never Thought To Ask’ and ‘The Fire Is Waiti
After much press speculation and heresy, er...hearsay... here's the REAL story, as only the band can tell it. As they prepare for their upcoming UK/EU tour and to celebrate the release of their third album, Secret Machines (featuring 2 bonus tracks), in the UK - the band have spoken publicly for the first time since the departure of former guitarist Benjamin Curtis.
"Secret Machines is supposed to be a vehicle for us to be ourselves and play and do what we wanted to do, and that's why Ben left." - Brandon Curtis
"I wouldn't have joined them if they hadn't been open-minded in that way." - Phil Karnats
"We wanted someone who could just grab it. We're really tough musicians, if you can play, cool - if not, get the hell outta here. Phil can hang." - Josh Garza
Released today on the band's social network www.thesecretmachines.com, the uncensored video clip of Brandon, Josh and Phil - who speaks out for the first time on camera - reveals what really happened, why Benjamin left, and how they rose above uncertainty to continue the musical revolution known as The Secret Machines.
Check out the never-before-seen-footage , Part 1 in a series. Shot in hi-def by Susan Stahman and Howard Berger, courtesy of PalmDoorFilms.
https://secretmachines.lnk.to/awake
I Want To Know
Secret Machines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find a place that's ours.
Maybe there's a world that's still invisible.
A murmur coming from the stars.
Because if it's real,
Then I never noticed.
Hidden by the thoughts that I
Designed, and I,
Don't worry,
I'm much too proud,
To face the lights,
In your eyes.
Crushing stars,
We collide.
What makes us?
I want to know if it's still possible.
Beneath the endless night.
Walking past your window to your bedroom,
but the curtain's holding back the light.
Ohh... If you're home,
I wonder if you'd seen me.
I wonder if I caught your eye.
I wondered if you'd ever notice,
That I was only passing by.
Why should I?
It was the only time
I Want To Know by Secret Machines is a melancholic song that contemplates on the possibility of finding a place that truly belongs to us. The song begins with the singer expressing his desire to know if there is still a place they can call their own. He imagines a different world that is not visible to the naked eye, but may exist as a murmur that comes from the stars. The singer admits that maybe he never noticed this place before as it was hidden by his own thoughts, but in reality, it was always there.
The chorus of the song takes a different tone, as the singer becomes defiant and bold by declaring that he is too proud to face the lights in the other person's eyes. It seems like the singer is trying to avoid confrontation or being vulnerable about his emotions. However, the following line shifts the mood again, as the singer says "crushing stars, we collide", which could represent the intense mixed emotions that arise in a relationship.
The song ends with the singer walking past the other person's window to their bedroom, wondering if they would ever notice him. He questions himself if he even wants to be noticed, as he contemplates if it is worth his time and emotions. Overall, I Want To Know is a song about searching for a place that we can call our own and the fear of being rejected or being vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to know if it's still possible,
The singer is curious if it's still possible to find a unique place that can be claimed as their own.
To find a place that's ours.
The singer wants to find a space for themselves and someone else to occupy.
Maybe there's a world that's still invisible.
The singer thinks that it's possible that there's an undiscovered and hidden world out there.
A murmur coming from the stars.
The artist hears a low, indistinct sound that appears to be originating from the cosmos.
Because if it's real,
If the place they're searching for is actually real...
Then I never noticed.
...the singer didn't realize it was there the whole time.
Hidden by the thoughts that I
The idea was concealed by the singer's own thoughts...
Designed, and I,
...which the artist created themselves.
Was there the entire time.
The idea or place the artist was looking for was always around, they just didn't see it.
Don't worry,
The artist is comforting someone who seems to be nervous.
I'm much too proud,
They convey their own pride while reassuring the listener that they can let go of any anxieties.
To face the lights,
The artists aren't afraid of bright lights that illuminate everything completely.
In your eyes.
The fear of judgement or scrutinization does not deter the singers' pride, and it does not prompt soul-searching.
Crushing stars,
The stars above seem to be unbreakable and therefore, crushing them is impossible.
We collide.
The singer and who they're addressing are smashing together.
What makes us?
The Speaker is curious about what they are made of and questions their own identity.
I want to know if it's still possible.
The artist's wants are reiterated, and they reiterate the search for a place to call their own.
Beneath the endless night.
It appears as though they're searching for the place they're looking for under the cover of darkness.
Walking past your window to your bedroom,
The singer is physically walking past the room where someone sleeps.
but the curtain's holding back the light.
The curtains are preventing any light from being able to illuminate or shed any sort of light on the room's interior.
Ohh... If you're home,
The artist addresses the notion that the person whose window they're passing might be there.
I wonder if you'd seen me.
The artist wonders if the subject has spotted them outside, passing by.
I wonder if I caught your eye.
The singer questions whether they were noticed by the person in question.
I wondered if you'd ever notice,
The artist has had concerns about whether or not they will ever be noticed.
That I was only passing by.
The singer clarifies that they weren't there for long and were just walking past before moving on with their journey.
Why should I?
The singer sees no need to inform others of their presence, so they don't disclose their movements.
It was the only time
The singer explains that they didn't think it was worth making a big deal about, since it was a one-time occurrence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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