The Atlanta quintet strikes a delicate balance between energetic heaviness and melodic hypnosis on its full-length debut album for Imagen Records, 'Dream Eater,' released on October 2, 2015, and produced by James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Hands Like Houses, Dashboard Confessional).
Comprised of Will Crafton - vocals, Myles Priest - guitar, Tyler Whitfield - guitar, Brenden Worthington - bass, and Thomas Pinson - drums, it turns out that the band's name has a special meaning to its members.
"The name was something we all agreed on instinctually, at the same time, admits Will. "In the literal sense, sometimes you need to separate yourself from the things that keep you grounded and are comfortable in order to succeed. That was the main message we wanted to convey.”
Merging soaring hooks, snapping guitars, and electronic murmurs, the band captured those dynamics in the studio, and this energy resonates from song to song remaining ever present on the title track and first single (released July 29th), "Dream Eater."
“The concept was initially a little cryptic,” explains Will. “The idea is you work so hard for something just to have it taken away. There’s that inner battle in the human mind like, ‘Am I good enough?’ Everyone has a light and dark side. The doubt manifests in the form of this creature we’ll refer to as the ‘Dream Eater’. The protagonist and the monster are embroiled in this battle we all go through.”
Each Separations performance remains unpredictable, making for an unforgettable experience every time these five musicians hit the stage - which will be on display when the band hits the road in 2016 September and October alongside Nothing More, Marmozets, and Turbowolf, as part of the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour.
“As long as we form a connection with anyone listening to the music, then we’re accomplishing what we set out to do,” concludes Will.
The time is coming to unite with Separations.
Passenger
Separations Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Restless, there's a void inside my head
I can explan it but this can't be all I know
The cracks begin to show
Time - it breaks in my reality
I know you can flip the switch and
I'm right back here again
To explain my lack of feeling
But you can't take that away
While I wish you could
We might aswell be here to teist
Oh I wish I could
Escape this world in zero way
Or I see brighten ray
Do I waste my time
Searching for answers
When I know you can
Flip the switch and
I'm right back here again
I can't find the words to say
To explain my lack of feeling
But you can't take that away
While I wish you could
We might aswell be here to teised
Oh I wish I could
Escape this world in zero way
Or I see brighten ray
Tonight I'll dream a new dream
I'm tearing what's inside of me
I'll break your call
I'm in control
I'll break your call
Passenger no more
Passenger no more (yeah)
The song “Passenger” by Separations is a powerful expression of the singer’s emotional turmoil as they struggle to find a way to escape from the consuming pain and emptiness within them. The opening lines, “Another night wide awake, restless, there's a void inside my head,” paint a vivid picture of the singer’s state of mind. The repetition of “I can’t find the words to say” emphasizes their difficulty in expressing their feelings.
The next verse, “Do I waste my time searching for answers when I know you can flip the switch and I’m right back here again,” is a poignant acknowledgement of the singer’s sense of futility and despair. The reference to “brighten ray” suggests a glimmer of hope, but it is quickly dashed in the following lines. The chorus, “I can't find the words to say, to explain my lack of feeling, but you can't take that away, while I wish you could,” encapsulates the singer’s helplessness and the impossibility of finding a solution.
The song then takes a turn with the lines, “Tonight I'll dream a new dream, I'm tearing what's inside of me, I'll break your call, I'm in control, I'll break your call, Passenger no more,” which signal a decisive shift in the singer’s state of mind. The repetition of “I’ll break your call” reinforces this sense of empowerment and liberation, and the repeated assertion of “Passenger no more” underscores the singer’s newfound confidence and autonomy.
Overall, “Passenger” is a deeply moving song that explores themes of isolation, pain, and the human desire for autonomy and self-determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Another night wide awake
Sleepless at night, my mind is alert and active.
Restless, there's a void inside my head
Unable to relax, my head feels empty and lacking emotions.
I can explain it but this can't be all I know
I can't understand why I feel this way, there must be more to my existence.
The cracks begin to show
My mind is starting to lose its stability, evident in my behavior and emotions.
Time - it breaks in my reality
The passage of time seems to shatter my sense of reality.
I know you can flip the switch and
I am aware that someone or something has control over my emotions.
I'm right back here again
I'm back to feeling the same unsettling emptiness and lack of control.
I can't find the words to say
I am unable to express my feelings in words to someone else.
To explain my lack of feeling
To describe how I feel nothing inside.
But you can't take that away
Even though I wish someone could take away my feelings of emptiness, it's impossible.
While I wish you could
Despite knowing that no one can take away my feelings, I still yearn for it.
We might as well be here to teist
It's as if the situation we're in is meant to test us, to see our reaction.
Oh I wish I could
I long to escape from this state of mind.
Escape this world in zero way
To find freedom from my emotions and thoughts, and escape reality completely.
Or I see brighten ray
A glimmer of hope that I might find a solution to my problems.
Do I waste my time
Questioning my purpose, whether my efforts are worth it in the end.
Searching for answers
Striving to find a way out of my current state of mind.
When I know you can
Despite my efforts, I am aware that something else controls my mind.
Flip the switch and
Referring to the entity that controls my emotions.
I'm right back here again
I am unable to break free from my emotional state because of this external force.
Tonight I'll dream a new dream
I will try to imagine a better future for myself and achieve it in my sleep.
I'm tearing what's inside of me
I want to break down my emotional walls and remove the negative thoughts and feelings inside me.
I'll break your call
I will finally break free of the entity that has control over me.
I'm in control
I have regained control over my own mind and emotions.
Passenger no more
I am no longer a victim of my emotions, but the master of my own destiny.
Passenger no more (yeah)
Emphasizing that the singer is finally free from their emotional turmoil.
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.