Ranging from chillwave to sophisticated electro-pop, Small Black fuses long… Read Full Bio ↴Ranging from chillwave to sophisticated electro-pop, Small Black fuses longing, noise, and melody into lushly wistful songs. On their 2009 self-titled EP and 2010 debut album, New Chain, their lo-fi hybrid of shoegaze and synth pop helped put chillwave on the map and fit into the larger indie tradition of artists couching their heartbreak in homespun sounds. In the 2010s and beyond, they polished their style, and emphasized their '80s sophisti-pop influences on 2013's Limits of Desire, but as poised as their music grew, albums such as 2021's Cheap Dreams kept the emotional pull of their songwriting at the forefront.

Small Black started with a name and worked backwards: a housemate of singer/multi-instrumentalist Josh Kolenik came up with the moniker on a cold Portland, Oregon night. The name stuck when he returned to Long Island, New York and began collaborating with Ryan Heyner, an area musician and former member of the hardcore band Silent Majority who shared friends with Kolenik. The pair holed up in the attic of the beach house and surfboard shop Kolenik's uncle owned to record songs with vintage keyboards and samplers, spending late 2008 and early 2009 recording as Uncle Matt made surfboards underneath them.

Though Kolenik had played in several bands before Small Black, the mix of shoegaze and synth pop he and Heyner hit upon felt special, and the group's lineup was complete once bassist/guitarist Juan Pieczanski and Jeff Curtin from Kolenik's previous band, Slowlands, joined to bolster production and fill out their live act. Small Black released their self-titled five-song EP on their own CassClub label in October 2009, and released the U.K. single "Despicable Dogs" as well as a video for that song featuring Uncle Matt soon after. Following their performances at that year’s CMJ Music Marathon, Small Black signed to Jagjaguwar Records, which reissued the band’s debut EP with two bonus tracks in 2010. That year, they also released a split single with the like-minded Washed Out, with whom they also toured. New Chain, the band's first full-length, boasted a slightly more polished sound that reflected their consistent touring as well as their interest in hip-hop and arrived in October 2010. In late 2011, the band offered the Moon Killer mixtape as a free download from their website. The collection of new material was built on samples ranging from Pere Ubu to Nicki Minaj and featured multiple drop-ins from Das Racist MC Heems as well as remixes from Star Slinger and Phonetag.

After spending much of 2012 on the road, Small Black returned with May 2013's Limits of Desire, a more sophisticated-sounding set influenced by Talk Talk and the Blue Nile. They covered the latter band's classic "Downtown Lights" on the following year's Real People EP, which had a more dancefloor-oriented style and featured vocals from Frankie Rose. Small Black's passion for sophisti-pop grew on October 2015's Best Blues. Recorded by the band in their Brooklyn home studio and mixed by Nicholas Vernhes at the Rare Book Room Studio, the album included contributions from trumpeter Darby Cicci of the Antlers and vocalist Kaede Ford. Soon after Best Blues' release, Kolenik's Uncle Matt passed away, and the memory of him inspired many of the songs on Small Black's fourth album. Arriving on 100% Electronica in April 2021, the reflective Cheap Dreams found the band returning from their hiatus with an extra dose of goth to their synth pop reveries. In 2023, Small Black looked back with a pair of archival releases. They commemorated the tenth anniversary of Limits of Desire with a deluxe edition of the album, and also issued a deluxe version of their debut EP that included previously unreleased songs from their early beach house sessions.

Biography by Heather Phares for ALLMUSIC

Two Rivers
Small Black Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Verse 1: Heems]
Himanshu, a bombshell
9am, I can’t sleep, be bugging
Mean mugging
Cause Indian kids be thugging
Indian uncles staring
Indian aunties bugging
Indians songs that's blaring out of windows

I be chamomile sipping Still tipping, still tipping

[Hook: Small Black]
Love rise high over me On the west side looking east Tennis courts, full of rain River was a mirror that had gone insane I spoke to you a little slow You misunderstood where I wanted to go A taxi cab full of glass Headphones on, never heard the crash

[Verse 2: Heems]
Yo, beginners with splinters that wither weather
Not as a winner, dinner, gimme the jitters
Eat beef, him don't, blue notes, Hindu winds blow
Wind boat, arch windows, minarets
Nicorette, pick your bets, iller than Fila threads
Dilla best, Finito second, reckon, I'm wrecking
Anybody’s stuff, a veteran, Eddie Vedder's van
I need no weapon to pain that I be shlepping

[Hook]

[Small Black]
I’m looking at the big sky You never understood me I’m looking at the big sky You never understood me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Two Rivers" by Small Black feat. Heems paint a picture of cultural identity, personal struggles, and miscommunication. In the first verse, Heems (the featured artist) addresses the pressure and stereotypes faced by Indian kids growing up. He describes how Indian uncles and aunties judge and bother them, while Indian songs blare out of windows. Heems also mentions sipping chamomile, a herbal tea known for its calming properties, but he still feels on edge, perhaps implying that even moments of relaxation can be disrupted.

The chorus sung by Small Black talks about love rising high and looking from the west side to the east. The mention of tennis courts full of rain and a river that has gone insane suggests a distorted reflection or a disillusionment with reality. Small Black speaks of a miscommunication, speaking slowly but being misunderstood on where he wants to go. The imagery of a taxi cab full of glass and never hearing the crash through headphones adds an element of detachment and isolation.

In the second verse by Heems, he contrasts the struggles of beginners (possibly newcomers in a foreign land) with the resilience of weathered individuals. Heems mentions eating beef while someone else doesn't, alluding to cultural differences. Hindu winds blowing, architectural features like arch windows and minarets, and references to Nicorette gum and the late hip-hop producer J Dilla showcase a mix of cultural elements. Heems asserts himself as a veteran in the game, confident in his ability to excel without needing to resort to violence.

The repetition of Small Black's lines in the hook, "I'm looking at the big sky, you never understood me," further emphasizes the theme of misunderstood communication and the longing for connection and understanding.

Overall, "Two Rivers" explores themes of cultural identity, struggles with stereotypes, miscommunication, and the desire for understanding and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Himanshu, a bombshell
Himanshu, an impressive and attention-grabbing individual

9am, I can’t sleep, be bugging
At 9am, I am restless and unable to sleep, feeling unsettled

Mean mugging
Wearing a stern or angry expression

Cause Indian kids be thugging
Because Indian kids are engaging in rebellious or defiant behavior

Indian uncles staring
Indian men, possibly family members, looking intently or judgmentally

Indian aunties bugging
Indian women, possibly family members, annoying or bothering

Indians songs that's blaring out of windows
Loudly playing Indian music from open windows

I be chamomile sipping Still tipping, still tipping
I am calm and relaxed, sipping chamomile tea while maintaining my composure

Love rise high over me On the west side looking east
Feeling deeply connected to love, observing the world from the west side and looking towards the east

Tennis courts, full of rain
The tennis courts are filled with rainwater

River was a mirror that had gone insane
The river, reflecting the surroundings, appeared chaotic and disturbed

I spoke to you a little slow You misunderstood where I wanted to go
I spoke to you slowly and you misinterpreted my intentions or desired direction

A taxi cab full of glass
A taxi cab with broken or shattered windows

Headphones on, never heard the crash
Wearing headphones and unaware of the sound of the crash

Yo, beginners with splinters that wither weather
Hey, inexperienced individuals with small fragments that deteriorate due to exposure to harsh conditions

Not as a winner, dinner, gimme the jitters
Not feeling confident or successful, dinner makes me anxious

Eat beef, him don't, blue notes, Hindu winds blow
While I don't consume beef, melancholic music and cultural influences affect me

Wind boat, arch windows, minarets
Boats moved by the wind, decorative windows, and tall structures with Islamic architectural features

Nicorette, pick your bets, iller than Fila threads
Nicorette gum, choose your bets wisely, better than high-quality Fila clothing

Dilla best, Finito second, reckon, I'm wrecking
J Dilla is the best, Finito is second best, I believe, I am dominating

Anybody’s stuff, a veteran, Eddie Vedder's van
Skilled at handling any task, a seasoned professional, comparing oneself to Eddie Vedder's van

I need no weapon to pain that I be shlepping
I do not require any tools to carry or endure the pain I experience

I’m looking at the big sky You never understood me
I am gazing at the vast sky, feeling misunderstood by you

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Joshua Hayden Kolenik, Juan Pieczanski, Ryan Frank Heyner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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