Six stacked speakers projecting an unrelenting
beat to a packed-house cr… Read Full Bio ↴Six stacked speakers projecting an unrelenting
beat to a packed-house crowd swaying on dancing
feet amidst the rising steam of body heat. That is...

Snowsera

When vocalist Bill Arteaga, bassist Nate Christenson, guitarist Ian Erard and drummer Jeff Wagner formed Snowsera in late 2006, the four University of Illinois students deliberately chose a name devoid of any existing meaning. Instead, their moniker, like their music, is an open invitation to each listener – one which bids them to imbue it with personal experiences and emotions.

In more tangible terms, Snowsera is a band that uses its diverse influences as just that – both a source of inspiration in which to inject its own aesthetic and a common musical ground to connect with its audiences. The result: power drumming reminiscent of Dave Grohl playing on Ringo’s kit; a grooving bass that marries Michael Jackson and Nirvana; guitar lines that fuse British strumming with American riffs; forceful vocals that transcend traditional safe ranges with lyrical themes that are at once relatable and thought-provoking.

Although comprised entirely of Chicagoland natives, the members of Snowsera are hesitant to tie themselves to just one location – confirming the tacit truth that the band is most at home wherever a stage can be found (or created).

Over the past year-and-a-half, Snowsera has brought its high-impact live show to over 50 audiences crowded into rec rooms, dimly-lit bars and concert venues across the Midwest. Along the way, the band has shared the bill with major label recording artists (…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, This Is Me Smiling) and veteran Chicago indie acts (State & Madison, Company of Thieves). Although the touring path Snowsera has blazed cuts through Chicago, Minneapolis and Terra Haute, nowhere does its glow shine brighter than in Champaign, IL - the town where the band was conceived.

After “So Subtle” and “Trends” received significant airplay on WPGU, the band was honored with the titles of Best New Artist and Best Live Performance at the 2008 WPGU Local Music Awards, as well as being named the station’s inaugural “Local Band of the Week” in April. After self-recording/producing its first release, in June 2008 Snowsera entered Chicago’s Gallery of Carpet Studios to record its second EP with producer Brian Zieske (The Academy Is, The Hush Sound, Sars Flannery). This collaboration added fresh perspectives and new significance to the band’s music, because Snowsera is nothing if not the sum of its listeners. As such, the time has now come to answer one final burning question:

What does Snowsera mean to you?

(courtesy of Chris Hassen)

www.snowsera.com

Darling
Snowsera Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If we chalk it up to faint memories,
Do we really have a vivid dream,
Perceived, Darling.
If we catch our breath in this stubborn breeze,
Do we really have all that we need,
Knowing, Darling.
If we shut our eyes for so long,
We can forget all of those wrongs,

I did, Darling.

Do we have all that we need,
I don't know. I don't know.
What we have is all perceived,
I don't know. I don't know.

If we elaborate all our stories,
Do we always get out of everything,
Barely, Darling.
If we speak it out in a tight lip,
We can forecast our recovery,
I know, Darling.

Do we have all that we need,
I don't know. I don't know.

What we have is all perceived,
I don't know. I don't know.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Snowsera's song, "Darling," speak to the uncertainty and ambiguity of life. The opening lines, "If we chalk it up to faint memories, do we really have a vivid dream," suggest that sometimes our memories are so fleeting that we question if they even occurred. This line could also speak to the idea that sometimes our dreams or goals might feel impossible or unattainable. Similarly, the line "If we catch our breath in this stubborn breeze, do we really have all that we need," implies that our lives can be tumultuous and chaotic, making it difficult to feel as though we have all that we need.

The chorus of the song, "Do we have all that we need, I don't know. I don't know. What we have is all perceived, I don't know. I don't know," drives home the idea that we don't always feel certain about our lives. We might question whether we have everything we need, and even if we do, we can't always be sure that it's real or just something we've perceived.

The second verse continues with this theme of questioning and uncertainty, featuring lines like "If we elaborate all our stories, do we always get out of everything?" and "If we speak it out in a tight lip, we can forecast our recovery." These lines suggest that sometimes we need to be open and honest about our experiences, but at other times, we might need to keep our thoughts and feelings to ourselves to move forward.

Overall, Snowsera's song "Darling" reveals the complicated nature of our lives and the uncertainty we often feel despite our best efforts to make sense of things.

Line by Line Meaning

If we chalk it up to faint memories,
If we try to make sense of our vague recollections,

Do we really have a vivid dream,
Are our dreams truly clear and distinct,

Perceived, Darling.
That's just what we believe, my dear.

If we catch our breath in this stubborn breeze,
If we pause amidst life's constant challenges,

Do we really have all that we need,
Do we possess everything we require,

Knowing, Darling.
But perhaps, we are sure regardless, beloved.

If we shut our eyes for so long,
If we purposely ignore our missteps for extended periods,

We can forget all of those wrongs,
We can erase our mistakes from memory,

I did, Darling.
And I, too, have chosen to forget, my love.

If we elaborate all our stories,
If we go into great detail about our experiences,

Do we always get out of everything,
Can we always avoid consequences,