The story of the Action Design began with the closing of a different chapter. Just as pop punk act Tsunami Bomb was hitting its peak – seemingly poised and ready to take over the world – the band abruptly disbanded. Feeling they still had something to contribute to the music scene, vocalist Emily Whitehurst and bassist Matt Mckenzie soldiered on and joined forces with guitarist Jaycen McKissick (ex-Pipedown) and drummer Jake Krohn (ex-Calcutta Bazaar). Tsunami Bomb and Pipedown were former touring mates and Mckenzie and Krohn were childhood friends, so the chemistry and familiarity had already been established.
Rather than travel down the same paths they had already paved – after all, it would be easy to pick up where their former bands had left off – the Action Design decided to explore new ground. While keeping the energy and spirit of punk rock intact, the guitars are cleaner, the bass lines less frantic, and the drumming more precise. With the addition of keyboards, the result is a much broader and more accessible sound. One thing that fortunately remained unchanged, however, is Whitehurst’s penchant for crafting catchy melodies and memorable lyrics.
The band played their first show in June of 2007 and wasted no time heading into the recording studio. The result was the EP “Into A Sound” released in September of 2007. Therein lie six fine-tuned gems that continue to swirl in the head and tap toes long after the music has stopped. The response was overwhelming, with various tracks being played on specialty radio.
The momentum continued to gain ground with the band’s touring schedule. They started off in June playing the west coast Warped Tour dates (including Canada), and by the end of 2007, they had stormed the southern half of the US. Due to their vibrant live performances at Warped Tour, the band was asked to participate in the movie soundtrack for “Endless Bummer” and was subsequently placed in a prominent spot in the film. They were also asked to return for Warped Tour ‘08, playing double the amount of dates.
As a final push for “Into A Sound” before switching gears toward a full-length album, the Action Design filmed a video for the song “Connect/Disconnect” which was immediately put into rotation in various outlets nationwide. The band is currently focusing on the newest collection of material, and will be releasing a premier full-length in summer. They also have multiple tours lined up and plan on covering the entire US and more this year.
With a full touring schedule and an album due out soon, it’s only a matter of time before the Action Design takes its hold on the world. But be warned: if you don’t find yourself singing along or dancing up a storm, it might just mean you don’t have a pulse.
The Crossing
The Action Design Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your hands are familiar, your eyes even more so,
Whats in store for you and for me,
In another world we were meant to be together
The faceless voices around us say, "too bad for you"
Once I was yours and I'll be yours again (but now its time to go)
Once you were mine and you will be mine again (and you already know)
I believe we've watched the leaves turn in May,
Whatever became of our home in Madrid,
The pattern begins again,
Our names have changed but something remains,
Our flickering fire is the same,
Though we both know we'll just have to wait,
I'm confident we'll meet again someday
Please for now just stay with me, close to me,
I don't know how long 'till we find each other again,
The faceless voices around us say, "too bad for you"
Once I was yours and I'll be yours again (but now its time to go)
Once you were mine and you will be mine again (and you already know)
Once I was yours and I'll be yours again (but now its time to go)
Once you were mine and you will be mine again (and you already know)
The Action Design's song "The Crossing" is a ballad that explores the idea of love beyond time and space. The song's lyrics suggest that the singers have a deep connection that transcends the physical plane. The first verse references this feeling of familiarity, suggesting that they have met before, perhaps in a past life. This notion is reinforced by the following lines which express a belief that they were meant to be together in another world. The second verse continues to explore this concept of a deep connection, suggesting that their love is eternal, but in this life, they must go their separate ways.
The chorus of the song is particularly interesting as it features the repeated line "Once I was yours and I'll be yours again." This line echoes the idea of a cyclical nature to their relationship, suggesting that while they must part ways in this life, they will come together again in another time and place. The song's lyrics also suggest a sense of longing, as the singer begs their lover to stay with them, recognizing that they may not see each other again for a long time.
Although "The Crossing" is a deeply romantic song, it has a melancholic tone that reflects the bittersweet nature of a love that cannot be fully realized. The song's lyrics suggest the feeling of missing someone who is not physically present, while also asserting a belief in the endurance of true love beyond this lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Somehow I know we've been here before,
There is a sense of familiarity between us, as if we have already crossed paths.
Your hands are familiar, your eyes even more so,
I recognize every inch of you, from the lines on your palm to the color of your irises.
Whats in store for you and for me,
What is the destiny that awaits us, the unknown path that we must tread together?
In another world we were meant to be together
In a parallel universe, our love was meant to be eternal and unbreakable.
The faceless voices around us say, "too bad for you"
The nameless people around us seem to ridicule our relationship and dismiss our connection.
Once I was yours and I'll be yours again (but now its time to go)
In a past life, we belonged to each other, but now it's time to part ways and continue on our separate journeys.
Once you were mine and you will be mine again (and you already know)
We will be reunited in the future, as you already have a sense of this eventuality.
I believe we've watched the leaves turn in May,
I trust that we have shared meaningful moments together, like watching the changing of the seasons.
Whatever became of our home in Madrid,
I wonder what happened to the place where we once lived, a reminder of our shared past.
The pattern begins again,
The cycle of life repeats itself, with new opportunities for us to overlap again.
Our names have changed but something remains,
Despite our identities being different now, there are still remnants of our past together.
Our flickering fire is the same,
The passion and the love we share is still burning, even if it is just a small flame.
Though we both know we'll just have to wait,
Although we both have a sense that we'll reunite someday, there's a waiting period we must endure for that to happen.
I'm confident we'll meet again someday
I have faith that our paths will cross again in the future, and our love will be rekindled.
Please for now just stay with me, close to me,
I plead with you to remain by my side, as close as possible, for as long as possible.
I don't know how long 'till we find each other again,
The amount of time that passes until we reunite is still unknown to us, so we must cherish every moment we have now.
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.