Influenced heavily by the sounds of MBV, Ride, Spaceman 3, Lush, and the Cocteau Twins, the band soon developed a following. After a few early line-up changes they drafted in one of Portland's most amazing voices, Kaitlyn ni Donovan. Having an extremely successful solo career of her own, Kaitlyn immediately added the lush vocals and beautiful melodies the band needed. One self-released EP later, the band were in the studio recording their debut album "44 Down." Released in 2002 on independent label Reverb Records, the album was singled out by Under the Radar and Magnet magazines with full page features, noting its influence.
The High Violets followed up their debut with the album "To Where You Are," which was released in 2006 (Reverb). Produced, engineered, and mixed by Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith, Tahiti 80) and Jeff S. Saltzman (Sleater Kinnery, Stephen Malkamus), it took over three years to create and was well worth the wait. Press releases proclaimed Clint Sargent's layered guitars the standout feature and Kaitlyn ni Donovan's watercolor vocals the crowning jewel on the CD's shimmering sounds -- "well crafted songs giving fans new and old a healthy dose of their soft and hard sides expertly mixed together." Portland's KINK radio showcased the album on its Local Music Spotlight and Seattle's KEXP invited the band to perform a live broadcast prior to their CD release.
The band completed a successful nationwide tour in 2006 along with performances at the SXSW Music Festival and Musicfest NW. While in Austin they met Emmy-winning producer, director, and editor, Dutch Rall, who worked with the band to produce a fantastic video of "Invitation," and a mini documentary that recently aired on PBS. Check out the video on www.myspace.com/thehighviolets.
X-Tasy
The High Violets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing particular
There's no design
Run to the white
There's no design
White lines crash
Stay... look at me fast
There's no design
There's no design
The lyrics of The High Violets' song X-Tasy can be interpreted in a few different ways, but one possible interpretation is that the song captures a feeling of adrenaline and excitement that comes from driving fast on winding roads. The "101 curves" could refer to a specific highway or route that has many twists and turns. The repetition of "there's no design" could suggest that the driving is not planned or calculated, but rather a spontaneous burst of energy and release. The lyrics "run to the white" may refer to the white lines on the road, which the driver is following as they navigate the curves. The phrase "look at me fast" could signify a desire to be noticed, or a feeling of invincibility as the driver takes risks.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of exhilaration and danger that comes with pushing oneself to the limit. The High Violets' dreamy and ethereal instrumentation adds to the mystical quality of the song, emphasizing the idea that this experience is a departure from everyday reality.
Line by Line Meaning
101 curves
The road ahead is winding and unpredictable
Nothing particular
There is no specific purpose or objective in mind
There's no design
Things are happening randomly without any planned arrangement
Run to the white
Seeking a blank canvas or a fresh start
White lines crash
Signs of trouble are present, but they are being ignored
Stay... look at me fast
Trying to hold onto something fleeting and intense
There's no design
The chaos continues without any clear structure or direction
Run to the white
Still seeking a new beginning or an escape from the current situation
There's no design
The lack of order and purpose persists
Contributed by Savannah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.