1. The Keys was a British pow… Read Full Bio ↴There are three groups with this name:
1. The Keys was a British power pop quartet. It was made up of Drew Barfield (vocals/bass), Ben Grove (vocals/guitar), Steve Tatler (vocals/guitar), and Geoff Britton. They had some success in the early to mid-80s, and their 1981 album was produced by popular singer-songwriter Joe Jackson. From 1980 to 1982, they released six singles. The group is perhaps best known today for the song "I Don't Wanna Cry" as well as from the fact that Britton had previously worked as Paul McCartney's drummer.
2. Born and raised in several France locations, Boris Paillard a.k.a The Keys has found a new home on stage, winning audiences across Canada and the United States with raw talent and ample doses of charm. With wide-eyed ambition and a strong singer-songwriter work ethic, in three short years, Paillard has released six full length records and found the time to tour coast to coast thrice with the Greyhound Discovery Pass, playing well over 150 dates everywhere from New Haven to San Diego.
At just 24 years old, Paillardβs road tested big collection of folkβn'roll /edgy pop tunes is now backed up in Montreal by a powerful band consisting of a flamboyant three-piece horn section and a solid and groovy rythm section.
http://www.myspace.com/sirobandthekeys
3. Who are The Keys?
Matthew Evans - Vocals / Guitar
Gwion Rowlands - Guitar / Vocals
Elliott Jones - Drums
James Bell - Bass
How did The Keys start?
We released a record on BOOBYTRAP records.
Was it easy to get signed by Too Pure?
I knew a lot of the TOO PURE team from another band I had been in (MURRY THE HUMP). They'd heard demos and really liked them.
What are the drives and the inspiration behind the record?
I have not had many positive experiences from using professional studios. So the first premise was to record the album intimately at home. To record the rehearsal of the songs and use that as what gets released. So the musicians playing on the album still don't know the song too well. There's no chance of over polishing the recordings. I wanted to get the mistakes down on record. All my favourite records have mistakes on them.
How come it's self-titled? How do you work together and create your songs?
We all thought a self-titled album was right. It is very much a songbook type album, each song has its own individual key/pitch it would have been great if we had done the first song in C then the next one in C# then the next one in D etc. the way we write songs is I usually start playing one of the things I've been working on. If it inspires the others to play along then its probably good enough to record. If I play something and nobody reacts then it is usually rejected or turned into an acoustic number!!!!
How do you write the lyrics?
It isn't easy, and it's the most frustrating yet rewarding part of writing songs for me. I carry a note book around with me and constantly jot lyrics down. I steal from films, radio shows, other songs, books. Anything. It is a lot like getting jam out of an already empty jam jar.
There is a deep "country feel" in your songs, what music do you like listening or feel inspired by?
I like lots of things, but it's usually by dead people.
How did you record and work on the album?
As I said we recorded the rehearsals. I think a lot of musicians can relate to me when I say playing a song is never quite as good as the first couple of times. I think a lot of bands today rehearse too much. They iron out the soul of the song. Recording is about capturing the subtle frisson between soul and craft. I don't like things to be too polished. I think the Keys album is very subtle. It appears to be a lot more accessible than it actually is.
What is your live show like?
Our live show is LOUDER. Its something that I really want to capture on the next album. More direct, distortion.
Where did you get your name from?
My girlfriend at the time came up with it.. I turned it down at first but it kept coming back so we took the hint.
Driving School
The Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well so Iβ²ve been told
They lead to your door
We roam like ghosts
Signs
They stay in the mind You left them behind
It's yours your time
Take these wheels out for the summer
Iβ²m just tired of being a stranger
See no doubt its all in the blind spot
It's a simple rule of driving school
While
We're having good fortune
Put words to a good tune
They come soon I know
When
Weβ²re sick to our seams
Not all what it seems
The stars are near not far
Take these wheels out of town
Iβ²m not into hanging around
See no doubt its all in the blind spot
It's a simple rule of driving school
The Keys's song Driving School is about the journey of life and the different paths that we take to reach our destination, particularly in terms of relationships. The opening line, "Roads well, so I've been told, they lead to your door", suggests that the singer is on a journey to reach someone they care about, but they are struggling to find the right path. The reference to "ghosts" suggests a feeling of being lost or disconnected, perhaps because the journey is long and difficult.
The second verse suggests that the singer is tired of feeling like a "stranger" and wants to take control of their journey by "taking the wheels out for the summer". This line may be interpreted as a desire for freedom, both from the physical act of driving and from emotional restrictions. The idea that "it's all in the blind spot" suggests that we often miss opportunities because we are distracted by what we think we see, rather than what is actually there.
Line by Line Meaning
Roads
The paths we take in life
Well so I've been told
People have shared their life experiences with me
They lead to your door
Your choices determine where you end up
We roam like ghosts
Sometimes we move through life without direction
Signs
The guidance we receive in life
They stay in the mind
Advice can stick with us for a long time
You left them behind
You may forget the lessons you learned over time
It's yours your time
The decisions you make impact your life the most
Take these wheels out for the summer
Make the most out of life while it lasts
I'm just tired of being a stranger
Feeling disconnected from others is exhausting
See no doubt it's all in the blind spot
It's easy to miss opportunities in life
It's a simple rule of driving school
Life is unpredictable and you must adapt to it
While
During times when life is going well
We're having good fortune
Things are going our way
Put words to a good tune
Express yourself in a positive way
They come soon I know
Good opportunities will arise in the future
When
During times of struggle
We're sick to our seams
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed
Not all what it seems
Things aren't always as they appear
The stars are near not far
There is hope for a better future
Take these wheels out of town
Change your environment to improve your mood
I'm not into hanging around
Don't waste time in a negative situation
See no doubt it's all in the blind spot
Opportunities can be missed if you're not paying attention
It's a simple rule of driving school
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns
Writer(s): Matthew Evans, Gwion Rowlands, Sion Glyn
Contributed by James O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.