Prior to forming The Midnight, Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan were both established musicians. Lyle was an indie-folk singer-songwriter based in the state of Georgia and gained initial notability with several self-released titles, becoming regionally and nationally known. McEwan was a drummer and producer based in Denmark, later becoming a member of the Danish production group Deekay who has written and produced songs for many popular artists.
The pair met for the first time in 2012 at a songwriter’s workshop in North Hollywood organized by Katie Donovan, Lyle’s A&R representative at the time. Prior to meeting, McEwan had listened to some of Lyle’s previous work and liked Lyle’s folk sound. Despite differing musical backgrounds, they bonded over a mutual love of 80s rock and began to write songs together. After initially struggling to define their sound, McEwan suggested that they compose songs in the synthwave style. McEwan had prior exposure to the burgeoning genre and was inspired by the movie Drive. The first song they wrote together as a duo was WeMoveForward, which was included on their debut EP Days of Thunder.
STYLE AND WORKFLOW
For most of their career, The Midnight has created a strong and distinct synthwave sound in their music - Tim McEwan once described the band's early albums “as if Miami Vice had a baby with a John Hughes movie”. However, McEwan has continuously expressed a desire to evolve the synthwave genre and not be confined by it. Tyler Lyle has stated several times that the band's philosophy when composing is “combine, not confine”. Influences of genres such as lo-fi, soft rock, trance, and vaporwave can be heard on Monsters, and Lyle's musical background has brought influences of indie folk and Americana to the band's sound as well. Regarding the merging of their individual talents and styles, Lyle has said:
It’s rock and roll with synthesizers. Tim has a keen ear for production, and I can write songs that fit comfortably within the tradition of 20th century classic pop songwriting. Somewhere in the middle things get interesting.
McEwan employs various digital synths in his production, including Serum, Diva, TAL-U-NO-LX, Spire, and Roland Cloud's Jupiter 8 and Juno 106. In mid-2020, he mentioned that his favorite synth to use at the time was U-He's emulation of Prophet-5, known as Repro 5. McEwan has stated that he commonly begins with presets and then tweaks them to his liking. KONTAKT is used for sampling.
Both McEwan and Lyle use Logic Pro on macOS as their primary Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).Universal Audio interfaces are used to capture their sounds, which are then processed using UAD plugins. Using the same utilities makes it easier for them to share session files as a significant amount of their work is done remotely, due to living in different areas of the US. However, they will usually get together in the same room a few times during a release's production and will often write and record together while on tour. A release's sound and overall direction are generally created by the two bouncing ideas off each other - McEwan will send Lyle a rough track or beat, which Lyle will then think of lyrics and a title that would go good with the beat, after which McEwan will further build and produce the track. McEwan has stated that the production of a typical The Midnight album takes around three to six months, “from the early gestating part to finish”.
Production and drums are handled by McEwan, with Lyle providing guitar, lyrics, and vocals. Lyle has stated that he writes on a daily basis, and many lyrics come from a large number of fragments he keeps stored in Evernote. Most of the remaining instrumentation is digital, but on occasion songs (including most with saxophone and guitar solos) will at first have digital instruments that are then outsourced to other musicians to play live on the track. Thomas Edinger has been the primary saxophone player for The Midnight's releases, and McEwan's brother Oliver has frequently played bass for the band as well.
For live performances, various setups have been used by the band. Lyle stated that the Spring 2019 tour utilized an Ableton rig, with McEwan using an SPD SX sampling pad and MIDI controller. Lyle ran his guitars through a Kemper profiling amp, and he also used an OP1 for certain synth moments and pads.
Brooklyn
The Midnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the skyline shines with a certain light
I know you're sick of it
But I know a happy hour nearby
And there's a possibility
That one day things'll get better, for
The huddled masses in between
Floating empire, held up by fraying wire
I'll cover you in winter like a blanket by the fire
When the rent's too high, we'll just buy cheaper wine
And hang on to see if whether
The constellations hold together or not
Four years in Brooklyn
And happy birthday darlin'
When we feel young again
I'd like to take you dancing
'Cause there's a possibility
That one day things'll get better, for
The huddled masses in between
The shadows and the stars
And there's a possibility
We'll both go down together
Free ourselves from gravity
And tumble through the dark
Floating empire, held up by fraying wire
I'll cover you in winter like a blanket by the fire
And when the rent's too high, we'll just buy cheaper wine
And hang on to see if whether
The constellations hold together or not
I never placed too much faith in the stars
I never placed too much faith in my heart
But the siren call in this chandelier city
And inch by inch we're breaking apart
As we're rising through the dark
From the sky I bet the lights look pretty
Floating empire, held up by fraying wire
I will cover you in winter like a blanket by the fire
And when the rent's too high, we'll just buy cheaper wine
Hang on to see if whether
The constellations hold together or not
Or not
The Midnight’s “Brooklyn” is an ode to the struggles, hopes, and dreams of the residents of Brooklyn, New York. The song juxtaposes the congested, noisy, and tumultuous aspects of city life (e.g., bridge traffic and high rent expenses) with the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. Despite the odds, the lyrics suggest that there is always a possibility that things will get better for the “huddled masses in between the shadows and the stars.” The song’s imagery of a “floating empire, held up by fraying wire” speaks to the precariousness and vulnerability of the city and its inhabitants, but also to their perseverance, fortitude, and sense of community.
The song is a celebration of the human connections that make life in the city meaningful, such as the happy hours with friends, the moments of intimacy and comfort with loved ones, and the shared experiences of laughter, dance, and celebration. The line “And when we feel young again, I’d like to take you dancing” speaks to the desire to recapture the joys and freedom of youth, while “Free ourselves from gravity and tumble through the dark” connotes a sense of adventure and spontaneity. Ultimately, the song’s message is one of hope, of finding resilience and beauty in difficult circumstances, and of trusting that the constellations of life will hold together, even if we cannot always see their patterns and shapes.
Line by Line Meaning
There's traffic on the bridge
The singer notices the hustle and bustle of the bridge, but despite that, he finds the beauty of the city breathtaking.
But the skyline shines with a certain light
The city's skyline has a unique glow that captivates the singer's heart and shines bright despite the chaotic traffic.
I know you're sick of it
Despite the singer's love for the city, he understands that some people might feel exhausted by the city life.
But I know a happy hour nearby
Nevertheless, the singer knows where to find some happiness and has found the ideal spot for enjoyment.
And there's a possibility
Hope springs eternal, and the singer believes that there's always a chance for things to turn around.
That one day things'll get better, for
The singer hopes that someday everyone who struggles to make ends meet in the city will have a better life.
The huddled masses in between
People from different social backgrounds, huddling together in the same neighbourhoods, trying to make the most of the situation.
The shadows and the stars
The dark alleys and shining buildings, creating a contrasting image of the cityscape in the singer's eyes.
Floating empire, held up by fraying wire
The city can be seen as a majestic kingdom standing on a thin, fragile balance of its inhabitants.
I'll cover you in winter like a blanket by the fire
The singer promises to keep his loved one comforted and warm during the harsh winter months.
When the rent's too high, we'll just buy cheaper wine
When they run out of money, they will still find ways to enjoy life by cutting back on expenses, settling for cheaper pleasures, such as wine.
And hang on to see if whether
No matter what challenges they face, they will always hold on to hope and opportunities for a better future.
The constellations hold together or not
They will see if the world remains intact and moves forward or falls apart.
Four years in Brooklyn
The singer has spent four years in Brooklyn, and he's experienced various ups and downs in the city.
And happy birthday darlin'
It's a special occasion, and the singer is wishing a happy birthday to his loved one.
When we feel young again
The singer reminisces about past happy times and hopes to relive the same feeling of youthfulness again.
I'd like to take you dancing
The singer wishes to celebrate the happy occasion by taking his loved one dancing.
We'll both go down together
The singer and his loved one will face any adversities in life together, no matter what.
Free ourselves from gravity
The singer hopes to break free from their struggles and live a more carefree life.
And tumble through the dark
The universe is a vast and unknown place, but they will face it together without fear.
I never placed too much faith in the stars
The singer was never too superstitious or hopeful about their destiny or fate.
I never placed too much faith in my heart
The singer never trusted his emotions or feelings too much.
But the siren call in this chandelier city
Despite reservations, the singer feels an irresistible pull towards the city lights.
And inch by inch we're breaking apart
Even though they're together, they can feel themselves slowly slipping away from their situation and losing their grip on the dreams that brought them to the city.
As we're rising through the dark
They're both rising through the challenges and struggles of life, trying to get ahead.
From the sky I bet the lights look pretty
The singer believes that even from high up above, the city's lights would still look charming and tempting.
Or not
Despite all efforts and the hope, things may not go as planned or turn out for the best.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Tim McEwan, Tyler Lyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shannonjared7098
[Verse 1]
There's traffic on the bridge
But the skyline shines with a certain light
And I know you're sick of it
But I know a happy hour nearby
[Pre-Chorus]
And there's a possibility
That one day, things'll get better
For the huddled masses in between
The shadows and the stars
[Chorus]
Floating empire
Held up by fraying wire
I'll cover you in winter
Like a blanket by the fire
And when the rent's too high
We'll just buy cheaper wine
And hang on to see if whether
Constellations hold together or not
[Verse 2]
Four years in Brooklyn
And happy birthday, darling
When we feel young again
I'd like to take you dancing
[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause there's a possibility
That one day, things'll get better
For the huddled masses in between
The shadows and the stars
And there's a possibility
That we'll both go down together
Or free ourselves from gravity
And tumble through the dark
[Chorus]
Floating empire
Held up by fraying wire
And I'll cover you in winter
Like a blanket by the fire
And when the rent's too high
We'll just buy cheaper wine
And hang on to see if whether
Constellations hold together or not
[Bridge]
I never placed too much faith in the stars
I never placed too much faith in my heart
But the siren call of the chandelier city
And inch-by-inch, we're breaking apart
As we're rising through the dark
From the sky, I bet the lights look pretty
[Chorus]
Floating empire
Held up by fraying wire
And I will cover you in winter
Like a blanket by the fire
When the rent's too high
We'll just buy cheaper wine
Hang on to see if whether
Constellations hold together or not
@WyFoster
If you're reading this, congrats! You've got good taste.
@Ben__Hall
Hi5 too 👌
@shirinkalantar
@@Ben__Hall :)
@IT-Entrepreneur
Thx but everyone who is listening this already knows ;)
@storage-space4927
Thank you :)
@gurunibiru6911
Amen, brother.
@Kerath
"And when the rent's too high / We'll just buy cheaper wine"
Okay, this one's my favorite.
@Jason-ot6sf
I love that line too :)
@chhantluangi5510
The best line for all time broke person like me.
@danzaJEDI
Priorities :)