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.
Kick Drums & Red Wine
The Midnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look across the room
Katie's dress in full bloom
Yellows and blues
But I prefer kick drums and red wine
I prefer kick drums and red wine
I prefer kick drums and red wine
Some people find it with devotion
Some with gold and some with bourbon
Some like praying to the blue skies
Some like putting on a disguise
But I prefer kick drums and red wine
I prefer kick drums and red wine
I prefer kick drums and red wine
I prefer kick drums and red wine
The lyrics to The Midnight's song Kick Drums & Red Wine are a reflection of the singer's personal preference when it comes to finding truth and happiness in life. Many people look to the sky for truth, which could be interpreted as a reference to religion or spirituality. However, for the singer, the answer lies in something more tangible – they look across the room and see Katie's dress in full bloom, with yellows and blues. This could be seen as a metaphor for finding beauty in the everyday things in life, rather than searching for something unattainable.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "I prefer kick drums and red wine" several times. This line is a declaration of the singer's belief that they don't need anything fancy or expensive to be happy – a simple beat and a glass of wine are enough for them. The second verse of the song expands on this idea, pointing out that some people find happiness through devotion, wealth, or even deception. But the singer is content with their own choice, as it brings them the joy they seek.
Overall, the lyrics to Kick Drums & Red Wine are a testament to the idea that happiness and truth can come from a multitude of sources. While some people find it in religious devotion, material possessions, or deception, the singer finds it in something as simple as a beat and a drink.
Line by Line Meaning
Some look to the sky for truth
While some people seek clarity and answers by looking up towards the sky, I choose to look around and find them inside myself.
I look across the room
I gaze across the room to take in the beauty of my surroundings and the people around me.
Katie's dress in full bloom
I admire the visual appeal and vibrancy of the dress that Katie is wearing.
Yellows and blues
The dress that Katie is wearing appears to have bright colors of yellow and blue.
But I prefer kick drums and red wine
Despite the many ways in which people seek joy and fulfillment, I personally find my greatest pleasure and enjoyment in the simple pleasures of kick drums and red wine.
Some people find it with devotion
While some people derive meaning and happiness through religious or spiritual devotion, I have found that this is not the case for me.
Some with gold and some with bourbon
Others find happiness and fulfillment through material wealth or indulging in a stiff drink, but these things do not appeal to me as things that offer true value.
Some like praying to the blue skies
While some people might pray to the sky for guidance and assistance, I prefer a more grounded approach to finding meaning and direction.
Some like putting on a disguise
Others may choose to hide their true selves and put on a mask to fit in or impress others, but I prioritize authenticity and being true to myself.
But I prefer kick drums and red wine
Despite the many ways in which people seek joy and fulfillment, I personally find my greatest pleasure and enjoyment in the simple pleasures of kick drums and red wine.
I prefer kick drums and red wine
This line is repeated several times to reinforce the idea that I do not need or desire anything beyond these simple pleasures to find happiness and fulfillment in my life.
Contributed by Madison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@battmuff
Amazing mid 80s style tune with real 80s videos , love it thank you The midnight 😀
@shidoshisenzotanaka
Great editing. I looped it and watched it over and over.
@bluetop8280
When I grow up, I want to be Mr.Wave
@scaleworksRC
Greta work editing. Video fits perfect.
@SempreDeOlho
6 years late i wish u had more views my friend! Nice editing now that 80s feeling are eve more real
@ChosenBlood1
Exactly this.
@anilhurtaud2966
its copied so thats the reason why it has just a few views
@CSM100MK2
its youtube. you're not late. it's literally a video archive, meant to be preserved to watch at any time. get over yourself. there is no real community in the digital age.
@OhNoItsZach
@@CSM100MK2Untwist your lonely ass panties
@themanlyacademy
Dopest vid I've seen in a while!!! God bless!