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.
Neon Medusa
The Midnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’ll be on in a minute
I’m just sharpening my blade
Don’t fall for his flattering tune
He’ll promise you the world until you drink that perfume
It’s a highway
Highway to the dark
Sweet canyon lullabies
Don’t look straight into its eyesIt’s a highway
Highway to the dark
There’s only two ways to make it in this town
One is to be brilliant
The other is to drown
But don’t take both drugs all in one go
You can’t reach the heavens passed out on the floor
It’s a highway
Highway to the dark
And a neon medusa’s got your heart
Sweet canyon lullabies
Don’t look straight into its eyes
It’s a highway
Highway to the dark
If your mama could see you now
If your mama could see you now
Topless and upside down
The room spinning around
If your mama could see you now
With the party lines coming out
Are you lost or are you found
Are there too many mirrors in this house?
Don’t fall in love with the man on stage
I’ll be on in a minute
Then I’ll sweep you away
Don’t fall for the monsters in this maze
But I could love you forever if you’d meet my gaze
The lyrics to "Neon Medusa" by The Midnight capture the deceptive and seductive nature of fame and the entertainment industry. The song warns against falling in love with the attention-seeking man on stage, as he is just a performer who is constantly refining his act. The reference to sharpening his blade suggests that he is honing his skills and manipulating his audience.
The lyrics also caution against being swayed by the charming facade of the performer. He may promise the world, but once you consume the intoxicating allure he presents, you become trapped in a dark and dangerous world. The mention of a neon medusa symbolizes the mesmerizing and captivating nature of this path, leading individuals astray and ensnaring their hearts.
The song continues to explore the two contrasting paths to succeed in this town. The first is through brilliance, showcasing exceptional talent and skill. The second is through drowning, most likely metaphorically referring to drowning oneself in vices and excess, seeking escape from reality. However, the lyrics advise against combining both approaches, as the destructive consequences are emphasized, suggesting that reaching the highest heights is impossible while incapacitated on the floor.
The chorus, repeating the phrase "highway to the dark," underscores the dangerous and alluring nature of this journey. The sweet canyon lullabies, which entice and entangle individuals in this dark highway, are a metaphor for the tempting but ultimately deceptive allure of success and fame. The warning not to look straight into its eyes implies that falling for its facade could result in getting lost in its web.
The final verse references the potential shame and disappointment that one's mother would feel witnessing their behavior. The image of being topless and upside down suggests a loss of control and surrendering to a reckless lifestyle. The reference to party lines coming out portrays a lack of authenticity and insincerity. The question of being lost or found suggests a struggle with identity and self-discovery within this environment. The mention of too many mirrors in the house may symbolize the vanity and superficiality prevalent in the industry. Despite the warnings, the singer expresses a longing for a genuine connection, saying they could love someone forever if they met their gaze.
Overall, "Neon Medusa" serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers and illusions of fame, inviting listeners to be wary of the seductive yet ultimately destructive nature of the entertainment industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Don’t fall in love with the man on stage
Do not let yourself become infatuated with the performer on the stage
I’ll be on in a minute
I will be ready to perform shortly
I’m just sharpening my blade
I am preparing myself mentally and emotionally for the performance
Don’t fall for his flattering tune
Do not get deceived by his charming melody
He’ll promise you the world until you drink that perfume
He will make grand promises that will only lead to your downfall
It’s a highway
This path is like a fast-moving road
Highway to the dark
A path that leads to darkness and uncertainty
And a neon medusa’s got your heart
You have become captivated by the allure and danger of a mesmerizing figure
Sweet canyon lullabies
The soothing melodies that create a false sense of security
Don’t look straight into its eyes
Avoid direct confrontation or obsession
There’s only two ways to make it in this town
There are limited options for success in this place
One is to be brilliant
One route involves being exceptionally talented or skilled
The other is to drown
Alternatively, one can succumb to the pressures and chaos of the environment
But don’t take both drugs all in one go
However, it is unwise to engage in both extremes simultaneously
You can’t reach the heavens passed out on the floor
You cannot achieve great things if you are unconscious and unable to act
If your mama could see you now
If your mother could witness your current behavior
Topless and upside down
Disoriented and behaving recklessly
The room spinning around
Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented in your surroundings
With the party lines coming out
Engaging in reckless behavior and blurting out thoughtless remarks
Are you lost or are you found
Are you confused and searching for direction, or have you discovered your true purpose?
Are there too many mirrors in this house?
Are you surrounded by self-reflection and vanity?
But I could love you forever if you’d meet my gaze
But I am capable of offering eternal affection if you are willing to meet my gaze and connect with me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Tim McEwan, Tyler Lyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nedyah2067
Lyrics
Don't fall in love with the man on stage
I'll be on in a minute, I'm just sharpening my blade
Don't fall for his flattering tune, he'll promise you the world until you drink that perfume
It's a highway, highway to the dark
And a neon medusa's got your heart
Sweet canyon lullabies
Don't look straight into its eyes
It's a highway, highway to the dark
There's only two ways to make it in this town
One is to be brilliant, the other is to drown
Don't take both drugs all in one go
Can't reach the heavens, passed out on the floor
It's a highway, highway to the dark
And a neon medusa's got your heart
Sweet canyon lullabies
Don't look straight into its eyes
It's a highway, highway to the dark
If your mama could see you now
If your mama could see you now
Topless and upside down
The room spinning around
If your mama could see you now
With the party lines coming out
Are you lost or are you found?
Are there too many mirrors in this house?
Don't fall in love with the man on stage
I'll be on in a minute
Then I'll sweep you away
Don't fall for the monsters in this maze
But I could love you forever if you'd meet my gaze
@sudipaprinjela
Lyrics 🎼
Don't fall in love with the man on stage
I'll be on in a minute, I'm just sharpening my blade
Don't fall for his flattering tune, he'll promise you the world until you drink that perfume
It's a highway, highway to the dark
And a neon medusa's got your heart
Sweet canyon lullabies
Don't look straight into its eyes
It's a highway, highway to the dark
There's only two ways to make it in this town
One is to be brilliant, the other is to drown
Don't take both drugs all in one go
Can't reach the heavens, passed out on the floor
It's a highway, highway to the dark
And a neon medusa's got your heart
Sweet canyon lullabies
Don't look straight into its eyes
It's a highway, highway to the dark
If your mama could see you now
If your mama could see you now
Topless and upside down
The room spinning around
If your mama could see you now
With the party lines coming out
Are you lost or are you found?
Are there too many mirrors in this house?
Don't fall in love with the man on stage
I'll be on in a minute
Then I'll sweep you away
Don't fall for the monsters in this maze
But I could love you forever if you'd meet my gaze
@MrPink713
Those synth stabs are amazing!
@alonzor557
Hell yeah
@SnaxxNZGaming
You head Justice before?
Ya should check out Genesis and Phantom Pt. 2 (From their first Album 'Cross') if you havent.
@SnaxxNZGaming
Wolfgang Gartner has a bunch of songs with a similar sound as well (Such as Illmerica)
@MrPink713
@@SnaxxNZGaming I haven’t heard any of them, I’m listening to Genesis right now as I write this, exactly the sound I love! Thanks for the suggestions, I’m definitely gonna check all of them out.
@Feint
such a vibe
@Sakor163
Didn't expect you here Feint :)
Love both you and The Midnight, hope you guys keep making more!
@TheCobraStefa
The Journey is one of my favourite songs of all time
@Feint
@@Sakor163 thank you! <3 yeah they are my favourite :D
@Feint
@@TheCobraStefa thank you!!