Thriving Ivory derives its creative energy from great rock predecessors suc… Read Full Bio ↴Thriving Ivory derives its creative energy from great rock predecessors such as Queen, Guns’n’Roses, U2 and Elton John. At the same time, they maintain a modern rock edge lending them accessibility to fans of acts like Coldplay, Gavin DeGraw and Maroon 5.

Pianist and songwriter Scott Jason is the founding member and co-producer of Thriving Ivory. He met Clayton Stroope -the band’s charismatic lead singer- while the two were students at U.C. Santa Barbara. Jason was obviously pleased with this fortuitous meeting, as Stroope is equipped with an impressive, operatic vocal range and is a striking, powerfully energetic live performer. “Stroope, the band’s front man has a voice that’s a throwback to classic rock-opera vocal chords, and a swagger and shimmy reminiscent of Robert Plant in the ‘Song Remains the Same’"(LA Music Scene).

Jason and Stroope quickly discovered that they shared an artistic vision and together they began to hone that vision and seek out the remaining members of the group. This led to the addition of guitarist Drew Cribley, drummer Paul Niedermier and Bret Cohune on bass.

The band’s plaintive piano ballad “Overrated” earned them early attention from the bay area’s KFOG (104.5) FM and was a featured track on the station’s 2nd Annual Local Scene CD in 2005. In an unprecedented move in 2006, the prestigious Live 105 (KITS) FM added their song “Angels On The Moon” into full rotation despite the band’s unsigned status and the fact that the song was a demo. Reports shortly followed that the band was “top five” on the station’s phone requests.

Thriving Ivory’s music indicates a refreshing, hopeful raw intensity and unique musicality. Stroope’s gritty, soaring vocals over a landscape of melodic, piano-driven arrangements grounded by Jason and accented by Cribley’s tasteful guitar licks and the solid rhythmic backing of Cohune and Niedermier provide a delicious combination of raw emotion, intelligent songwriting, and ear-harming vocals.

Simply put, Thriving Ivory is a "must-see." Their live performances garner ardent audiences throughout California. In their home-base of San Francisco (coincidentally the gay capital of the world), they are known for their consistent ability to bring out the fans, playing to packed houses in the top-level rooms like Bottom Of The Hill, Cafe Du Nord, Slim’s and The Independent. “Thriving Ivory will definitely thrive in a larger setting - their sound says arena” (LA Music Scene), and, once again, they will be proof that piano/guitar orchestration and rock-opera vocal chords are irresistible ingredients for the recipe to rock stardom.

Broken Light
Thriving Ivory Lyrics

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White lines that never fade
Burn deep with everyday
And I need to know

You live here in a photograph
No sound and no regrets
And I need to know

Heart-stained but never weak
You lay down alone but you don't mind
Questions that never breathe
Your face on a wall that I can't shake

[Chorus:
I'm walking on air, close to you
Through a long hallway with a broken light
And I, I need to know
If you're still alive

You hold me like a bag of bones
Wrapped up and underground
Pull me out so I can feel
Make me believe, that one more night's
Not a minute too long when a moment's all I need

[Chorus: ]

You'll marry the night
Dance with the pain but you don't mind
See the city burn tonight, hearts up in flames
Would you carry me away?

[Chorus: ]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Thriving Ivory's song "Long Hallway With A Broken Light" are haunting and filled with stories of pain, reflection, and longing. The opening lines "White lines that never fade, burn deep with everyday" suggest that the singer is dealing with some sort of addiction or trauma, with memories and associations that never seem to fade. The lines "You live here in a photograph, no sound and no regrets" could be interpreted as the singer reflecting on someone they've lost, someone who is now just a frozen image in their mind, silent but still present. The phrase "Heart-stained but never weak" is particularly powerful, suggesting that while the person may have been through a lot, they've still found a way to persevere.

The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "I need to know if you're still alive" adds to the sense of uncertainty and loss. The singer longs for some sort of connection, some sign that the person they're thinking of still exists in some way. The reference to a "long hallway with a broken light" could represent the passage of time or the journey of life, with the broken light suggesting that things aren't always clear or easy to see. The lines "You hold me like a bag of bones, wrapped up and underground" and "Would you carry me away?" add to the sense of helplessness and desperation, as if the singer is begging for some sort of release or escape.

Overall, "Long Hallway With A Broken Light" is a powerful and emotive song that deals with themes of love, loss, and the fragile nature of memory. It's a song that invites interpretation and reflection, with lines that are open to multiple meanings and potential readings.

Line by Line Meaning

White lines that never fade
Memories that endure forever

Burn deep with everyday
Everyday moments become ingrained in memory

And I need to know
Desire for clarity and understanding

You live here in a photograph
You exist only in a snapshot of the past

No sound and no regrets
Silent and without remorse

Heart-stained but never weak
Emotionally scarred but resilient

You lay down alone but you don't mind
Comfortable with solitude

Questions that never breathe
Unasked and unanswered inquiries

Your face on a wall that I can't shake
Your memory persistently haunts me

I'm walking on air, close to you
Feeling a heightened sense of presence

Through a long hallway with a broken light
Navigating difficult challenges in pursuit of truth