Ready to form another band after a five-year hiatus from music, Hailey went to see Grey perform with Mellowdrone. "I had been waiting to meet someone who had her talent and drive," Hailey says. "After hanging out a couple of times, it was obvious we were a great match." For her part, Grey says she was ready to leave behind session work and focus on a creative collaboration. "I've wanted to write and produce my own music, but was too busy touring as a background performer."
The result of their efforts was the EP I See Red, which was recorded over several months in a bedroom at Grey's Los Angeles home. ("Vocals were done in the bathroom," Hailey says, "it was very sexy.") Produced by Grey and mixed by Al Clay (who has worked with the Pixies, Frank Black, and Blur), I See Red, with its laser-sharp melodies, ethereal harmonies, lush string arrangements, and muscular drums, is a great introduction to the duo.
Less than a year after the release of I See Red, Uh Huh Her will unveil their full-length debut, the accessibly melodic Common Reaction, on August 19th. Produced by Al Clay … it was recorded in January at Clay’s L.A. studio, a world away from Grey’s bathroom …. The effort is an extension of the band’s previous musical foundation, as evidenced by focused tracks like "Not a Love Song," "Wait Another Day" and "Explode."
"We wrote a lot of it before we went in the studio, but we wound up re-cutting everything," Grey says of the 11-track album. "We wanted to make a commercially appealing record. The songs aren't specifically poppy but appeal to a wide variety of people."
"Sometimes the song just calls for it and you can't fight the pop," Hailey laughs. "I like that it's eclectic and not just one thing. That bores me in a record. We never wanted this band to be small."
Common Reaction is now available.
Criminal
Uh Huh Her Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're sickened by humanity
What have you to manage now?
You're one more casuality, I wake up
Won't you Sir take off your make up so we can see you?
I told it to you straight somehow
You didn't hear a thing
If the western world won't save you now
Then tell me what's your plan?
Will you fight to the end?
Say it, say it out loud
Say it again please, I cannot hear you
It's all lies and mediation
I feel manipulated these days, these days
You're back and forth, you lead us to this
It's only my entire life you banked on my friend
Oh my life's just hanging by a thread
But you played the whole way
Didn't you save me, save me
All that mattered to you was the cash
But you took us for a ride
It didn't last, it didn't last
In Uh Huh Her's song Criminal, the lyrics are directed toward an individual who is described as a criminal. The singer questions this person's motives and actions, specifically their disdain for humanity and their tendency to manipulate situations. The singer also reveals their own vulnerability, as they have been taken advantage of by this "criminal," who valued money over any personal connections or loyalty.
The opening lines reveal the singer's disbelief and disgust for the actions of the criminal. They ask a rhetorical question, wondering why this person would be so disgusted by humanity when they themselves seem to be causing harm. The phrase "one more casualty" implies that the criminal is not alone in their actions, and there have been other victims before. The singer then implores the criminal to show their true face without the use of makeup, suggesting that they are hiding something.
The chorus is a call to action, asking the criminal to speak up and share their plan for redemption or survival. The repeated request to "say it out loud" highlights the singer's frustration and desire for clarity. The lyrics also suggest a lack of trust in the Western world to solve these issues, implying that the solution must come from the criminal themselves.
The second half of the song shifts to the singer's personal experience with this criminal. They reveal that they have been manipulated and used for their own gain, and that their life is hanging by a thread. They accuse the criminal of only caring about money, and in doing so, "took us for a ride." The lyrics suggest a sense of betrayal and disappointment, as the singer trusted this person and was let down.
Overall, Criminal is a song about distrust, manipulation, and the consequences of valuing money over human connection. The lyrics speak to a larger societal issue of corruption and greed, while also sharing a personal story of betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh criminal tell me one thing
Addressing the criminal to get to the bottom of their motivations
You're sickened by humanity
The criminal has disdain for humanity
What have you to manage now?
Questioning what the criminal has left to gain or manage with their actions
You're one more casuality, I wake up
The artist has woken up to the fact that they are, or are at risk of becoming, another victim of the criminal's actions
Won't you Sir take off your make up so we can see you?
A request for the criminal to reveal their true self
I told it to you straight somehow
The singer was honest with the criminal in some way
You didn't hear a thing
The criminal did not listen or ignored what the singer had to say
It's sad, what a shame
Expressing disapproval and disappointment
If the western world won't save you now
If powerful or influential allies won't help the criminal now
Then tell me what's your plan?
Asking what the criminal's next move or strategy is
Will you fight to the end?
Asking whether the criminal will persist in their actions regardless of the consequences
Say it, say it out loud
Urging the criminal to speak up and make their intentions clear
Say it again please, I cannot hear you
Asking the criminal to repeat themselves more clearly
It's all lies and mediation
The criminal's actions are deceitful and manipulative
I feel manipulated these days, these days
The singer feels deceived and used
You're back and forth, you lead us to this
The criminal's inconsistent actions and decisions have led to the current situation
It's only my entire life you banked on my friend
The criminal has put the artist's entire life at risk for their own gain
Oh my life's just hanging by a thread
The singer's life is in serious danger
But you played the whole way
The criminal has been involved in the situation from beginning to end
Didn't you save me, save me
Accusing the criminal of failing to protect the artist
All that mattered to you was the cash
The criminal's primary motivation was money
But you took us for a ride
The criminal deceived and exploited the artist for their own benefit
It didn't last, it didn't last
The criminal's actions were ultimately unsuccessful and unsustainable
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.