Via Audio was formed in 2003 in between classes at the infamous Berklee College of Music in Boston. After releasing a self-titled EP on the small independent Kill Normal Records in 2004, the band first garnered attention when Death Cab for Cutie’s guitarist Chris Walla dubbed them his “new favorite band,” in his column for Under the Radar Magazine.
They soon after caught the attention of Spoon drummer Jim Eno, who would become their longtime producer, collaborator and comrade. With Eno’s help behind the board, Via Audio released their first full-length, Say Something, in 2007 on California-based indie label Sidecho Records. Pitchfork Media described Say Something as having “such a beautiful gloss over everything that it sticks, hurts, and feels delicious" and the album received accolades from Spin, Nylon, Under the Radar, Alternative Press, theTripwire, and Stereogum, among others. The band has since toured the U.S. and Japan alongside the likes of Spoon, White Rabbits, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Ha Ha Tonka, and Modern Skirts, making appearances at the South By Southwest, Monolith, and CMJ festivals.
Shutting themselves up again in Eno’s Austin, Texas home studio in 2009, the group tackled their latest songbook- the lo-fi electronics of “Digital,” the soul-infused funk of “Goldrush,” the ethereal surf-lament of “Wanted,” the glittery R&B pop of “Babies”- as Eno carefully and artfully crafted different sonic palettes for each unique song on Animalore. The result is an album that plays like a pop-up book for adults, bursting with vivid colors and secret corridors at the turn of every page.
Enunciation
Via Audio Lyrics
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Go and find it
Cause I won't hold you down
Anymore
You can try to hold your breath
But you held it for so long
You can just not breathe
Blue
Been here for so long
We're both so tired
Don't get me wrong
I'm not trying to say a thing
I just want you to see
You're all I ever think I'll need
So please don't ever say that we
Can not be friends
In the end
If you find you waste your time
To be with me
Then why are you with me?
Don't wait any longer
You're not getting younger
And neither am I
Can't, can't even hold on tight
But I've been strangling you for so long
Yeah
Can't just not sleep
Still just fight you
Been here for so long
We're both so tired
Don't get me wrong
I'm not trying to say a thing
I just want you to see
You're all I ever think I'll need
So please don't ever say that we cannot be friends
In the end
The lyrics to "Enunciation" by Via Audio describe a relationship that has run its course. The singer is acknowledging that it's time to let go and move on from this relationship. They encourage their partner to explore other options and not feel held back by their connection, as the singer is no longer able to hold them down or force them to stay.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of feeling stuck or suffocated in a relationship. The line "You can try to hold your breath, but you held it for so long" implies that their partner has been enduring for a long time, possibly feeling like they cannot breathe or be themselves in the relationship. The singer recognizes this and tells them they don't have to fight it anymore, even if it means they will turn blue.
Despite the end of the romantic aspect of their relationship, the singer still values their connection enough to want to remain friends. They stress that their partner is all they need, but if they feel they're wasting their time, they should not hesitate to move on.
Ultimately, the lyrics express a bittersweet goodbye to a once-valued relationship, with a hopeful outlook for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to go find something better
If you desire to search for something better than me
Go and find it
Find it without any hesitation
Cause I won't hold you down
I will not restrict or constrain you anymore
Anymore
I have been doing so for an extended period
You can try to hold your breath
You have the option to hold your breath
But you held it for so long
You held on for far too long
You can just not breathe
You have the option to not breathe at all
But you'll only turn Blue
But the consequence of that is becoming blue in the face
Been here for so long
We have both been in this situation for a prolonged duration
We're both so tired
Both of us are exhausted from this experience
Don't get me wrong
I don't want you to misunderstand me
I'm not trying to say a thing
I do not have any intention to convey anything specific
I just want you to see
I just want you to understand
You're all I ever think I'll need
You are sufficient for me, and I do not require anything else
So please don't ever say that we Can not be friends
Therefore, please don't declare that we are not capable of being friends
In the end
Ultimately, in the final analysis
If you find you waste your time
If you discover that you're wasting your time
To be with me
While being engaged with me
Then why are you with me?
Then why are you continuing to do so?
Don't wait any longer
I urge you not to procrastinate anymore
You're not getting younger
Time is elapsing, and we are not getting any younger
And neither am I
I too am getting older
Can't, can't even hold on tight
It's not possible to cling on firmly anymore
But I've been strangling you for so long
I have been holding you back for an extended period
Yeah
Indeed
Can't just not sleep
It's not conceivable to stop sleeping altogether
Still just fight you
Yet despite that, I'm still fighting with you
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jessica Martins
on Setup
These are the lyrics to “Setup”, not Mouth Shut - also, the last line is actually “Well, what about me?” (I am the songwriter!)