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.
Numb
Via Audio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darkness was endless and I kept seeing ghosts turn in shades of gray
I wanted to see things just the way they used to be
Don't want those shadows hanging over me
[Chorus]
Daylight, I want to see daylight
want to see daylight that shines all around
want to see daylight that shines all around
Hours and hours in towers on the back road of tragedy
Voices are calling and fingers come on crawling all over me
Then when I sit up and my hands begin to shake
Suddenly there I see the dawn break
[Chorus]
Only one thing keeping me sane, oh
[Chorus]
In Via Audio's song Numb, the lyrics speak about the struggle of dealing with darkness and ghosts. The song starts by describing how the night seemed to last forever, and the day felt so far away. The darkness seemed endless, and the singer kept seeing ghosts that kept turning into shades of gray. The singer wanted to see things the way they used to be and didn't want the shadows of the past to keep lingering.
The chorus introduces the concept of daylight and how the singer wants to see clear blue light that shines all around. It's a metaphor that signifies an escape from the darkness and towards hope, where the light is bright and uplifting.
The second verse describes how the singer is trapped in a sad situation, feeling lost and alone, surrounded by voices that are calling out to them. But, as they sit up and shake their hands, there's a sudden moment of clarity. They witness the dawn break, and it brings a sense of relief and hope, almost like a new beginning.
Overall, Numb speaks about the journey towards self-discovery and escaping the darkness, where daylight symbolizes hope and a way to escape the ghosts of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the nights when the light was low and day seemed so far away
During periods of darkness, when hope was scarce and progress seemed impossible
Darkness was endless and I kept seeing ghosts turn in shades of gray
The darkness consumed me and distorted my perception of reality, making everything appear ambiguous and foreboding
I wanted to see things just the way they used to be
I longed for a return to a simpler, happier time
Don't want those shadows hanging over me
I don't want my past mistakes and fears to continue to haunt me and dictate my present and future
Daylight, I want to see daylight
I yearn for a fresh start and a new beginning, symbolized by the light of day
want to see daylight that shines all around
I want to be surrounded by positivity and optimism, rather than negativity and doubt
Hours and hours in towers on the back road of tragedy
I've spent countless hours dwelling in my own misery and self-pity, trapped in my own mental anguish
Voices are calling and fingers come on crawling all over me
I feel overwhelmed and consumed by inner demons and external pressures, which gnaw at me incessantly
Then when I sit up and my hands begin to shake
At times, I've felt paralyzed by fear and uncertainty, to the point of physical symptoms
Suddenly there I see the dawn break
But despite it all, I recognize that there is always hope and a chance for renewal and recovery, represented by the sunrise
Only one thing keeping me sane, oh
In the midst of despair, one thing that keeps me grounded and centered is the hope for a better tomorrow
Contributed by Ian J. 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!)