The band weaves intricate guitar lines, hypnotic vocals, and driving post-punk rhythms into gorgeous, sprawling songs that skirt the line between the soundscapes of psychedelia and intimacy. The group has gone through many line-up changes, including actress Shannyn Sossamon and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.
In early 2009, their self-released debut EP "Exquisite Corpse" soared straight to #1 on legendary Los Angeles Amoeba Records’ local artists chart. By September 2009, Manimal Vinyl reissued it on CD and vinyl, complete with a new bonus track, ‘Krimson’. Mixed by John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), the EP successfully captures the band’s sonic textures and playful dynamism that they’re notorious for creating in a live setting. With a buzz already in the air, Warpaint is now beginning to stir the masses with praise in the US and abroad. Dazed and Confused calls "Exquisite Corpse" "a collection of magical psychedelia drifting over sublime moments of raw melody courtesy of the three free ethereal vocalists,” while The Independent adds, “They make a quite lovely sound with dreamy vocals, off-kilter hazy guitars.”
On October 25, 2010, the band released their debut album, The Fool. The album received a glowing review in the NME. Prior to the album's release, the band contributed a cover of the David Bowie song "Ashes to Ashes" to We Were So Turned On, a Bowie tribute album released in conjunction with War Child.
"Shadows", the first single from their debut album, was released as a digital download and 12" vinyl on January 10, 2011. A remix of the single, "Shadows (Neon Lights Remix)", proved popular; managing to be playlisted by BBC Radio 1 as part of the In New Music We Trust.
Warpaint toured the United States and Europe in the spring and summer of 2011 to promote the album. They played at various major festivals including Bonnaroo, Glastonbury Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Rock Werchter and Electric Picnic.
In 2011, the rerelease of Undertow charted in the UK at number 92 and also in Australia at number 75. On September 25, 2011 they played the prestigious Hollywood Bowl (as a support act).
As early as 2011, drummer Stella Mozgawa, in an interview with NME, expressed the band's intention to "experiment and write with one another" as the current line-up had never composed songs "from the ground up" together. Bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg further indicated that most of the newer songs were written by "just jam[ming] and free-flow[ing] onstage".
In February 2013, Guitarist Theresa Wayman confirmed to NME that the band intended to create a minimalist sound on Warpaint, revealing that the band developed songs at soundchecks, and experimented more with acoustic guitars and percussion instruments on the album. Lead vocalist Emily Kokal noted that R&B and rap music was an influence on Warpaint and stated that on the album there are "things that have drum machines and ambience, music that's more than standard rock." Kokal added that the album is largely keys-based, which contributed to the overall sound being "definitely different" from the band's previous album The Fool (2010).
Produced by Flood and mixed by Nigel Godrich, Warpaint is due to be released in Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland on January 17, 2014; January 20 in Denmark, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom; and January 21 in Spain and the United States on Rough Trade Records. A snippet of the album's lead single, "Love Is to Die", was featured in an advertisement for Calvin Klein on September 25, 2013 and later as part of a teaser for an upcoming documentary of the same name about the recording of Warpaint. The single was released on October 28 with the pre-ordered digital version of the album.
On November 20, Warpaint performed "Composure," from The Fool, as well as new songs "Love Is to Die" and "Keep It Healthy" on BBC 6 Music with Steve Lamacq in the United Kingdom. The next day, an article from the December 2013 issue of Dazed & Confused magazine appeared online, providing insight into the making of the new album, as well as the accompanying documentary, filmed by Jenny Lee Lindberg's husband and filmmaker, Chris Cunningham. Lindberg later confirmed in a November 24 interview on XFM that Cunningham's documentary would be made available shortly after the album's release.
www.warpaintwarpaint.com
Majesty
Warpaint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I helped you, when I held your hand,
You still went the other way and you wanted me to stay,
With my arms stretching away, with my arms stretching away.
I couldn't stand that sight 'cause I adored your face.
I adored your face.
Could it be that I'm the same?
Showing you all those things that you never wanted to face.
So you let me slip away,
You just watched me walk away,
And I just have to ask, do you know your fate?
Do you know your fate?
Could it be that I'm your
Could it be that you are my
Majesty.
When it all comes back, when it all falls into place,
Could it be that I don't want it anyway?
Could it be as sad as that?
There was a day we used to laugh and I wanted you by my side,
The perfect match,
I want to understand it,
The perfect match.
Could it be that I'm your
Could it be that you are my
Majesty.
You could've been my king
You could've been my king
You could've been my king
The lyrics in Warpaint's "Majesty" tell a story of a tumultuous relationship where one person is desperately trying to hold onto the other, but the other person keeps pushing them away. The imagery of holding hands and arms stretching away highlights the physical distance between the two, but also the emotional distance. The singer adores the face of the other person, but it seems as though they are not seeing the same level of affection in return. The lines "Could it be that I'm your mirror, showing you all those things that you never wanted to face" suggest that the singer is reflecting aspects of the other person that they may not want to acknowledge or confront. The repetition of "Could it be that you are my Majesty" adds to the feeling of desperation and longing. It's unclear whether this person is meant to be a romantic partner, friend, or family member, but the depth of emotion is palpable.
Line by Line Meaning
When I held your hand, when I held your hand,
When I tried to help you, when we were together,
You still went the other way and you wanted me to stay,
You went against my advice, while also wanting me to be with you.
With my arms stretching away, with my arms stretching away.
Despite my efforts to help, you pushed me away and distanced yourself.
I couldn't stand that sight 'cause I adored your face.
The sight of you going down the wrong path hurt me because I loved you.
Could it be that I'm the same?
Perhaps I am facing the same struggles as you.
Could it be I'm your mirror,
Maybe I am showing you the reflection of yourself.
Showing you all those things that you never wanted to face.
Revealing the harsh realities that you wished to avoid.
So you let me slip away,
You allowed me to fade from your life.
You just watched me walk away,
You stood idly by as I left.
And I just have to ask, do you know your fate?
Do you realize the outcome of your choices?
Could it be that I'm your
Is it possible that I am your,
Could it be that you are my
Or maybe you are my,
Majesty.
Ruler, leader, or symbol of power.
When it all comes back, when it all falls into place,
If everything falls back into order,
Could it be that I don't want it anyway?
Would I really not want it to be fixed?
Could it be as sad as that?
Is it truly that heartbreaking?
There was a day we used to laugh and I wanted you by my side,
We used to enjoy each other's company, and I wished for us to be together.
The perfect match,
We were made for each other.
You could've been my king
You had the potential to be my ruler,
You could've been my king
You could have had control over me,
You could've been my king
You had the ability to rule my heart.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EMILY CAMILLE KOKAL, JENNIFER LEE LINDBERG, STELLA ZOFIA MOZGAWA, THERESA BECKER-WAYMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Dubmajicks
Whoever mastered the sound and recorded this set up is a mystical majestic MASTER!! This is quality on top of quality, top shelf, first class, not coach.
@humatex
indeed
@Glassdunes
I still think about the quality of this recording, and not to mention it IS the bond between players that night that just fucking ..I'm here like ...a lifetime layer (t)
@GyuMendes
Thank to John Frusciante from RHCP ;)
@thevisorsusa
I agree. I love this version.
@On-FLYING.BOULEVARDS-
8TrackRecord(s)💬AchuTrackPLaYer⛈️🔥⛈️🙄⛈️🔥⛈️🤷⛈️🔥⛈️🤦⛈️🔥⛈️🙄⛈️🔥⛈
@chuckbeers
Here I am YET again, getting my Warpaint fix... this performance soothes my soul when I need it most. Love you Warpaint!
@felichagomez
My favorite part is at 6:34 where there's silence and you can hear how heartbreaking the bass in this song is. What a perfectly haunting break. I'm so happy this version exists. I've been a fan for over 10 years and there's nothing modern day that really compares to this band in this particular genre. They're perfect.
@johnthorne4093
I think I understand you. There is something amazing, but almost undefinable, about how Warpaint delivers their songs. Why are they so heartbreaking? I have only known them for less than two years. They are not showy, not flashy, but they are not reticent... I guess I will just enjoy them, perhaps the answer/explanation will come sometime later.
@Glassdunes
This concert is one my all time favourite live performances. I dont care if people dont get it. It was on my last ipod- I actually bought this live download video for like 10 bucks! Now its online 13 tears (y) later