βSo much has been done,β he says, βthat fusion seems to be the obvious approach. Maybe not reinventing the wheel, maybe not introducing a new sound, but taking what it is you love in music and creating your own thing, being original within that.β
Tyler brings his grounding in early Motown and jazz to the table, but, in forming the band, he was also very conscious of the styles that he wanted to bridge under the We The Ghost banner: βWith the band, I knew exactly what I wanted β I wanted hip hop drums, and I wanted rock guitar β but I didnβt want to be rap-rock! I wanted a classical element, so we got a violinist. When you blend everything, basically you become pop. I thought it was going to be hard, I thought, βhow am I going to talk a legitimate rock guitarist into this?β But I just focused on writing really good songs, and from the beginning, everyone came in really quick and said βI want to be a part of that!ββ
From the outset, even when the band was in its embryonic stages as an acoustic duo comprised of Tyler on guitar and Dain Samuelson on djembe, Tyler was already βcreating a blueprint for what I wanted the band to be,β a sound which he describes as βequal parts reggae, and hip hop, and rock, and electronic. Thatβs really what we are β we really arenβt a rock band! People call us that because we have a guitarist and a bass player and a drummer, but I donβt think of us that way.β
Given this approach of creative fusion and stylistic innovation, Tyler is understandably cautious about imitating any particular act too directly, or doing anything that has already been done. He dislikes βgetting into the game of listening to other bands and saying, βI want to do that!ββ He describes an early experience playing alongside superstar act Imagine Dragons, and realizing that the bands were developing a similar sound: βIt would have been very easy for us to say, βwhy donβt we do what theyβre doing?β But the answer for us is always, βtheyβre already doing that.ββ
The band had a similar experience upon first hearing Rixton (recently interviewed by ThatMag), whose hit single βMe And My Broken Heartβ reminded Tyler a little bit of βwhere I imagined we were going after [2012 EP] White Noise. Some people would have said βobviously thatβs working, keep doing what youβre doing,β but we said βno, Rixtonβs doing that now, and they beat us to the radio, so letβs adapt!ββ
Instead of direct imitation, We The Ghost prefer to incorporate βnot so much a sound as a vibeβ from their influences, such as an increased focus on atmospherics and ambience inspired by indie rock band The Neighbourhood. Although the band certainly loves pop music, they absorb sounds from elsewhere as well. βWhen weβre on the road and weβre traveling in the van,β says Tyler, βwe listen to classical music as much as anything else. Thatβs from [violinist] Jocelyn [Rowland]βs influence on us, and being that everyone in the band is classically trained, we have that approach of really loving technical music as well. Our rule, when it comes to what we listen to, is this: is there a great melody, and was it performed by top-notch musicians?β
We The Ghost is unquestionably comprised of top-notch musicians. Tyler is a very careful, considered and focused songwriter, and he writes with βa very specific idea of what I want. I donβt write in the dark, I usually know exactly what vibe I want.β From there, he brings the song to the band, where his precision and ability as a songwriter is crucially matched by the bandβs musical ability and technical understanding in realizing the songs.
While the band is uniform in their training and technical savvy, each member brings a distinct set of stylistic influences to the project as a whole. Tyler outlines the role and influence of each member in We The Ghost: β[Lead guitarist] Matt [McHan], despite being so diverse, and having the ability to play anything on guitar, starts from the place of a bluesy rock approach. Matt brings a very rootsy form of playing guitar. Calvin [Berkenbile] has a degree in guitar from the Berklee School of Music, but he plays bass for us, so he has a very technical and wide-ranging approach, but he comes from an indie rock background. He loves bands like Vampire Weekend. Dain, who we center the band around, plays djembe, and he wraps it around his waist and beats it like a crazy person and hits it as hard as he can. He loves bands like Incubus, and the really technical side of rock. Jocelyn can play anything, but is very classically-based. My heart is in pop music, I love pop songwriters, I grew up on Motown. I love jazz for what it is, but if you ask me who the greatest songwriters alive are, Iβm going to say people like Tom Petty and stuff like that. I want a big, simple melody. I come from a Christian background β a lot of us do β and I started playing music for the first time when I was playing praise and worship in the church while I grew up. I come from an approach of, βhow simple can I make this without it being stupid?β I want it to be complex, I want to convey what I want to say lyrically, but how do I make this as simple as I can possibly make it?β
I suggest that, sometimes, making things simple is the most complex thing that you can do. Tyler agrees, arguing that βif you start with a complex structure, you canβt go anywhere from there, unless you get more complicated. What we do, is we come up with very simple structures, and we make very intricate music. If you listen to the guitar play between the violins, and the way the drums interact between the rhythm of my vocals, thereβs nothing simple about it, but the foundation is very simple. Itβs not even verse-chorus, itβs just hook-hook-hook-hook-hook, repeat.β Ultimately, the greatest challenge in pop music is not complexity but simplicity, restraint and focus. Tyler affirms that βthe biggest thing it took for a band like us to coexist, despite being immensely talented and versatile on their instruments, was the ability to lay back and play whatβs right for the song, and not necessarily what shows off for themselves.β With songs this strong, the members of We The Ghost are willing to selflessly commit to the music as a whole, investing their abilities in music that doesnβt require a degree in music to love.
Moving from an acoustic quartet, to the expanded instrumentation of White Noise, to the new synthesized elements on last yearβs full-length Sinking Suspicion, the growth of the band record to record is clear. But, as Tyler reveals, We The Ghost are just getting started. In fact, they have two albums planned for release in 2014, including a completed record called The Kids Canβt Dance that Tyler says βputs everything else to shame. Itβs a whole different level for us.β
Even at the beginning, the band understood that electronics would inevitably become a part of the We The Ghost sound, but they were intent on taking their time, mastering each step before moving on to the next one. βWhat we chose to do with White Noise was to encompass the very organic part of our sound, with no programming whatsoever,β explains Tyler. In an era of instant gratification, this considered, patient approach makes them an outlier.
From there, they began adding synthesized elements to Sinking Suspicion, but Tyler admits that βit was still not the full vision.β He says that Sinking Suspicion βwill serve to show people what was in between White Noise, and where we are now. Now that we have everything figured out as a band, and we fully understand how to perform our roles within that dynamic, now it feels like the sky is the limit. Now itβs electronica, but at the same time itβs completely organic. Itβs reggae, itβs hip hop, itβs rock, itβs pop, thereβs a little bit of jazz, thereβs a little bit of blues, but itβs all at once, and itβs just We The Ghost!β
With their new material, the band draws inspiration from the progressive tendencies of modern pop producers, such as The Neptunes, the pioneering production duo that in many ways defined the future-shocked sound of 21st century pop music. Tyler describes their work in particular as βjust amazing and out of this world, rhythmically complex while structurally simple,β hinting at an affinity between the two projects. For Tyler, many progressive, forward-thinking current pop producers are βpicking up a creative pace where I think rock has stalled out for the past few years. Thatβs not to say that there isnβt a lot of great music coming out of rock, but itβs not necessarily new. Pop hasnβt had that stalemate yet.β Tyler sums up this future-oriented attitude with a simple question and answer: βAlright, what have people done? Letβs not do that.β
Inspired by their favorite producers, the band also took a brave new step into self-producing their forthcoming album. Although Tyler admits that βwe were afraid that we might not live up,β thankfully, this wasnβt the case: βit turns out that itβs the best thing weβve ever done, because we were able to do what we wanted to do without arguing with a producer.β The confidence with which Tyler makes statements such as these demonstrates his commitment to the bandβs forthcoming music, and itβs hard not to feel a tingle of anticipation for what they release next.
Another thing that stands out about We The Ghost is the degree to which they are connected to their local music scene in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a musical world defined more and more by the internet, many artists donβt have such a strong link to their hometown, but We The Ghost certainly do. Although it doesnβt spring immediately to mind when you think of great music towns, Tyler tells me that Tulsa made Forbesβ ten best music scenes in the US list in 2013. A medium-sized city, Tulsa is nonetheless βfull of real bands: a lot of folk, a lot of great hip hop, a lot of great rock. And weβre a little bit different from everyone else. Weβre definitely a product of where weβre from. Thereβs a lot of fusion around Tulsa, itβs a very big thing here. Nobody is really trying to be indie, nobody is really trying to be rock, itβs a very unified scene. Itβs very easy to gain a following if youβre good.β
In a sense, We The Ghost straddle two worlds. Although they remain committed to new forms of music, and although they certainly have a significant internet presence, at the projectβs outset, Tylerβs aim was clear: βLetβs not pretend to be a band online, letβs not have five friends that play a show every now and then and donβt rehearse enough. Letβs be a real band. Letβs be all for one and one for all. Letβs stand up for each other, letβs stand by each other, letβs be a band.β They wanted to avoid the trap of βbeing a band that just exists on Facebook,β and while they do use Facebook and Twitter, they believe that by simply making the best music they can, they will build a more lasting fanbase. Tyler encapsulates the bandβs outlook succinctly: βweβre not business illiterate, we have our marketing plans and we have great management, but while a lot of bands are focusing a little too much on their social media strategy, weβre working on our songwriting strategy.β We The Ghost strike a balance between approaches to music and the music industry, where they βhave one foot in the old-school door of being a band, and one foot in the new-school door of embracing electronics and social media.β
Although plans for shows in Russia and Poland have fallen through, the possibility of playing for the bandβs considerable UK fanbase overseas is promising. Nonetheless, the band wants to take their time. βWeβre always hesitant to tour,β Tyler tells me. βWeβre always willing to get up and tour, and this band is the center of our lives, but when it comes to touring, we do it very carefully. We make sure that where weβre going there will be people there. We try to do everything right and do it big.β
Doing it big has always been a priority, and We The Ghost have big dreams for future live performances. Tyler explains that, βwhen itβs our show, itβs always something special. When we come to town, we always make an event out of it. The only way itβs not a big spectacle is when, once or twice a year in our hometown, we do a really big, full-band acoustic show. Itβs like a βStorytellers,β it gives us a chance to talk to our fans. If we go on a tour, weβre pretty much going to play the same show every night, and that means that weβre going to give 100%. Itβs going to be a massive show, thereβs going to be a huge lightshow, we have our huge backdrop, the rock boxes. Itβs definitely a spectacle, and itβs very crowd-oriented.β
Cancer has loomed large over the lives of many of We The Ghostβs band members, and they have made it their mission to work for research to fight the deadly disease. Bassist Calvin Berkenbile had childhood leukemia, his mother passed away from cancer, and both Tyler and guitarist Matt McHan lost their fathers to cancer. Tyler says that the bandβs fundraising work is βabout what cancer does to families.β The unfathomable hurt is palpable in Tylerβs voice as he tells me about the pain and anger that came to him in his confrontation with the death of his father, the sense of confusion and loss.
This experience fed into the writing of βLetters To Godβ, a special song in the bandβs catalog and the final track on Sinking Suspicion. Tyler explains that, βmy father was my hero, but thereβs confusion that comes about with death, and you start blaming people, because human instinct is to put the blame somewhere. It was about the turmoil that was existing inside of me. I was mad at myself because I couldnβt do anything, mad at my father because heβs leaving me, as irrational as that was, mad at my family, because Iβm the youngest, and why canβt they fix it? Thatβs what βLetters To Godβ was about, that moment where youβre saying, βIβve been writing letters to God / The only thing that I got was return to sender / Am I alone on an endless road?β I think it has helped. We did a cancer benefit last year. Half the room were survivors, the other half were people touched by it, and there were a thousand people there. Youβre afraid of singing such a selfish song, but to these people, itβs not selfish. They get it. We want to be a part of something real. We donβt want to be a band that just stands for ourselves. I donβt think that itβs a bandβs job to be a role model or an influence, until you are one. And then, it may have not been our choice to be a role model, but if weβre going to be put in that position, then weβre going to live up to it.β
It is clear from speaking to Beau Tyler that this is a band that is fully committed to their art, and committed to making a difference in the world, both musically and otherwise. As they continue to pick up steam, people around the world will begin to take notice, as they have already begun to do. 2014 will see the band pass landmarks big (the release of their new albums) and small (the first-ever TV appearance of one of their songs on Bad Girls Club), all on the road to a brighter future. Now is a perfect time to get to know this promising new band, brimming with refreshing talent and ambition."
- Ari Roth (ThatMusicMag.com)
We The Ghost is:
Beau Tyler - Lead Vocals / Singer / Songwriter / Keys
Dain Samuelson - Djimbe
Jocelyn Rowland - Violin / Backing Vocals
Matt McHan - Guitar / Backing Vocals
Bradley Jones - Drums / Backing Vocals
High Heels
We The Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one you leave behind when your sweat drips
I just want your fingertips
Pressing hard and digging in my hips
I, I, I don't mind
If you can read my mind
I, I, I'm not ashamed
That things I wanna do seem a little bit insane
Then we're kissing with the lights on, lights on
Everybody knows my tongue is a loaded gun
We can do it with your high heels, high heels on
With your high heels, high heels on
W-With your high heels, high heels
I just wanna breathe in your skin
The only thing that gets me higher than heaven
I breathe you in, breathe you out, and back in
I swear this love is my favorite sin
I, I, I don't mind
If you can read my mind
I, I, I'm not ashamed
That things I wanna do seem a little bit insane
Everybody knows that tone when your voice gets low
Then we're kissing with the lights on, lights on
Everybody knows my tongue is a loaded gun
We can do it with your high heels, high heels on
With your high heels, high heels on
W-With your high heels, high heels
I don't want this ever to end
We're getting close, we just can't hold it in
I'm counting spots on the ceiling
Anything that I can do to make this moment seem everlasting
I, I, I don't mind
If you can read my mind
I'm punch drunk in love like stoned
Baby please don't stop now, here we go
Everybody knows that tone when your voice gets low, low, low, low
Everybody knows my tongue is a loaded gun, gun, gun, g-g-g-g
Everybody knows that tone when your voice gets low
Then we're kissing with the lights on, lights on
Everybody knows my tongue is a loaded gun
We can do it with your high heels, high heels on
With your high heels, high heels on
W-With your high heels, high heels
W-With your high heels, high heels
W-With your high heels, high heels
The song "High Heels" by We The Ghost is a seductive track that talks about the desire to be intimate with someone. The lyrics in the song express the desire for the taste of someone's skin and the feeling of their fingertips on one's hips. The song implies a sense of lust and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to satisfy that feeling. The singer is not afraid to admit how they feel, even if it seems a little insane. The song describes a moment when two people are completely focused on each other and nothing else matters.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of the moment by repeating the phrase "high heels" throughout. The song's bridge adds on to this sensual storyline, expressing how the singer is not ready for everything to end and wants to extend the moment as long as possible. Overall, the lyrics of the song are poetic and express the complexities of intimate relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I just want that taste on my lips
The person desires to taste the sweat left behind by their lover.
The one you leave behind when your sweat drips
The specific taste the person wants is that of the sweat left behind on the lips of the person's lover.
I just want your fingertips
The person desires to feel the touch of their lover's fingertips.
Pressing hard and digging in my hips
The person wants their lover to press down firmly on their hips with their fingertips.
I, I, I don't mind
The person is comfortable with their desires.
If you can read my mind
The person wants their lover to know what they want without them having to say it out loud.
I, I, I'm not ashamed
The person is not embarrassed about what they want.
That things I wanna do seem a little bit insane
The person realizes that their desires may seem crazy to others.
Everybody knows that tone when your voice gets low
The person is referring to the voice their lover uses when speaking in a low, seductive tone.
Then we're kissing with the lights on, lights on
The person and their lover are making out with the lights on.
Everybody knows my tongue is a loaded gun
The person is referring to their ability to pleasure their lover with their tongue.
We can do it with your high heels, high heels on
The person and their lover can engage in sexual activities while their lover is wearing high heels.
I just wanna breathe in your skin
The person wants to take in their lover's scent by breathing in their skin.
The only thing that gets me higher than heaven
The person finds their lover's scent to be euphoric and stronger than anything else.
I breathe you in, breathe you out, and back in
The person continues to inhale their lover's scent in a cyclical manner.
I swear this love is my favorite sin
The person considers their love for their lover to be their favorite vice.
I don't want this ever to end
The person wants their experiences with their lover to go on forever.
We're getting close, we just can't hold it in
The person and their lover are approaching orgasm and can't contain their excitement.
I'm counting spots on the ceiling
The person is staring at the ceiling and trying to distract themselves from their impending climax.
Anything that I can do to make this moment seem everlasting
The person is trying to prolong their intimate moment with their lover.
I'm punch drunk in love like stoned
The person feels an intense, overwhelming love for their partner.
Baby please don't stop now, here we go
The person wants their lover to keep going and not stop the sexual activities.
Writer(s): beau tyler, we the ghost
Contributed by Micah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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