Gentle but full of an understated urgency, the song’s infectious guitar loop combines with his beautiful, fragile vocals to capture how he felt when it happened. It’s an emotive retelling of what he went through that pulls you right into the depth of that darkness. “It almost felt like a small bout of psychosis,” Cozine recalls. “It was so terrifying. I remember thinking I was going to die that night. I woke up and had a writing session that day, but I wasn’t even sure if I could do it. Luckily, it was with one of my closest co-writers, so I decided to just sense it out and see how it went. I put on this guitar loop and we talked about what I’d just experienced, because I’d never in my life gone through anything like that.”
Some two or three hours later, the song was complete, and with it, a new chapter in Cozine’s musical career began. It’s much more personal and vulnerable than anything he’d done before, but it also takes into account the depth of experience he’s gained from co-writing with and for other (mainly pop & hip-hop) artists over the past decade. Understandably, that personal, emotional resonance had a profound effect on him. “I was in tears at the end of it,” he admits. “Finally being able to talk about instances in my life and put that into the world really excites me, because a lot of the time, I feel when I’m writing for other people that’s not really the case. Now I get to tell my story.”
Still, those pop & hip-hop sessions shouldn’t be discounted as an influence on MNYS’ unique sound. Doing so has instilled in him a knack for making incredibly catchy melodies, and widened the pool of influences he draws from when it comes to his own songs. At the same time, it was “Taste Of Ink” by The Used—still Cozine’s favorite band to this day—that first made him want to make music, and that remains an audible influence on him now. In fact, the guitar loop that carries “Night Terrors” is very much a nod to the emo/pop-punk scene that first inspired him to be a musician. Unsurprisingly, then, signing to Pure Noise was incredibly exciting for him. “I look up to so many of the bands on the label,” he beams. “It’s so fucking cool! It’s literally a dream come true. When I write now, I’m really always chasing that feeling of discovering my favorite band at the age of 14 or 15. I want to have that version of me discover me, because the best thing about discovering music is never knowing when a song is going hit you.”
That, then, is Cozine’s aim for both “Night Terrors” and the string of singles planned to follow it—to pack a powerful emotional punch that lands right in the heart. As such, his songs very earnestly address moments in his life where he’s suffered emotionally or mentally. There’s no filter and no bravado—just him at his most vulnerable, committing his insecurities and emotional anxieties to tape with the help of production duo Paperwings, who he considers two of his closest friends. Yet at the same time as laying those fears on the line, there’s also an important underlying message—to chase happiness and pursue doing what you love. For Cozine, that is, and always has been, making music. Before, he was doing it as a side hustle while working countless jobs – from a coffee shop to the corporate world, but those environments were making him incredibly miserable. Now, by concentrating solely on music, he’s free to truly be himself. “I grew up with not very much,” he admits, “but family was always there. So despite making more money than I’d ever seen, I started to become really unhappy. There was this pivotal moment when I was working at a hedge fund when I overheard a conversation in the office where they were bragging about which brand of tie they were wearing. I just thought ‘This is so fucking whack. It’s so stupid. I would rather hang out with my friends, make music and see my family.’ Even when I have what the outside world would perceive as wins in the music industry, it still doesn’t make me as happy as when, every Sunday at 1pm, my mom calls me on FaceTime and I get to talk to her for an hour-and-half. So I stopped caring about that other stuff and started chasing happiness.”
To that extent, MNYS doesn’t just mark the culmination of a decade in music behind the scenes for Cozine. It’s his way of chasing happiness, even if he’s doing so by staring at his most fragile self in the mirror. But reconciling those two things is very much the point—the catharsis of the project and the honest, heart-on-sleeve emotions are very much part of that quest for happiness that lies at the heart of it. “All I’m doing is telling my truth with this project,” he says,“and part of that is acknowledging that I do have obstacles to overcome and I’m working on them every day. That’s why chasing happiness is so important to me. Right before “Night Terrors”, my worst fears had genuinely manifested themselves into my real life and that was the scariest moment ever. But now I’m able to tell the story of my life and get my message out there. The 14 year-old me would be ecstatic right now, but, honestly, so is the me right now, because this is the most important thing in my life.”
Grey
mnys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I bite my tongue so I could feel something
Every story ends and that's the way it is
Why'd you say sorry if you're not sorry?
Hate that we use that word the most
Why am I trying if you're not trying?
And it feels so grey
Like the sun has gone away
Having empty conversations with the caffeine in my cup
Cause I've lost communication with the person that I was
And it feels so grey today
So for now I'll take your name and write it off
Put it on a shelf up at the very top
Keep the memories, save them for a rainy day
It's a rainy day
In these lyrics, the artist expresses feelings of anxiety and insecurity through their physical reactions and internal conflicts. The line "Well, my hands they shake kind've a nervous wreck" signifies a state of nervousness, possibly caused by an unsettling situation or intense emotions. The artist then mentions biting their tongue, which could imply suppressing their true feelings or thoughts in an attempt to feel something, even if it's pain or discomfort. This suggests a desire for some form of validation or connection.
The following line, "Every story ends and that's the way it is," reflects a resigned acceptance of the inevitable conclusion of any narrative or relationship. It suggests a sense of disillusionment or lack of hope, where the artist recognizes that things don't always work out the way they want them to.
The next set of lyrics reveals frustration and confusion in a relationship. The question, "Why'd you say sorry if you're not sorry?" implies a disconcerting pattern of insincere apologies within the relationship. The artist expresses a dislike for using the word "sorry" frequently, highlighting the lack of genuine remorse. Furthermore, the line "Why am I trying if you're not trying?" suggests the artist questioning their own efforts in the relationship if the other person isn't reciprocating. This line showcases the artist's desire for mutual effort and commitment.
The chorus, "And it feels so grey, like the sun has gone away," depicts a somber, melancholic mood. The use of the color grey symbolizes a lack of vibrancy or joy in their life. The absence of sunlight further emphasizes this sense of darkness and emotional bleakness. The artist describes having empty conversations with the caffeine in their cup, indicating a disconnected and superficial form of communication. They feel like they have lost touch with the person they used to be, symbolizing a disconnection from their own identity.
In the final verse, the artist resolves to detach themselves from the person causing them pain. They decide to "take your name and write it off," suggesting they are letting go of the emotional attachment or significance associated with that person. The act of putting the name on a shelf conveys a sense of closure or putting it aside. The artist chooses to retain the memories, but only for reference on a rainy day, metaphorically referring to times of sadness or nostalgia. This signifies an acknowledgement of the past, but also a commitment to move forward and create a healthier emotional space for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, my hands they shake kind've a nervous wreck
I am extremely anxious and my hands tremble uncontrollably
And I bite my tongue so I could feel something
I keep my emotions bottled up, suppressing them to avoid feeling numbness
Every story ends and that's the way it is
Accepting the inevitable reality that all narratives eventually reach their conclusion
Why'd you say sorry if you're not sorry?
Why do you apologize insincerely, without genuine remorse?
Hate that we use that word the most
I despise how frequently we employ the word 'sorry' without sincerity
Why am I trying if you're not trying?
What is the point of putting effort into this when you show no intention of doing the same?
You're not trying
You are not making any effort
And it feels so grey
The atmosphere is devoid of color and life, evoking a sense of dullness
Like the sun has gone away
Similar to how the sun disappears, there is an absence of warmth and brightness
Having empty conversations with the caffeine in my cup
Engaging in shallow, meaningless discussions with the stimulant in my drink
Cause I've lost communication with the person that I was
I no longer have a connection with my former self or who I used to be
And it feels so grey today
Today feels particularly colorless and devoid of positivity
So for now I'll take your name and write it off
Temporarily, I will dismiss your significance and consider you unimportant
Put it on a shelf up at the very top
I will place it out of reach and not allow it to have an impact on me
Keep the memories, save them for a rainy day
I will hold onto the memories and cherish them for a time when I need comfort or nostalgia
It's a rainy day
Metaphorically, it symbolizes a gloomy and melancholic period
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandon Paddock, Nick Cozine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JuanCruzFabi
Can't wait for the acoustic version of this song
@ayushanand9417
this is the most underrated song ig
@juvingonsalves
Banger
@coreymarsh1619
Master peace
@respectthejj3438
Grey