HeartSongs - 20180430
- Published in Columns
Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. We spoke to Oxbloods about their recent single ‘Minefield’.
Chris: “‘Minefield’ was originally a track from Matt's previous band. After showing it to me, we reworked the song making it more contemporary, and to an extent “poppy”. We then passed the track over to Charlie who wrote some great vocal parts and the song was essentially done. We finished it very quickly and it hasn't changed much during the recording process”.
Matt L: “It usually either starts with me or Chris writing a section or a skeleton of a song, which we then pass over to the rest of the guys to rip it apart and then work together to get it right”.
Matty A: “The recording process was quite long for the EP. We were all finishing different stages of our degrees so some sessions were weeks apart from one another. A lot of ‘Minefield’ (especially the vocals) is actually the demo tracks added in at the studio. Charlie just did such a good job the first time around we didn't redo them”.
Chris: “To me at least, playing the song online, and also live, breathes this completely different air into the song. We've spent so long keeping all our tracks locked away from the world while we finished them. So now they're out there for everyone, they suddenly feel fresh and alive like we only wrote them last weekend”.
Matt L: “There's literally no other feeling to play the songs live, there's that instant gratification which is completely different to recording the songs. Playing shows is the best part”.
Lyrics:
Do you remember the time?
Our minds were synchronized?
When did you draw the line?
Because you’re shooting in the dark
Don’t work unless you’re paid
Wipe off your masquerade
Leader of the cavalcade
But since when were you in charge?
All I wanna know is if all you’re gonna throw us is a lifeline,
An idea of where to go
Will you crawl back out of the grave they’ve dug out deep
Or have you lost hope in the only right you know?
You’re running low on steam when we’ve got so far to grow
‘Cause all I’ve ever known is you won’t condone promise
This is the last time,
Are you friend or are you foe?
Where do you find the time to let your tact decline?
Don’t make us all recline
Because you’re taking this all too far
Just give your thoughts some space
Don’t make the passion fade
Pulling your strings again
How far will your back bend?
Your chance will come again
But for now we’re just killing time
All I wanna know is if all you’re gonna throw us is a lifeline,
An idea of where to go
Greed like love of comfort is fear
The smile you cast them, did you fake it?
Cause you reap what you have sewn
You’re running low on steam when we’ve got so far to grow
‘Cause all I’ve ever known is you won’t condone promise
This is the last time,
Are you friend or are you foe?
All I wanna know is
All I’ve ever known is
All I wanna know is
All you’ll ever know is
All I wanna know is if all you’re gonna throw us is a lifeline,
An idea of where to go
Beg the question,
Bend truth to fuel your misdemeanors with the wrong souls,
Just to feel you’re in control
You’re running low on steam when we’ve got so far to grow
‘Cause all I’ve ever known is you won’t condone promise
This is the last time,
Are you friend or are you foe?