With only a couple days until the first of our two launch-weekend shows, today we thought we’d catch up with Heavy Lights lead singer Ryan Nicholson on the story behind the title track to his band’s debut LP, “Mad Minds,” which you will be able to buy for the first time ever, in the history of forever, at Cafe Nola on Friday:
I struggle sometimes to really explain my lyrics, especially with a song like this, because it is one that manifested in such a unique way. The main guitar riff was something I had been playing around with for a while until Chris, Brian and I arranged some of the various parts that had been toyed with. If my memory serves me right, Heavy Lights had not exactly formed yet because I can remember having played the song in its infant form with Corey Springirth of Old Indian playing some slide guitar on it. But the song didn’t take its real form until we started working on it with Derek.
Lyrically, I took my time with this one. I still have one or two iPhone recordings of the song where I’m not singing any words – just a melody – and I remember it staying that way for a while. I’m pretty sure they weren’t complete until I tracked the vocal.
As for the meaning behind the song, it is kind of an analysis on myself mixed with an analysis of people in general and the behaviors we can come to expect. I think it’s important people know they have an animalistic side; it is something I think we often forget about, but could benefit from and maybe gain some insight in to reasons we act certain ways. I wanted to tackle the spiritual side of us, and even poke fun at the hypocrisy that tends to come with some of it, at least from my experiences.
“Welcome to the human that is you” is a line that brings the concepts together, while the choruses are kind of a way to remind myself that these things should be expected because people are people, and in so many strange ways, that is a beautiful thing.
Beautiful indeed. If you haven’t already watched the performance of the song above, be sure to do so – recorded at Mystery Ton Studios, it’s a good appetizer for what the boys have in store for Friday at Cafe Nola. It’s a record-release party. It’s a launch-weekend event. And it’s the single best option you have for your Friday night. Once more: You can’t miss it. You won’t miss it.
Only 58 hours and counting!
