Greywind’s Steph and Paul O’Sullivan guide us through their dense, dramatic and emotionally daring new record, from beginning to end.
Steph and Paul: Severed Heart City is an extended allegory for the stages of trauma and the inner struggle to find resolution. There are many roads that lead to the heart of this broken city, but only one bridge out, acceptance and hope. Our band was created after the suicide of our uncle and since then we’ve lived through insane highs and lows. We’ve achieved some of our biggest dreams, only to have everything ripped away from us. Severed Heart City is a place where it’s okay to feel sad, depressed, or like the whole world is against you, but it’s also a reminder to never let those feelings make you give up on yourself or your dreams. In the end, only you can save yourself.
Acid Rain
Paul: As soon as we finished writing ‘Acid Rain,’ we knew it had to open the next era of Greywind. It’s cinematic and dramatic, built to feel like the opening scene of a film. This song is the moment you arrive in Severed Heart City.
I.K.A.M.F.
Steph: ‘I.K.A.M.F.’ is our revenge song. It’s written for the people I once called friends who never supported me and made me feel crazy for wanting to chase my dreams. There’s been too many times where I’ve kept friendships just because I felt like I had to or I was too scared to stand up for myself, but this song is the complete release of all of that built up hurt and rage. I know when they hear it they’ll know it’s about them, which makes me love the song even more.
Happy :)
Paul: This song is about being at your absolute lowest, when there’s no way out in sight. Even as the things you once dreamed of are finally happening, the noise inside never quiets. “I’m not happy, I feel like jumping off a bridge with my legs tied to bricks” is one of the bluntest lyrics I’ve ever written.
Waterfall
Paul: ‘Waterfall’ was one of the last songs written for the album and it felt like a crucial puzzle piece clicking into place when it finally came together. It’s beautiful, cinematic, and devastating. It has everything I love about music in it. We’re insanely proud of this song and judging by the reaction to it online, I have a feeling it’s going to be our set closer for a while!
Let’s See If You Can Float
Paul: This song is about disposing of everyone in your life who’s wronged you, severing ties with toxic people and never looking back. We leaned into the darker influences that shaped us early on, like Thrice and Deftones on this track. ‘Float’ is that moment of silence when everything toxic in your life finally sinks away
Make Believe (L.O.V.E. ME)
Steph: This song is a love letter to yourself. Never let anyone else define you. When you have no self worth, if you pretend to love yourself enough, eventually you will believe it. Loving myself has always been the hardest thing for me to do. I’ve sometimes picked the wrong people to surround myself with and that affected my self worth and confidence. I’ve been to therapy and probably read every self help book there is and they always say words of affirmation are important, so this song does exactly that.
Swerve
Steph: 'Swerve’ is about trying to destroy the layer of sadness that’s consumed you for so long. That never ending sorrow where all you want is to close your eyes and sleep, but the past keeps returning as nightmares. This song sits in the moment in Severed Heart City where healing feels impossible and you’re left dissociating just to survive.
The Scarecrow
Paul: 'The Scarecrow’ is about watching someone you care about suffer and them not realising how loved they are and how their pain affects you too. “Your wounds are my wounds too”.
Steph: For me, the character of ‘the scarecrow’ is a devil/angel on your shoulders. He represents the people around me who are going through their own internal battles too. I think of times after shows or messages we get from fans where they share their stories with us and I feel less alone in my feelings. He reminds me to never quit and to continue on the path to my dreams.
Cope In The Coma
Steph: ‘Cope In The Coma’ is the Greywind way of saying never give up and that it’s ok to be sad. It’s ok to not want to talk to anyone. It’s ok to feel lost. In those times that’s when you go to Severed Heart City and learn how to cope. “Now I’m happy in Severed Heart City.” We wanted to end the album with a hopeful song and this song also references every other track on the album so it’s the perfect closer to Severed Heart City.
