Ten56. guide us through the making of their new album ‘IO’, out September 05 via Out Of Line.
Doormat
“This track isn’t written about a person in particular, but more so about a certain category of person. The type of person that I unfortunately came into contact with all too often during the lowest points of my life. I felt like this breed of human, the breed that sits on a self built pedestal of false morality, looking down at others whilst simultaneously being the biggest garbage person in existence, insufferable yet oblivious to their contribution the the downfall of human dignity, needs a little more limelight, much to their joy no doubt. There is a new sense of power that lies in the hands of the “influential”. This power is not to be entertained. I personally refuse to be a Doormat for these types”
Pig
“This one is kind of a touchy subject, which is ironic considering it’s a single! I’m not entirely sure I want to delve into the ins and outs of the subject matter for this one; I don’t think there’s any need either. It’s not the first song I’ve written about this close yet extremely distant person who unfortunately is a part of my family tree, but let’s just say I got mad about it one day and wrote a song and that’s that.”
Snapped Neck
“Nothing to see here, just another track where I vent about how much I struggle with the inner workings of my mind! Although this track is also a track that I didn’t want to be too “personal” either, I understand that in order for people to connect with a piece of music, it’s necessary for them to find a little piece of themselves inside. This track is dedicated to those people, no cuddles or teddy bears, just raw emotion in the hopes that somebody will relate and realise that they’re not alone and, in turn, find solace in their personal struggles or the struggles of those close to them.”
LIFEISACHORE.MOV
“OK, where to start with this one?! Myself, and Luka too, are huge fans of rap music and those old school albums with random skits that take you by surprise; out of the energy, whilst also giving some context through humour. We were writing an entirely different track, got sidetracked, and then an hour or two later we had this little gem that we ultimately decided to use. As ridiculous as it is as a standalone track, we’re really stoked that we got to fit a bit of that old school rap energy into an album that we’re very proud of.”
I Know Where You Sleep
“IKWYS is a bit of an anomaly in the lore of ten56. where the majority, if not all, of our tracks are written about personal experiences or negative events that have affected one or more of us personally. This particular instrumental came along and I felt it necessary to write something mental and over the top in order to match the bizarre energy of the track. Serial killer vibes. None of us are serial killers, but banger.”
Good Morning
“The concept of this track, lyrically, was to portray the feeling of panic that comes with struggling with a generalised anxiety disorder. The theme was decided before the instrumental came together, which is often the case, and I really feel that Luka killed it with the way the song captures that sense of panic that comes on strong, dips out, then comes back ten fold. This track resonates with me greatly, and I’m very stoked with the way we were able to portray such an intense emotion, sonically speaking”
Earwig
“Earwig is, in a certain sense, quite similar to the thematic of the opening track ‘Doormat’ in that it was written during the same period. It’s not necessarily (but kind of) written for a particular person, but more-so towards a breed of person. A person who’s only way to exist in today’s world, is to stir the pot and live vicariously through the drama and problems that surround others. The insect theme I feel came out great in the way that the production was built around the lyrical theme, and this one is definitely a stand out track, and one that goes down very well live.”
ICU
“It’s no secret that I’ve had my struggles with substance abuse, particularly pharmaceutical medicines. This track came about during a period where I was doing everything to escape the grasp of these things, but the devil on my shoulder would see my vices wherever my eyes landed. I’m glad that this period is over now. I’m also glad that this track can act as a placeholder for me in my journey, to look back on and really understand the grasp that certain molecules can have on the human mind when in a position of vulnerability.”
Pty Fck
“OK, this track was absolutely written about a certain person, or partnership let’s say, and there was a need to vent frustration towards somebody that we thought was somebody else. The water has passed under the bridge, so all good. But I felt it also important to throw in a double sense to the track, so that victims of actual abuse can find some reassurance in these lyrics. Just an angry track for angry people!”
Friends
“‘Friends’ started off as a concept piece. I asked Quentin to let me in his studio, set up the mic and shit, and to leave me alone to just scream like a madman; no technique, I was just feeling angry and wanted to vent. Further down the line, Luka came up with this sick beat and we realised that a part of what came of that solo recording session fitted the tempo perfectly, and that we were just missing some context. I really wanted to put forward the idea of these two people in my mind that are constantly fighting each other, so we just grabbed a mic one night at Luka’s place, and I started to argue with myself. I love the way it turned out and it’s just so ridiculous and heavy, everything I love!”
Banshee
“The theme for this one actually came before the lyrics, as it sometimes happens. The production had this drill sample and the old school B movie serial killer atmosphere, so I just wrote into it. I used my personal experiences, as well as some fantastic elements just to do the track justice. Also, we realised that we kind of had this ‘conclusive’ track, so we used it as a way to kind of close the album’s dark theme.”
IO
“By far the most vulnerable and introspective song I’ve ever written as a lyricist, melodically too, and with the style of singing / rapping it’s of course an area that I’ve not explored too much, so a very vulnerable and emotional song all round. It was important for me to acknowledge my downfalls as a person and address the fact that the blame often follows the finger, and the finger comes back to me. This song is also about closing out a very dark and long part of my life, a life spent numbing my emotions, abusing prescription medication, and eventually ending up in rehab, it was a tough time and a long moment of introspection; not only for myself, but for everyone in the band. We’re all proud of this track and what it represents for us as brothers and a family.”
