Rebel Revive - Sound In The Signals Track Discussion
Rebel Revive/writing the song ‘Skeletons’
Writing "Skeletons".
Instrumentally the song came easily to me.
I think I had the whole thing musically written in a couple hours at most.
The real challenge was in the subject matter and lyrics.
I've always been that way since I can remember starting to write my own material as a kid.
I could form entire songs in their entirety off one small riff no problem,
but when it came to finding the right words I wanted to put to the message I wanted to convey, that's where I'd often have a tougher time.
I think a lot of it comes from how much passion I have for the songs.
I want them to be their absolute best, and sometimes words just don't do that justice.
Often times it seems like music can convey what words can't.
That's how I was feeling when I had finished writing the music for Skeletons.
I had a SOLID foundation, but was at a loss for words.
I had driven up to Northern California to the producer Colby's house to record a different song, but on the way up, I was feeling so strongly about what I had going with the music so far with "Skeletons", that I decided to throw a curveball last minute.
We set up and tracked drums in a couple takes at Pus Cavern in Sacramento.
The next day, laid down guitars and bass, and by day 3 we were onto writing melodies and starting lyrics. Within the first hour or so, we had a great start on the melody for the song, but the lyrics I was getting out, I knew deep down, I wasn't satisfied with putting on top of what we had musically.
Between the 3rd and the 4th and final night in the studio for this song…it hit me.
I started off sitting on a bench in a mall in Roseville with a notebook and pen. Jotting down ideas, watching people walk by, and just thinking to myself…I wonder how many of these people are truly honest about what's going on inside. Truly honest about they way they feel. So often it seems like we try and put on these disguises to avoid letting anyone in.
The mall closed shortly after, and I spent the next 5 hours in the parking lot of a Denny's after downing 7 cups of coffee. The friend I was supposed to stay with that night had bailed, so another friend dropped by some blankets, and I cozied up in my van. I wrote my heart out. I probably wrote about 4 songs worth of lyrics. I had embraced the thoughts that started in the mall, and ran with them. Realizing the fear I had of what others thought, and how hard I was on myself in particular with my music and relationships. I had a battle raging inside my head. The chorus is me coming to terms with the fact that, without TRUE love, I'm just skin and bones, but when I hold onto hope I can see the real truth, that I'll be alright. I knew I had to die to my old self, and leave my fears and insecurities behind if I truly wanted to carry on as more than just a "skeleton".
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