Melbourne pop-rock crew Self Talk have just dropped a their debut EP Seeing What I Want To See and it’s a killer introduction to the fresh faced five piece.
Following on from the release of their attention commanding singles ‘Hypocrite’ and ‘Clean Washing’, Seeing What I Want To See is a five track journey inspired by heartache and hindsight, nostalgia and new beginnings.
To celebrate the release of this impressive new effort, the band have penned a track by track run down of the EP which you can check out below (along with the EP stream) give it a listen and if you like what you’re hearing be sure to visit the band’s Facebook page for more info.
Hypocrite
‘Hypocrite’ is one of those songs that came together really easily. Frank (drummer) loved it from its humble demo beginnings – I think he was excited to play the smashy drums in the chorus.
When we had the structure down, I asked Eli (guitar) to write a catchy riff for the intro. He thought about if for about five seconds, said ‘Okay, I’ve got it’, and then played the riff exactly as you hear it on the record. And what a riff!
This song kicks off the EP with the idea of hiding from what’s right in front of you, and fighting for the wrong things. It’s someone saying ‘I told you so’ right after you’ve realised they were right about everything, and you were so, so wrong.
Dumb Luck
In contrast to the theme of not seeing the bad things right in front of you, Dumb Luck is about not seeing the good things. Or seeing them and denying they’re there, for whatever reason.
I wanted to write a really cruisy song that just rolls along nicely and feels sunny and bright. The lyrics match that vibe – it’s about realisations, and getting out of your own way to let good things happen. And it’s the only song on the EP that has an obviously happy outcome, I think. I like its simplicity, and it’s catchy as bass line.
Clean Washing
Place is such a big part of my song writing – pretty much every song is attached to somewhere specific. When I’m singing ‘Clean Washing’, I’m picturing the laundry at my parents’ old house.
I love the smell of clean washing, and this song is about holding onto or being distracted by the little things, something as small as a scent, even though the big things are falling apart.
Once again, this is a song that centres around fighting for something you know you shouldn’t fight for, not doing what’s right for you, and feeling really angry with yourself afterwards. It’s that battle between head and heart, and all the ways you hurt yourself and everyone else when you let the wrong one win. The swirly-ness of the bridge really matches the confusion and frustration in those lyrics.
Untitled
I wrote this song in about 10 minutes, right before I went to band practice. I think because it pretty much fell out of my mouth, I expected the writing process with the band to move quickly as well.
So I was frustrated when it took a few goes to get right. I had a terrible idea for the bridge that just didn’t work, and the rest of the band really saved this one! I love how this bridge turned out in the end – the punchy rhythm, beefy guitars, and that synth hook. It’s not what I expected, but somehow everything I wanted. Working with people who take your songs to another place is the best.
‘Untitled’ is mainly a reflection on something coming to an end, and a little bit about letting yourself feel hurt. It starts as a quiet realisation, gets more intense when all these feelings and memories start flying around, and ends the way it started, kind of like coming to terms with everything. I think I feel most connected to this song. Maybe that’s why I struggled to give it a proper title.
Coffee & Wine
I’d written the lyric ‘seeing what I want to see’ in a shitty little demo that never became anything real. But it seemed such an obvious choice for the title of this EP that I really wanted to use it somewhere. So I took it and wrote Coffee & Wine just before we recorded. The first verse also came from another song I wrote years ago and never used. I guess it’s a bit of a mish-mash, but all those lyrics finally seem to be in the right place.
We went into the studio with only the bare bones of this one and just added layers and layers of riffs and noise til it became what it is now. We wanted to create something that made you feel like you were driving home at night, alone with a mess of thoughts, surrounded by empty highway and stars.
I suppose this song kind of sums up the unintentional theme of the whole record. It sounds sad, but I like to think it ends on a positive note, like finally getting your shit together.
EP Launch
Saturday 18th June | Grace Darling
w/ Vallee (EP Launch)
The Football Club
Max Quinn’s Onomatopenis
Facebook event
