Lets all talk about what you like best....and I'll tell you a couple little insiders tips:
Until The Day I Die started as a concept: "If Steampunk art is old parts bolted together to make new things, can that be done with very old recordings?" So just like Daniel and Nathaniel's instruments, I started bolting together vintage parts and modern parts to create something new. Prior to this we had taken old STYLES and mixed with new STYLES, but this is the first time we took very old recordings and stitched them together to make something new.
Wanderlust I wrote on the plane back from London. We all have different things we take joy in from the band. Kristina loves MAKING music, and would be happy never leaving the studio. Nathaniel loves the stage, and would never get off if he had his choice. I'm not sure what Dan likes, but it seems to invovle making spread sheets, and counting the money ;)
For me, I love to TRAVEL. If I had my way, we'd never go to the same town twice...and we'd play in southeast Asia A LOT more. I grew up on the move.
Victoria was written mostly be Kristina. I wrote the words and mellowdy, and then said, "Hey, can you do something 'Victoria Piano' with it?" and she rocked all the paino stuff. Being Kristina, it made her super nervous and she thought it wasn't good enough to be on the album. When I finally said "Babe, it HAS to go on the album" she said "Well, maybe it can just be a hidden track or somthing!?"
Throw them overboard was kinda lame at first. I mean, it had funny lyrics and a cool accordian hook, but it just wouldn't turn into a good enough song...UNTIL JODY GOT ON IT. She came and siad "I've got an idea, but its kind of silly, so maybe we should ..." and everybody yelled "GET IN THE BOOTH" at the same time. She did, and that's what you hear. Thats pretty much her first take too, an it made the song in MY opinion a sleeper hit of the album, its so much fun!
Under The Radar was the first song on the album to be written. It started as me alone in the studio dropping down electronic drums, Darbuka, and Puff Organ. Kristina heard the organ parts and stormed into the the studio, "Thats AWESOME, move over!" and we banged out the first version. Months later we brought in Nathaniel, and he dropped down the mandolin lines, which just made every bodies jaw drop.
In fact, for the longest time there was a a bit of me at the end of the recording saying "Holy shit!"
Building Steam was unfinished for the longest time. I basically hadn't written the second second verse. I was imagine the Steampunk Cowboy theme of it, but I hadn't really written that in, and we got used to it, and then even start performing it unfinished! Finally, during the mastering phaze which is supposed to take place WAY after the album is done) said "Oh shit!" and wrote that and recorded that second verse. This ways literally three days before it went to press!
Æther Shanty is about the best song to SING I have ever written. I wanted to write a Sea Shanty for the skies, and express all the turmoil we went through over the last year.
The Clockyard so needs a music video. We might start on one soon, actually. This song is about following your dreams, or playing it safe. The message: follow your dreams before you too old to, you old coot!
To Far To Turn Back I tried to cut this from the album a billion times, but it really did come together for tell the last second. Nathan pushed and pushed, and finally it came together and the VERY last second. If you like it, thank Nathaniel. If you don't like it
ITS NATHANS FAULT!
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