Name: Congratulations by Said The Whale
Duration: 3 min 1 s
Description: From the deluxe version of 'As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide', out March 30, 2018.

gotta say, can not wait to drink beers, dance and sing along to this

Anywhere

Gecko - Feeling My Way

With the band sharing a similar postcode to the Arctic Monkeys (before they buggered off to America) one would be forgiven for thinking that Sheffield's The Starkins were just aping (not even sorry) their home-town heroes, but whilst they might well have their roots in jangly mid '00s indie, the fact remains that when the aforementioned dropped their debut single in 2005, The Starkins hadn't even started high school. 

As far as bands go, they don't get much more fresh-faced than The Starkins, though we mean that in the literal sense. For all their youthful exuberance, the band have been together a little under four years, in that time amassing a handful of tracks in a career that belies their relatively young years. The most recent track to be added to their arsenal is 'Paper Cuts', and like each of their singles before it, shows listeners a different side to the band, and marks a notable step up in both production and composition.

Those of you familiar with The Starkins needn't worry though; the loose guitars haven't been tightened beyond recognition, and the track still harbours the same irresistible pop sensibility that endeared fans to them in the first place. There does seem to be a murmuring of a maturing process taking place however. Is this the sound of The Starkins growing up?

Paper Cuts

From the deluxe version of 'As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide', out March 30, 2018.

Congratulations

Written by John Vella, Julian Emery and Tenderfoot
Produced By Julian Emery, John Vella and Ryan Miller
Mixed by Adam Noble
Mastered by Paul Stefanidis, Viking Lounge Mastering

Guitar and Vocals - John Vella
Bass - Joel Burton
Pianos, Organs, Keys - Anthony Donlon
Drums - Grant Gerathy

Special thanks to Audio Network.

She Calls

This song came about after reading this story in the book "Surf Is Where You Find It" by Gerry Lopez. He was surfing a really big day at an unpredictable spot in Hawaii. He took off on a wave that turned out to be more fierce and terrifyingly big than he had expected and he was faced with a realization that he was not going to make it. This terror was paralyzing. Seconds before he went underwater for what was to be a life threatening beating from this wave, an old veteran Hawaiian waterman appeared on the shoulder of the wave in a small motorboat, He had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, in the most dangerous of situations, but calm and almost comically cool. He gave Gerry a nod. Somehow, the sight of this guy gave him courage, almost as if he was saying "you're going to get hammered...but you'll be alright". This courage allowed Gerry to survive not only this wave, but 3 more that came behind it, holding him underwater for insane amounts of time. I wanted to write my own version of this moment in the song Hold On. That place where you find yourself in a situation that turns out to be heavier than you expected, how do you respond to the pressure, or the terror of this in life? It's a song that is meant to be an encouragement to someone who is in that position of panic, a turning point, an ambition, a new venture, keep your cool, hold on tight, you'll make it alive.

Hold On

Honestly

Among the houses and the blossoms.
silent wishes out the window
On these streets I caught a bit of magic
in a taxi without signs
And I wonder if you
will ever, ever, notice me?
Or we do it all over.
Let´s do it all over, again

You brought the spring feeling in my body into my bones.
And I feel it come alive from my head to my toes.
Stay a little longer,
Won’t you stay a little longer
(In the spring sun, with me)

Among the treetops and the streetlights
Thew the meaning out the window
On these rooftops I caught a bit of air
with a view, oh mine to keep
And still I wonder if you
will ever ever find me?
Or I will do it all over.
Should I do it all over for you?

You brought the spring feeling in my body into my bones.
And I feel it come alive from my head to my toes.
Stay a little longer,
Won’t you stay a little longer?
(In the spring sun, with me)

And maybe we are way too young,
and maybe we will only feel low,
to know things like love.
But who cares anyway?

Spring Sun

I only ever listen to love songs
The kind that make you wanna die
I wish I could think of something different
But I every time I sing I just wanna break down and cry

I only ever think about heartbreak
I try to find it every day
I wish I didn’t martyr myself for romance
I’m stuck in the hook and I can’t get away

I don’t wanna sing a chorus
I don’t wanna repeat myself
I don’t wanna make this a love song
But I don’t want to do anything else

I don’t wanna sing a chorus
I don’t wanna repeat myself
I don’t wanna keep living in the past
But I don’t want to do anything else

Written, Produced and Mixed by Ryan Marshall Lawhon
Mastered by Gene Grimaldi

Good God Regina It's A Bomb

Empty Lungs

Produced by Mating Ritual
Written by Ryan Marshall Lawhon and Taylor Lawhon
Mixed by Jason Suwito
Mastered by Gene Grimaldi
Additional Vocals by Lizzy Land

It’s my weekend
Tonight
It’s been every night for a while
I don’t need to 
See the sky
But I need to feel alive

It doesn’t feel right
To wake up before the sun
It doesn’t feel right
To get to work on time
It doesn’t feel right
To take my place
In line

Why do the years keep coming
I don’t feel like I’m growing up
Cuz I haven’t had enough of being young

I don’t need to
Buy a spritz
I can make my own fucking spritz
But I do need a vibe
I need to feel alive

It doesn’t feel right
To make my payments on time
It doesn’t feel right
To take new pills to feel fine
It doesn’t feel right
To take a number and die

Why do the years keep coming
I don’t feel like I’m growing up
Cuz I haven’t had enough of being young
Why do the years keep coming
I don’t feel like I’m growing up
Cuz I haven’t had enough of being young

I haven’t had enough of being young
I haven’t had enough of being young
I haven’t had enough of being young
I haven’t had enough of being young

Haven't Had Enough (Of Being Young)

'Dandelion' album out now via Everything Forever - https://link.saidthewhale.com/dandelion

Congratulations

Said The Whale

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