You Don't Know Me is a song about acknowledging that the people that once knew and loved you, may not know the person you are today. It's ok to change and grow as a person, and more importantly, it's ok to outgrow people that don't want to grow with you. You should never be ashamed of changing. I came up with the idea and the first few lyrics of the song while I was riding on the L train when I lived in Chicago. I was looking out of the window thinking about how far I had come to even be in that position, and how most of the people I grew up with probably didn't even know where I was.

You Don't Know Me

I fell deep into the bitter sea
Felt so cold, yeah my body went weak
Red alert you say you wanna see me
Got so high till I couldn't think straight
Heart palpitations sweat perspiring
Head gone numb and I couldn't breathe
Party fell dead now you wanna speak
Saw your face now I wanna leave, sorry

It's hard enough for us to be friends
Never got it right, I don't wanna pretend
Wasted years on us, I don't wanna be
Living in a dream, out of reach, makes me wanna scream

Oh no, don't make it look easy
Too close, I can feel you breathing
Hate this, you make me feel useless
I'm not gonna be the one that breaks first

Curse this scene, get me out of here
Too cliche for the hell of it, maybe
The writers just wanna, embarrass me, probably
Script might change, but I wanna quit, way too
… Naive, for my own good, so what now?
Surreptitious and ineloquent
No cares left, think I'm ready to throw up
… Gotta dig a way outta this hole I dug

It's hard enough for us to be friends
Never got it right, I don't wanna pretend
Wasted years on us, I don't wanna be
Living in a dream, out of reach, makes me wanna scream

Oh no, don't make it look easy
Too close, I can feel you breathing
Fuck that, don't tell me you love me
I don't need false hope to believe in

I don't wanna be the one that breaks first

Bitter

prod. by tommy.
mixed by tommy.
mastered by @distantsoundz

A GOODNIGHT STOKER Story

This song was originally written for the album but I never quite finished it in time so I had to hold it back. With the album out I finally managed to get it together and really wanted to push it out to finally finish the STOKER story. thank u :))

lyrics:
Better wake up now
And spit on all the riches
Rain come down when I shoot the witness
Hang me high without a question
I don't wanna be a victim to religion

I think we've seen too much 
And when we talk it's like another loss
So dark and it's hard to find you 
We can't seem to find a way through 
And I wish that it was different 
Lies don't know how to spin them 
Loud it's so loud
I'm breaking down
You'll come around 

Caught up in your web spinning 
I don't wanna get it 
Cursed with the gift of sight 
Don't wanna hear it 
Children are wicked 
And the sky got no stars 
When the lights go out 
I'm gonna tear you apart 
So you
 
Better wake up now
And spit on all the riches
Rain come down when I shoot the witness
Hang me high without a question
I don't wanna be a victim to religion

Don't wanna be another victim to religion 
We've held too many hands to just listen 
I don't wanna see I don't wanna speak 
I don't wanna see not even a peak 

Take my body take my bones 
Take the blood out of my nose 
Take my soul and everything that is crumbling 
Yeah
I keep asking what you know but it's clear that you don't 
I've got concussions from fumbling 
Oh my god what's wrong with me 
Yeah I asked for this but I can't be seen 
With this dry mouth red eyed silicon face 
And this new devil singing in my ear 
There's no space for me to breathe me to grieve 
Wanna bleed on this track 
Take my eyes I'll be fine 
Please just never give 'em back

Children are wicked and the sky got no stars 
When the lights go out I'm gonna tear you apart 
So you

Better wake up now
And spit on all the riches
Rain come down when I shoot the witness
Hang me high without a question
I don't wanna be a victim to religion
Better wake up now
And spit on all the riches
Rain come down when I shoot the witness
Hang me high without a question
I don't wanna be a victim to religion

Don't wanna be another victim to religion 
We've held too many hands to just listen 
I don't wanna see I don't wanna speak 
I don't wanna see not even a peak 
Caught up in your web spinning 
I don't wanna get it 
Cursed with the gift of sight 
Don't wanna hear it 
Children are wicked 
And the sky got no stars 
When the lights go out 
I'm gonna tear you apart 
So you

Better wake up now
And spit on all the riches
Rain come down when I shoot the witness
Hang me high without a question
I don't wanna be a victim to religion
Better wake up now
And spit on all the riches
Rain come down when I shoot the witness
Hang me high without a question
(Victim)
I don't wanna be a victim to religion
(To you)

Ay 
Be your victim 
(To you)
Ugh Ugh 

Take my body take my bones 
Take the blood out of my nose 
Take my soul and everything that is crumbling 
Yeah
I keep asking what you know but it's clear that you don't 
I've got concussions from fumbling

THE WITNESS

today i feel like dogwater

“The White Wall” is the fourth single to be released from Sydney indie rock three-piece Crystal Cities forthcoming third LP, I Should Have Known That This Was War. 

The single is the group’s most hard-hitting and assertive track in a while. While the band’s iconic reverb-drenched dreamscapes are still present, the more energetic and aggressive performances from each member on this track don’t go unnoticed. 

“The White Wall” captures the listener’s attention immediately with its stark intro; a thunderous drum groove with only vocals to accompany it. Geoff Rana’s lyrics are biting: “My God, I can’t believe it, that you have fallen for this now. The lights are barely flicking, but you can’t wait to put them out.” 


The guitar and bass tightly interweave with one another in the verses to create a kind of claustrophobic tension, before the song finally opens up into an ocean of guitar ambience with Rana asking the listener, “Did I tell you about the time? Yeah, behind the white wall.”

“‘The white wall’ is a term I read about, regarding the illusion of reality, where behind the white wall lies the truth about our existence. I related this concept to my experience during the Covid lockdowns and the psychological warfare I found myself in during this time; unable to reach for any kind of solid truth within the fog of mass hysteria…”
⁣- Geoff Rana (vocals/guitar/keys)


Lead vocalist and guitarist/keyboardist Geoff Rana has been spending days on end in his self-made studio where he’s been writing, producing and engineering the band’s latest material.

While the band’s previous effort - their sophomore album Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight - was an exercise in hard-hitting alternative rock that could rattle a live audience, the band’s third LP, I Should Have Known That This Was War, feels more explorative and colourful (at least from the three singles released from the band thus far:“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”“I Should Have Known That This Was War”, and “The Strangest Dream”). 

This new album also marks the departure of previous drummer Daniel Conte and the arrival of new drummer Neel Shukla. Neel, Geoff and Jared have a long-standing relationship that spans all the way back to when they all studied Contemporary Music Performance together at The Australian Institute of Music in Sydney.

Long-time Crystal Cities collaborator Paul Lani (David Bowie, Prince) was once again tapped to handle mixing and mastering duties for the recording.

Since the band’s formation in 2016 they have released a highly praised EP - Who’s Gonna Save Us Now (2017) - and two critically acclaimed albums - Under The Cold Light of the Moon (2019) and Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight (2021). There is no scheduled release date for the band’s forthcoming third album.

I Should Have Known That This Was War

The White Wall

Written by Sydney Wayser
Produced by Dan Molad and Pete Harper
Mixed by Dan Molad
Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova

LOVER I BUILT US A THRONE
Woke up in your bed
Mountains of pillows had grown
I tied the sheets with copper thread
Lover, I built us a throne

I want to begin, down to the feel and down to the color
Don’t wait for me to kiss you in the morning when you’re half asleep

Honey I want to get tangled up
Maybe you and I could fall in love
I don’t want to wait but I don’t want to rush
I think I love you, I love you, I love you

We memorized the history 
Of ancient Greece and ancient Rome
And while you practiced their dances
My king, I knit you a robe

I want to begin, down to the feel and down to the color
Don’t wait for me to kiss you in the morning when you’re half asleep
‘Cause I want to begin again 

Honey I want to get tangled up
Maybe you and I could fall in love
I don’t want to wait but I don’t want to rush
I think I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you

Somewhere in the forest I built a tower
Far behind the pines, stacked bricks and flowers
I’d forgotten my truth I had nothing to prove

Honey all I want do is tangled up
Maybe you and I could fall in love
I don’t want to wait but I don’t want to rush
I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you

Sofia

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