The universe of music has always been a place where emotions find their purest and deepest expression. There are compositions that, due to their experimental nature, manage to transcend earthly limits and elevate us to a completely new dimension.
"Galaxies", the latest single by Side Bangs, invites us to embark on a journey through unexplored universes, where music and emotions intertwine in a fascinating way.
Join us in the following article where we will analyze in detail the magic hidden behind this incredible composition, which also presents an important reflection on emotional connections.
About The Artist
Side Bangs is a dream pop/alt rock band hailing from the vibrant city of Brooklyn, NY, and is led by the talented songwriter Stephanie Rodgers as the lead vocalist and main composer. Their music is a captivating fusion of psychedelic, trip-hop, shoegaze, new wave, and punk styles, masterfully intertwined with pop-rock sensibilities.
Stephanie's powerful presence on stage is magnified by the impeccable support of her skilled bandmates: Jonathan Toscano, laying down the groovy basslines, Bryan Framhein, infusing the rhythm with his energetic drumming and Manuel with his mesmerizing guitar melodies. Together, they create an undeniable chemistry that elevates the band's performances, filling them with depth and energy.
Beyond the band members' talents, Side Bangs collaborates with a team of exceptional producers - Mark Marshall, Denise Barbarita, and Chris Burkett - who play a pivotal role in crafting the group's sonic landscape, ensuring every note resonates with artistic brilliance.
This harmonious collaboration gives birth to an exhilarating musical experience that leaves audiences spellbound. Side Bangs' ability to seamlessly blend diverse genres and deliver emotionally charged performances is what sets them apart, making their shows an unforgettable journey for all who have the pleasure of listening.
About The Release
"Galaxies," is the third studio singe by Side Bangs, released on July 25th, 2023. It is a breathtaking fusion of psychedelic rock, trip-hop, and nostalgic sounds, resulting in a fresh and romantic masterpiece.
Notably, the song was recorded without the use of samples, adding to its organic and authentic appeal.
Stephanie Rodgers crafted "Galaxies" in 2019 after a candid discussion with a friend at a diner in Columbus, Ohio. This friend pointed out the somewhat melancholic nature of her songwriting.
Determined to prove her friend wrong, Stephanie set out to write a love song inspired by outer space. The very next day, she accomplished her mission, and with collaboration of her bandmates "Galaxies" came into existence, solidifying Side Bangs' ability to create music that ventures beyond the ordinary and explores the boundless realms of imagination.
In-Depth Analysis
"Galaxies" is a musical masterpiece that takes us on an exciting journey through outer space via emotions. It tells the tale of a special bond shared between two individuals, deeply connected. In this story, the protagonist expresses a profound desire to strengthen this bond even further, inviting her beloved partner to break free from the confines that surround them and explore new horizons together.
Through poetic language, the lyrical composition suggests embarking on a mysterious and captivating voyage through the universe of their feelings.
The song begins with an intriguing reversed-delay effect on the vocals, creating a hypnotic fade-in that paves the way for an exquisite instrumentation. String instruments, like the electric bass, adds a rich and full-bodied quality to the sound right from the start, while the mandolin stands out with its crystalline brilliance in the high frequencies.
The percussion joins immediately with a relaxed rhythm, and secondary vocals are introduced with a celestial reverberation effect that travels along the stereo channel, lending an ethereal aura to the music.
As the first verse begins, Stephanie's commanding voice makes its entrance, and its delicate timbre seamlessly melds with the instrumentation, creating a flawless and harmonious start. Additionally, the inclusion of electric guitars with an elegant delay effect enriches the sonic landscape, immersing us in an enthralling auditory experience.
It is intriguing how the choice of the word "String" in the opening phrase ("Tie me tight on to your string, I’m going to be anywhere you are") not only describes the protagonist's intense desire to maintain a deep connection with their beloved but also subtly reminds us of the "Red String of Fate," an ancient Asian belief that two people are connected by an invisible red string from the moment they are born. This string represents the destiny of two individuals who are meant to meet and share a special and unbreakable bond throughout their lives.
The idea of venturing far away is further deepened when entering the chorus ("Can we go? Take it there, take it there, Slow, Up up up, away we go, Take me there, I’ll take you there, Oh, oh, can we go?"), showing a protagonist fully willing and determined to explore the unknown with her partner, creating their own space to experience and explore their own universe together.
From a musical standpoint, the song's structure is truly captivating and unique, featuring multiple changes that keep the listener captivated as it unfolds. For example, the auditory sensation present throughout the verse and first chorus is different from the subsequent sections in terms of intensity and form, adding a touch of constant surprise as to what is coming next.
As the song progresses, it takes new directions, effectively evoking the feeling of an astral journey, leading us to an intriguing bridge where the filtered percussion emphasizes the low frequencies and Stephanie Rodgers' stunning vocal harmonies naturally intertwine.
In this section, the singer showcases her impressive lyric composition abilities by evoking an ideal and utopian place with the phrase "Somewhere in rainbows, no storms no clouds. Nothing but the sky Gravity won’t pull us down Out of sight, crazy, you and I." Through masterful use of metaphors, she symbolizes the absence of adversities and conflicts in this imaginary space.
However, the true climax of this incredible musical experience arrives unexpectedly as the second chorus begins, where new elements join the mix, such as synthesizers with subtle controlled saturation highlighting the left channel of the mix, and the inclusion of an electric guitar, this time with a captivating overdrive sound, performing a solid guitar solo that delights our ears.
This solo unfolds a melody that undoubtedly penetrates deep into the listener, extending with incredible spontaneity, leading us to the exciting outro of the song. Here, the sound of the mandolin reappears alongside ambient sounds that create a powerful atmosphere that gradually intensifies, and then fades away bringing us to the end of this magical journey.
The resonance of this sonic landscape lingers in our ears for several seconds, leaving us with a sensation that endures even after the song has end.
"Galaxies," far from being just an incredible song, it rises as a true auditory and sensory experience that invites us on a journey to explore the concept of love from a much more transcendental perspective, teaching us that there are no limits to love when there is an authentic connection between two individuals.
Thus, amidst the stellar symphony and its chords painting unexplored landscapes, Side Bangs opens a portal to the very essence of the universe. Their exceptional artistic talent, reflected in this masterful composition, perfectly evokes the feeling of traveling vividly and passionately through the vastness of outer space.
Side Bangs On-Line
Website: https://sidebangsmusic.com/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sidebangs
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sidebangsmusic