Over the years we’ve collected various instruments, distilled many musical styles and carved out a signature sound by taking influences locally and globally. For me it’s not one instrument or thing that defines the band but it’s the combination and collaboration of all these experiences and people that shape our band and sound. When coming up with the material for the new album, we pushed ourselves to reinvent and discover new musical expressions. One of the more upbeat songs that came about was the track “Under The Wheels”.  Sergio Mendoza, our keyboardist who wrote the music, felt like it touched on a bit of the Latin and Indie Rock elements of artists like Los Fabulousos Cadillacs and The Clash, and it reminded me of the vibe from David Bowie’s album “Let’s Dance”.

Lyrically I imagined following a character wandering the city streets on their skateboard with earbuds blasting, swerving in and around themes of anxiety and worldly stresses. The weight that the words convey ultimately gives way to the light and optimism of the rhythms and melody. It’s a sign of peace in this era of war machines, a path that brings us closer together to find resolve and solutions, “from the core to the seams the threads that we seek.”

Watch the lyric video, directed by Sky Shields, with animation/illustration by Sky Jason Shields and Mike Hulyk.