New York’s Closebye returns with face-melting intensity on “Pilates,” a smoldering, seductive indie rock fever dream and the lead single from their upcoming sophomore album, Hammer of My Own.
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Stream: “Pilates” – Closebye
TClosebye’s first song of the year sees his inner fire burn boldly and brightly.
A smoldering, seductive indie rock fever dream,Pilates” is a raw rush of intense, relentless emotion, a cathartic and emotional release of seismic proportions. The New York band channels passion and pain, heartache and longing, and the unspeakable into a searing song that captivates the ears and stirs the soul throughout its four-minute run. While a workout class won’t solve all your relationship problems, like this song, it’s the perfect way to sweat out the toxins.
Hello Doug
You seem to want to be a big shot.
Stand your ground and see it through
I know you like it,
I know you’re just a mess
Force my hand and block strangers
Or stop the loss and protect the traitor.
But you know me like that
I know I’m just a mess
But you know me like that
Because I know I’m just a messed up person.
Take me to Pilates
You need to train your mind and body
Take me to karate
You need to train your mind and body
Self-released on May 29th, 2024, “Pilates” sends shivers down your spine as Closebye transforms intense emotions into intense music. The band’s first song in six months follows last year’s Halloween release “Hell’s Kitchen” (and prior to that, their 2022 debut album). Clarity) and will be released as the lead single from their second album. Make your own hammer (Scheduled for release on August 23rd).
It is a powerful return for the quintet consisting of Jonah Paul Smith, Julian “Paint” Smith, Ran “Skinny” Salazar, Margaux Bushenyi and Simon Clinton. Described as a reflection of several cycles of creation and destruction (both internal and external), Make your own hammer is a bold beast of intimate songwriting and passionate musical expression. The lyrics explore, according to singer-songwriter and frontman Jonah Paul Smith, “the struggle for independence with its constant shifts of blame, projection and codependency, to a new sober independence and the realization that only you can be your own savior.”
It is within this framework that we first encounter “Pilates,” a song already full of emotional tension and suspense: Smith sings about the desire to repair what’s broken, but throughout, we’re not entirely sure whether he’s talking about himself or the relationship.You know me, you know I’m just a messed up person.” he declares quietly and passionately through the microphone, a visceral flood of emotion.So please take me to Pilates, I need to exercise my mind and body…“
Hello Doug
You seem to want to be a big shot.
Stand your ground and see it through
I know you like it,
I know you’re just a mess
Stopping traitors by force
Or stop losses and protect strangers.
But you know me like that
I know I’m just a mess
But you know me like that
Because I know I’m just a messed up person.
““The initial inspiration for ‘Pilates’ came when I overheard someone complaining about being ‘dragged’ to a Pilates class by a friend,” Smith says. Atwood Magazine“I remember feeling a bit jealous.Why are you complaining? I want a friend to take me to Pilates.This was around the time one of my closest friends started to fall apart, so the song became about how I lost sight of myself and projected my own failures onto them.”
“Throughout the song, I keep shifting the blame between myself and this character, Doug. Doug and I are both self-destructing inside, we can’t communicate, we’re paralyzed. So my suggestion is to get moving with some Pilates. This is an easy fix. In reality, it’s too late to repair the relationship and if you really want to go to a Pilates class, you’ll go yourself. Most of the album follows the realization about self-improvement that you can’t change unless you want to. This song is the stage of denial before you get to that realization.”
Take me to Pilates
You need to train your mind and body
Take me to karate
You need to train your mind and body
Take me when I’m crying
When you throw it back and it’s ugly
Take me when you’re lonely
When you’re trying to sleep but you feel dizzy
Pilates is an enthusiastic and soul-shaking experience that wells up from the depths of our hearts. Slow burn That is exactly Pioneer.
With its dramatic, dynamic beat and hypnotic, recurring guitar pattern, the song provides plenty of space for cathartic release — a moment for both artist and listener to exorcise their own demons. As Closebye producer and bandmate Ian Salazar explains, creating this kind of catalyst was a big part of their shared vision for the song.
“During the peak of Omicron, I took a vacation and drove down to Texas to do a paint and recording session with Jonah at Echo Lab in the woods outside of Denton, Texas. I was a member of Talking Heads. Stay in the light I listened to this song on a loop for most of the two-day drive and it was driving me a little crazy. Jonah sent me a demo of “Pilates” the night I arrived, just a few days before we went into the studio to record the first three tracks of what would become the album. I remember being totally enthralled by the demo.”
“The looping hypnotic rhythm and guitar Stay in the light “This song had a huge influence on how I approached recording it, especially the outro, which I wrote the night before recording. I wanted to write a song that my 14-year-old self could relate to and who I am now, and I think I was able to do that.”
Hey Doug…
Whatever you need, need
Hey Doug…
Whatever you need
I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do…
No amount of Pilates or karate classes can mend a broken friendship, but the power, passion, and pain in this song are incredibly authentic. Closebye is back with a flood of face-melting emotion, inviting us all to give our ears the workout of a lifetime and stretch our minds and souls.
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