As much as we look to songwriters (or any artists, really) for detailed explanations of their work, when it comes down to it, the point of origin for any composition is usually something as primitive as “I was feeling many emotions very strongly.” It doesn’t help that with age, the boundaries once separating those disparate emotions tend to come down, resulting in something like New Orleans–based duo Video Age’s latest single from their upcoming LP Away From the Castle, “Is It Really Over?”—a song that goes much deeper than the post-mortem assessment of a relationship implied by its title.
“[Bandmate Ross Farbe] made the observation that even when you start writing about something small, the final version of a song can end up containing every single emotion you’ve ever felt in your life. I find that to be true with this song,” the band’s Ray Micarelli explains, noting that “Over” isn’t necessarily even just a song about a relationship. “Though I started writing it long ago about wishing a night with friends at a show would never end, I ended up divulging all the pain, shock, confusion, and bewilderment I’ve felt from every breakup ever. Whoops.”
Musically, the track takes on an equally unreadable emotional tone, opening with upbeat shades of new wave before Farbe’s crestfallen vocals and AOR-esque atmospherics bring the energy down to something a little more somber. Listen below.
You can pre-order the duo’s new LP before it drops next Friday, October 27, here. Additionally, their tour kicks off the same night in New Orleans—check out the full list of dates here.
