Thursday, October 11, 2018

“Scenes From Before” by New Time Zones – A Song Feature

      Indie recordings typically are neither nuanced nor notably textured. It is probably because the Indie Universe is primarily populated by bands and solo performers having expenses that far exceed their music-based income and having a focus on skill sets that don’t extend into the recording/production area. “Scenes From Before” jumps forward as an exception.

      From the start, the song from New Time Zones is textured. The prominent layer is the rhythmic guitar and percussion. Underneath is an anguished sound of a shoegaze guitar. Later in the track, the same instruments establish the rhythmic overlay, but the underlayer is energetic rather than anguished (at the 1:44 mark). At times, the male vocals are joined by a female voice (Alyssa Cross). Nuanced? Yes, as exemplified in the first occurrence of the chorus, when there is an unnecessary-but-appealing pause before the last word in the line, “Searching for answers to questions that we may never… find.” For the second occurrence of the chorus, the sentence isn’t completed.

      "Scenes From Before" is the second single from the band's upcoming EP, “Stage One." In talking about the single, lyricist Justin Shelton explained:
  “The song was inspired by a trip through my hometown. Flooded with memories of the streets I used to roam and the friends that shaped my life. We were all so wide eyed and innocent, believing we would go on to do whatever we wanted.”

      New Time Zones is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The members are Justin Shelton (vocals, rhythm guitar, lyrics), David Rey (lead guitar), Harry Duff (bass), and Freddy Bell (drums). Other contributions to "Scenes From Before" were made by Nathan Price (drums), Andrew Bair (synths, keys, additional programming), and Alyssa Cross (harmonies).

     “Scenes From Before” by New Time Zones 



Lyrics of “Scenes from Before” by New Time Zones
When did everything change?
I close my eyes and I'm taken away
It always feels so strange
The scenery spent but the walls remain the same

Whoa, do you remember when we were just kids?
The stars lit up the night sky right before our very eyes
Adding them up before we blinked and lost count
Whoa, searching for answers to questions that we may never… find

We were lifting off in the breeze unaware
We'd be forced to land
Dreamers of a time
Before their lines were drawn
In the sand

Whoa, do you remember when we were just kids?
The stars lit up the night sky right before our very eyes
Adding them up before we blinked and lost count
Whoa, searching for answers to questions that we may never…  

Sitting quietly by candlelight
(Will it fade away?)
Holding out for sign of morning light

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