From The Floppy Disk
Tyler Lyle
Tyler Lyle | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jamison Tyler Lyle |
Born | Carrollton, Georgia, U.S. | December 1, 1985
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Member of |
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Website | tylerlyle |
Jamison Tyler Lyle[1] (born December 1, 1985) is an American musician who is the primary guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist for The Midnight.
Born and raised in rural Georgia, Lyle began his career in music as a young adult and became regionally known after winning a songwriting contest in 2010. This led to the self-release of his debut album, gaining him national exposure, and he also began writing for other artists.
Lyle moved to Los Angeles in 2011, and in 2012 his A&R representative arranged for him to meet Danish producer Tim McEwan for a songwriting session. The two had an instant connection and began making music. Lyle and McEwan became a duo known as The Midnight and self-released their first extended play (EP) in 2014 and have continuously released new music since.
Outside of The Midnight, Lyle continues to release solo work and regularly tours around the United States. In 2016, he began a semi-regular podcast titled From The Secret Lair that includes music and self-commentary. He is married and has one child.
Early life
Lyle was born and raised in Carrollton, Georgia, the son of Mark and Deborah Lyle.[2] His father is also a musician and is the house-guitarist for the George Britt Band, who plays at the Lowell Opry House in Carrollton.[3]
Lyle was frequently around music growing up, being exposed to the musical genres of Country, Gospel, Bluegrass, and Classic rock.[4] His dad was the music minister at the family's church, and he grew up singing in the choir.[5] After initially having no interest in a music career as a child, Lyle began playing the guitar in high school, learning tabs from his father and online.[6]
Lyle attended college at Asbury University in Kentucky for one year before transferring to Georgia State University, earning a degree in philosophy in 2008.[7][8][9] After college, he used some money from a student loan to move to Prague and got certified to teach English as a foreign language.[10][11][8] He then relocated to Paris and began attending Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University to satisfy the requirements for his student visa.[12][9] When he wasn't working as a teacher or taking classes, Lyle performed at various bars and pubs around the city and began writing more music.[6] He later returned to Georgia in 2009 to begin a music career.[9] To support himself, he worked a variety of odd jobs including roofing, landscaping, food delivery, and advertising.[13][14][15]
Career
Beginnings as a solo musician
Lyle self-released his first album in 2007 and later released an EP in 2009.[16][9] He would gain larger exposure in June 2010 after winning the Open Mic Shootout at the music club Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Georgia.[3][17][18] Previous winners of the contest include John Mayer, Clay Cook, and Jennifer Nettles.[19] Lyle performed four original songs at the event: Closer to Me, Pretty Lady, Nashville, and The Secret.[20][21][22][23] He used the $1000 cash prize from the contest to fund the creation of the album The Golden Age & The Silver Girl, which released the following year in July.[24] The entire album was recorded in just one day and it was later recognized by NPR World Café as one of the top albums of 2011.[25][26][27]
Right after he finished making his debut album, Lyle moved to California to be closer to a new manager he had started working with,[28] and he later signed a publishing deal with Pulse Recordings.[10][11][29] He lived in an old house in Laurel Canyon that once belonged to Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie before moving to an apartment by the beach in Santa Monica with a roommate from college.[25][11][30] Lyle continued self-releasing music throughout 2012 and 2013, and in 2013 he was the recipient of the Harald Adamson Lyric Award for pop music from the ASCAP Foundation.[31] During this time, he continued making occasional appearances at Eddie's Attic and toured throughout the country with other musicians, additionally playing shows at several music festivals including SXSW, Noise Pop, and MusicfestNW.[25]
Lyle has said that his musical influences include Paul Simon, Garth Brooks, and his father Mark.[32]
The Midnight
In 2012, Lyle met Tim McEwan at a songwriter’s workshop in North Hollywood [33] arranged by his A&R representative Katie Donovan.[34] Bonding over a mutual love of 80's rock,[35] they began writing songs together and at McEwan’s suggestion based their sound on 80’s synth. The first song they wrote was WeMoveForward,[34][36] and their first release as a duo under The Midnight moniker came in July 2014 with the extended play Days of Thunder. Lyle serves as the band's primary vocalist and guitarist is credited with writing the majority of the band’s lyrics. He has been the main vocalist in every The Midnight song containing vocals except for Synthetic and Comet, which were sung by McEwan. Many of The Midnight's songs have their roots in songs originally written and released by Lyle on one of his albums or his podcast, From The Secret Lair.
Regarding his approach to writing for The Midnight, Lyle has said:[37][38]I write The Midnight lyrically (mostly) as the fantasy that I never experienced. I lean a bit utopian sometimes and let the images get grander than I experienced. I was on the debate team. I had a lisp. I was really into Syphon Filter. The fun is in the make believe.
I write everyday. Some of it goes in The Midnight folder. Some of it goes off into far far away places. It works best when Tim has a cool musical skeleton and I have a cool lyrical skeleton we can smush together and build together.
Continued solo work and other ventures
Outside of The Midnight, Lyle continues to record and tour as a solo artist. Most recently, he embarked on a four show tour in the US in 2022 and his latest album, The Transcendentalists Part One, was released in June 2023.[39][40] Not long after his move to Los Angeles, Lyle formed with Andrew Smith and Jack Moore the group Smith, Lyle, and Moore, whose first EP was released in August 2020.[41] In 2012, he co-wrote two songs for Court Yard Hounds that appeared on their album Amelita.[2][42] His songs have been heard on the US television shows Hart of Dixie, Private Practice, and Gossip Girl.[43][44][45]
In January 2016, he began a monthly podcast titled From The Secret Lair.[46] Each episode generally consists of around three to six songs accompanied with commentary by Lyle.[47] The discussions touch on several topics, including his methods as a musician, sources of inspiration, philosophy, literature, and his southern upbringing. The first season featured 23 episodes that were recorded from his apartment in Brooklyn, New York.[48] The second season began in November 2020 and ran for eight episodes, with production moved to his home studio in Atlanta, Georgia.[49] The third season began in April 2023 and had nine episodes.[50]
Personal life
Outside of music, Lyle's interests include books, Tarot card reading, philosophy, and bourbon/whiskey. In September 2014, he married Anna Jimenez.[51][52] Jimenez contributed backing vocals to The Midnight's song Los Angeles.[53] Previously residing in Southern California and New York City, the Lyles now live in Atlanta, Georgia with their son, Beau.
References
- ↑ "Jamison Tyler Lyle of The Midnight performs during the 2019... News Photo - Getty Images". Getty Images. July 12, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "winter is for Kierkegaard and mapping out these shining stars | Fuel/Friends Music Blog". Fuel/Friends Music Blog. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Music + Dance: Tyler Lyle, "Moon Dust" - ARTS ATL". Arts ATL. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The Midnight "rock and roll with synthesizers" on Deep Blue | Student Magazine - Student Pages". Student Pages. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2021 suggested (help) - ↑ "We are The Midnight and we're playing Electric Forest for the first time. Ask us Anything! : ElectricForest". Reddit. May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
requires|archive-url=
(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Interview: Storyteller and Songwriter – Tyler Lyle |". Music for Lunch. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Singled Out: Tyler Lyle's Winter Is For Kierkegaard | Tyler Lyle News | antiMusic.com". Anti Music. May 28, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Notes From The Parade | Tyler Lyle". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Tyler Lyle Charms with Flannel and Smooth Music - The Student Life". The Student Life. February 8, 2013. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Thoughts | Tyler Lyle". Tumblr. August 1, 2010. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle - Quora". Quora. April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "We are The Midnight and we're playing Electric Forest for the first time. Ask us Anything! : ElectricForest". Reddit. May 21, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "The Midnight Live Stream Video, April 10/2017 - YouTube". YouTube. April 10, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Tyler Lyle BTS interview - YouTube". YouTube. October 24, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Retrowave Sessions Ep 2: The Midnight - YouTube". YouTube. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; March 24, 2022 suggested (help) - ↑ "Eddie's Attic | Details & Rules - Eddie's Attic". Eddie's Attic. April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Eddie's Attic | Open Mic - Eddie's Attic". Eddie's Attic. April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ↑ "Closer to Me, Tyler Lyle at Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shootout - YouTube". YouTube. October 27, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Pretty Lady, Tyler Lyle at Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shootout - YouTube". YouTube. October 27, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Nashville, Tyler Lyle at Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shootout - YouTube". YouTube. October 27, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "The Secret, Tyler Lyle at Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shootout - YouTube". YouTube. October 27, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "The Golden Age & The Silver Girl | Tyler Lyle". Bandcamp. July 16, 2011. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Tyler Lyle Shows on San Diego LGBT Pride Community Calendar". San Diego LGBT Pride Community. April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "World Cafe: Looking Ahead To 2012 : World Cafe : NPR". NPR. December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Retrowave Sessions Ep 2: The Midnight - YouTube". YouTube. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; March 24, 2022 suggested (help) - ↑ "Retrowave Sessions Ep 2: The Midnight - YouTube". YouTube. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; March 24, 2022 suggested (help) - ↑ "Sometimes, for love to come, love has to go | Sounds For The Soul". Sounds For The Soul. November 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The ASCAP Foundation Harold Adamson Lyric Awards". The ASCAP Foundation. January 1, 2013. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "We are The Midnight. Ask us anything. : outrun". Reddit. April 4, 2018. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "THE MIDNIGHT: Tim McEwan And Tyler Lyle On Bringing 'Monsters' To Life!". Icon Vision. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Who Are The Midnight?: An Interview with the Masters of Modern Nostalgia". Vehlinggo. November 12, 2017. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The Midnight Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic". AllMusic. January 1, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Retrowave Sessions Ep 2: The Midnight - YouTube". YouTube. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; March 24, 2022 suggested (help) - ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. June 3, 2022. Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ↑ "The Transcendentalists | Tyler Lyle". Bandcamp. June 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; August 22, 2023 suggested (help) - ↑ "Smith, Lyle & Moore Unravel the Makings of Debut 'EP1,' Release "Werewolf" - American Songwriter". American Songwriter. August 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Amelita - Court Yard Hounds | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. July 16, 2013. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "My song "Anyhow" is going to be featured on the CW... | Tyler Lyle". Tumblr. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Hey! What'dya know? "I Will Follow Love All The... | Tyler Lyle". Tumblr. May 6, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "tyler lyle | Cause A Scene Music". Cause A Scene Music. May 29, 2014. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle- From The Secret Lair (podcast) - Tyler Lyle | Listen Notes". Listen Notes. July 20, 2017.
- ↑ "Music | Tyler Lyle". Bandcamp. January 1, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "23. My Ideal Bookshelf | Tyler Lyle". Bandcamp. November 15, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. October 31, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Episode 1: The Grail King | Tyler Lyle". Bandcamp. April 2, 2023. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle marries Anna Jimenez under the Golden Gate Bridge in the Golden State with Sharon Jimenez and Bob... - Bring Hollywood Home Foundation fighting for California's Creative economy | Facebook". Facebook. September 20, 2014. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ↑ "Tyler Lyle on Twitter". Twitter. September 5, 2020. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "We are The Midnight and we're playing Electric Forest for the first time. Ask us Anything! : ElectricForest". Reddit. May 21, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
External links
Click the heading above to read more!
Brooklyn. Friday. Love.
"Brooklyn. Friday. Love." | ||||
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Single by The Midnight | ||||
from the album Heroes | ||||
Released | August 3, 2022 | |||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | Counter Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Tim McEwan | |||
Heroes track listing | ||||
The Midnight singles chronology | ||||
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|
Brooklyn. Friday. Love. is a song by The Midnight. It is the fourth single and second track from their album Heroes. The single was released on August 3, 2022.[1]
The song was written by band members Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan alongside Nikki Flores and Royce Whittaker. It was produced by McEwan. It has a running time of three minutes and 52 seconds and is in the key of F major. Brooklyn. Friday. Love. has its roots in Lyle's From The Secret Lair project, first appearing on episodes 7 and 25 of season one before being released on Mr. Green's B Sides. A breakdown of the track by McEwan was streamed on Twitch on August 5, 2022.[2]
In an interview with Magnetic Magazine, Lyle elaborated on the song's meaning:[3]
I wrote the initial version of Brooklyn. Friday. Love. in 2016 as a surf rock song while I was living in Ft. Greene. On days when I couldn’t stand staring at my computer screen anymore- usually around 4:00, I would get on a Citibike and ride up Flushing Avenue around the Navy Yard to Williamsburg.
My wife was working long hours at a corporate job in Midtown and usually wasn’t home before 8, so I would walk, well, I would walk and drink Happy Hour bourbon and cokes at Skinny Dennis, and I would look for books at Spoonbill & Sugartown, and vinyl at Rough Trade.
There was a refreshingly weird creative energy that permeated gentrifying Brooklyn that I’d never felt before. It struck me as a kind of weirdo heaven for a kid who grew up in the Bible Belt. When I die I want to go to Skinny Dennis and hear Zydeco or some Bushwick loft party Modular Synth set. Anyway, the place changed.
Apple and Whole Foods soon arrived in Williamsburg and Ft. Greene, the rents went up, the neighbors were no longer starving artist types. My wife and I also grew up- we had a baby and shortly thereafter we decided to end our five year relationship with Brooklyn.
The song became a Midnight song in 2021- two years after I left Brooklyn for Atlanta. I went back to visit New York for the first time during a lull in COVID waves to see my old neighborhood. 1/3 of the businesses were closed. There was more graffiti, and trash piled on the street like I’d never seen it before. I felt like I was seeing the ghost of an old friend. Reworking the song as an idyll to fit The Midnight felt like a way to honor the strangeness and vibrancy of a Brooklyn that seemed to disappear.
Thankfully most of the splendor has returned to the shabby neighborhoods I love, but I’m approaching my late 30s now, with a family and a mortgage and a more predictable life. The thought of drinking absinthe, or staying up past midnight to watch live music, or spending a day writing indie pop songs in an unheated Bushwick squat is unimaginable. This song is about an ideal that may still exist. It just can’t exist for me anymore.
Music video
On August 9, 2022, a music video was announced for Brooklyn. Friday. Love.[4] The video premiered on August 11, 2022.[5] It was directed by Caleb Mallery and filmed at Little Trouble in Atlanta, GA on July 17, 2022.[6]
The video begins with a rainy outside view of a bar, said to be "Somewhere in Brooklyn". The scene moves inside the bar and various patrons are seen congregating on the dance floor in front of a stage. An old CRT TV advertising karaoke with Comtek branding is shown next, and the song begins. A female patron (portrayed by Julia Vasi) steps up to the microphone on stage and begins singing the song. Various happenings of bar patrons are shown, some aligning with the lyrics of the song. After the line "across the bar sat the hip-hip purist", Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan are seen conversing at a table, their only appearance in the video. After the first chorus, a male bar patron (portrayed by Daniel Di Amante) is seen taking a seat at an empty table. As the song progresses, the camera continues to alternate between shots of the TV displaying the song lyrics and patrons beginning to take note of the woman singing on stage. Eventually, everyone begins singing along with the song and they make their way to the dance floor. The man and the woman on stage lock eyes, and begin to dance with each other as the other patrons dance around them as the credits roll, concluding the video.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Brooklyn. Friday. Love." |
| 3:52 |
2. | "Heartbeat" |
| 3:50 |
3. | "Avalanche" |
| 4:27 |
4. | "Change Your Heart or Die" |
| 3:31 |
Total length: | 15:40 |
Lyrics
Day-trader in a tie-dye jumpsuit
And a gutter punk kid with a neck tattoo
Hooking up at the unisex bathroom
It was Brooklyn
it was Friday
it was love
Across the bar sat the hip-hop purist
Arguing with the jazz obscurists
And in the corner were the terrified tourists
Brooklyn. Friday. Love.
Angel choirs on the corner all night
Sing Johnny Cash and Jackson 5
Little heaven you can stumble into
We got your invite tonight
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
They come from Mississippi and La La Land
New wave hippies and the pop goth glam
It's just 'cause parents don't understand
It was Brooklyn
It was Friday
It was love
From this roof you can see the stars
We are the left bank dreamers
And the avant garde
I'll sing my borrowed song on your borrowed guitar
It was Brooklyn
It was Friday
It was love
Angel choirs on the midnight G train
Some Beastie Boys and Kurt Cobain
Revolution you can learn to dance to
With a friendly face on the way
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Bushwick Avenue
Bedford Avenue
Franklin Avenue
I'm on my way
Where are you
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Don't try to fight it
Oh, it's just Brooklyn on a Friday
It's just Brooklyn on a Friday
It's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Bushwick Avenue
It's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Bedford Avenue
It's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Franklin Avenue
It's just Brooklyn on a Friday
I'm on my way
It's just Brooklyn on a Friday
Official versions and other media
References
- ↑ "the midnight on Twitter". Twitter. July 30, 2022. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ↑ "the midnight on Twitter". Twitter. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ↑ Vance, Will (August 4, 2022). "Lyrics To The Midnight's 'Brooklyn.Friday.Love.' And The Story That Put Words To Music - Magnetic Magazine". Magnetic Magazine. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ↑ "the midnight on Twitter". Twitter. August 9, 2022. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ↑ "The Midnight - 'Brooklyn. Friday. Love.' (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. August 11, 2022. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ↑ "Instagram photo by the midnight • Jul 17, 2022 at 4:53 PM". Instagram. July 17, 2022. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
Click the heading above to read more!
Kids
Kids | ||||
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Album by | ||||
Released | September 21, 2018 | |||
Genre | Synthwave | |||
Length | 33:51 | |||
Label | The Midnight Music | |||
Producer | Tim McEwan | |||
The Midnight chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Kids | ||||
|
Kids is the third album by The Midnight. It was released independently by the band on September 21, 2018,[1] and was preceded by the release of three singles: Lost Boy, America 2, and Arcade Dreams.
Background and composition
The Midnight's previous album Nocturnal featured a distinctive dark and noir sound. For the next album, Tim McEwan expressed a desire to move away from this sound and create music that was more upbeat and happy but still had some hints of sadness.[2] Inspired by the television show Stranger Things and the idea of living in the memories of childhood, McEwan called Tyler Lyle the day after the release of Nocturnal and shared this vision with him. Lyle was receptive to the idea, and thus the process of creating Kids began.
One of the first public mentions of a new release came during a November 2017 interview with Vehlinggo shortly after the release of Nocturnal. McEwan revealed that a new and more "summer feeling" EP was in development and planned for release in the spring or summer of 2018.[3] Giving an early hint at the theme, he stated, “I like to think about it as what the kids from Stranger Things are listening to when they’re not chasing monsters.” The band said on social media in March 2018 that the next album would be "dedicated to the disaffected youth."[4] In May, more info about the new album's direction and theme were shared, with the band stating the "the opening track on our next album is gonna hit you right in the feels" and that it would be their most ambitious album to date - the most challenging so far for McEwan as a producer.[5] They also stated that "A lot of the tracks on our new album are dedicated to late nights on the Internet."[6]
On July 2, 2018, it was announced on the band's social media that a new single was imminent.[7] On July 6, a small snippet of the single's artwork was shown and a release date of July 13 was given.[8] The next day, the single was confirmed to be Lost Boy[9] and the full artwork was revealed on July 11.[10] On July 28, another single was teased.[11] On August 1, the second single was revealed to be America 2 and was slated for an August 3 release.[12] More songs were hinted at on August 11,[13] and on August 16 Kids was officially revealed with a video trailer.[14] The trailer played a small snippet from Kids (Reprise) and gave a release date of September 21 for the album. On September 5, Arcade Dreams was announced as the third and final single from Kids and was released on September 7.[15]
Kids was officially released on September 21, 2018.[1] Despite receiving more mixed reviews compared to previous The Midnight releases,[16][17][18][19][20] Kids was a successful release for the band commercially, debuting at number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Album Sales chart with week one sales of 2000 copies.[21] It also charted at number 12 on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart, number two on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and number 13 on the Independent Albums chart.[22]
The title Kids was suggested early in development by McEwan, with Lyle also approving of the name. At the time, he and his wife Anna were expecting their first child.[23] The first song created for Kids was Lost Boy, an old track of The Midnight's that had been written back in 2015 with Finnish DJ Lenno Linjama.[24] The song was originally titled In The Dark and had a more house feel compared to the final version. Although the band liked the track, they felt it wouldn't have fit well on Nocturnal and held the song out for a future release instead. Deciding to use the song for Kids, McEwan took the original demo and rebuilt the song, doubling the tempo and running the melody and beats in half-time. In the words of McEwan, Lost Boy would be a table-setter for the rest of Kids, which the band considers to be their first "theme" album.[25] The album was originally planned to be longer with more tracks, but it was decided to shorten the release to reduce Lyle's workload while he was caring for his newborn son. The band eventually decided to make Kids the first release in a trilogy series of albums, which would be followed by Monsters and Heroes.
The artwork for Kids was designed by Aaron Campbell, who also designed all the artwork for the album's singles as well.[26] The date on the album art for Kids, October 18, 1985, is a reference to the North American launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Singles
Track listing
All tracks are written by Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle except for Lost Boy, which was written by Tyler Lyle, Tim McEwan, and Lenno Linjama.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Youth" | 3:09 |
2. | "Wave" | 4:31 |
3. | "Kids (Prelude)" | 2:13 |
4. | "Lost Boy" | 4:37 |
5. | "Saturday Mornings (Interlude)" | 0:57 |
6. | "Explorers" | 4:16 |
7. | "America 2" | 4:01 |
8. | "Arcade Dreams" | 4:03 |
9. | "Kids (Reprise)" | 6:04 |
Total length: | 33:51 |
Release history and variants
Date | Edition |
---|---|
September 21, 2018 | Standard |
October 30, 2018[27] | Instrumentals |
April 2, 2021 | Stems |
Year | Format | Color/Design |
---|---|---|
2018 | Cassette | Transparent Purple |
2018 | CD | - |
2018 | LP | Midnight Magenta |
2022 | Cassette | Transparent Green |
2024 | LP | Transparent Pink |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kids | The Midnight". Bandcamp. September 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ↑ https://soundcloud.com/beyond-synth/170-themidnight%7CAt 1:49:55|
- ↑ "Who Are The Midnight?: An Interview with the Masters of Modern Nostalgia". Vehlinggo. November 12, 2017. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The Midnight - Our next album is dedicated to the disaffected... | Facebook". Facebook. March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ↑ "The Midnight - The opening track on our next album is gonna hit... | Facebook". Facebook. May 19, 2018. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ↑ "The Midnight - A lot of the tracks on our new album are dedicated... | Facebook". Facebook. May 20, 2018. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ↑ "the midnight (@themidnightofficial) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram. July 2, 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ↑ "the midnight (@themidnightofficial) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram. July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ↑ "the midnight (@themidnightofficial) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram. July 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BlFSf9XHjB2/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl1N1s1nOUZ/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8KbfYnpv7/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BmU06igFHS7/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BmitYzgFtFx/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BnW2BPoF9cB/
- ↑ "Album Review: The Midnight - Kids - Iron Skullet". Iron Skullet. September 24, 2018. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ Vehling, Aaron (September 21, 2018). "The Midnight - Kids • Review • Vehlinggo". Vehlinggo. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ Sievers, Alex (September 24, 2018). "Album Review: The Midnight - 'Kids' | KillYourStereo | Australian and International Punk, Hardcore, Metal, Rock and Indie Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Comps". Kill Your Stereo. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ Treakle, James (July 15, 2019). "[Album Review] Not a Sentimental Age – Kids (2018) by The Midnight — Indie Frontiers". Indie Frontiers. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ Zistler, Andrew (September 23, 2018). "The Midnight - Kids - NewRetroWave - Stay Retro! | Live The 80's Dream!". NewRetroWave. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ Murray, Gordon (October 4, 2018). "The Midnight, Karel & XoJani and Whethan: Billboard Dance Chart Upstarts | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ "The Midnight | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ↑ "THE MIDNIGHT: Tim McEwan And Tyler Lyle On Bringing 'Monsters' To Life!". Icon Vision. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ https://soundcloud.com/beyond-synth/170-themidnight%7CAt 2:07:00|
- ↑ "THE MIDNIGHT: Tim McEwan And Tyler Lyle On Bringing 'Monsters' To Life!". Icon Vision. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Aaron Campbell - The Midnight - KIDS". Aaron Campbell. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ↑ https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/album/kids-the-instrumentals
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