rockyourlyricsRYL: Your new album titled “LOSERS & KINGS ” has been released in June, lyrically speaking, what does it represents for you?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: If there’s a loose theme, it’s about looking at yourself and embracing your identity and your flaws. I think that’s when you begin to empathize with others in a more profound way.
RYL: Your new single is called, Santa Cruz… What inspired its lyrics?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: I got in the habit of taking my board through this labyrinth of slightly hilly streets around my house late at night. It became sort of like meditation. I liked the thought of my skateboard being this vessel of escape and tranquility. It began to represent so much—my past and future. I demoed the song at home and even recorded skateboard noises with my iPhone.
The same sound effects ended up on the record.
RYL: Is there a common meaning/theme between all the songs of the album?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: I think there’s a core perspective. We set out for the album to have a singular identity, a voice. But it’s pretty loose thematically, like I was mentioning.
You set out with this utopian vision of an album but it always ends up surprising you. It just happens.
That’s the nature of the process, I guess. It’s mostly just semi-autobiographical.
RYL: Do you remember the day and how you wrote “Big Mistake” ?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: That was one of a few songs I wrote with a very talented friend, Ben Romans. It started with me stomping and playing this sort of country riff.
I remember we spent a few days on the music but I went home and wrote the lyrics very quickly. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album for its sonic space—the verses are very open but it culminates in a rock out.
There’s a melding of many different vibes I was fascinated with at the time.
RYL: How do you, usually, write the lyrics of your songs?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: I try to find that single term or phrase that captures some purity. After that it’s easier because you use that bit as an anchor for the whole thing. But it’s a mercurial process and it’s never really quite the same twice.
RYL: Which is the best verse you ever wrote?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: Not sure I can quantify the best, but I’m proud of this “Some Place on Earth” lyric—”Here’s to our expectations suffering mass deflation when somebody lets us down.”
It’s sort of a big-teethed toast to all of life’s disappointing realities. I like that sort of thing. It’s honest and bittersweet.
RYL: What inspired “So-called life”?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: In all honesty I wasn’t particularly in the mood to do anything that day and I think that’s exactly what inspired the lyrics. It’s a song about not wanting to do exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.
RYL: You are on tour right now? Tell us more about it…..
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: It’s great. Mostly I’m just happy to be performing the new songs off ‘Losers & Kings’ to so many people for the first time. We spent considerable time rehearsing before we even cut the album because we wanted it to sound authentic to a live setting.
Now it feels like all that time has paid off. It’s a thrill to see people responding.
RYL: “Just wanna run” is the fan’s favorite by Itunes chart, what does this song mean for you?
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION: I love performing it live, the energy from the crowd is always fantastic. Very proud to play these varied songs and witness the progress. It’s crazy.
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