Personal

Album: Past Lives (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Against the Current frontwoman Chrissie Costanza wrote this song about a friend of hers, Julius Trombino, who fatally overdosed in September 2016. She explained to Kerrang:

    "I needed to write it because I've been trying to work through these emotions. I couldn't figure out how one person could feel all of those things at the same time and it never makes sense. We wanted to show how life can be so contradictory, and it can be so much contrast in the way you can feel simultaneously."
  • This song was co-penned by Sarah Hudson, who has collaborated with Katy Perry on several of her hit tunes including her #1 single "Dark Horse." Costanza recalled to Kerrang:

    "I tried to write that song probably 20 or 30 times over in my room. I just could not get it right, and it was a one song that I refused to put on the album if it wasn't right. I'd been going through those feelings for year and a half at that point, and it wasn't getting any better."

    Costanza's breakthrough came when she turned up for a writing appointment with Sarah Hudson, who asked her how she was feeling. The Against the Current singer replied: "Honestly I'm feeling frustrated, because I have this one lyric and I have these emotions I want to write about, but no matter what I say they don't come out the right way."

    Costanza started talking about her feelings concerning her loss and Hudson responded, "Well there's your lyric! Turn what you just told me into it." The singer concluded that Hudson, "made it so simple."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.