Hinterland

Album: Hidden City (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • 'Hinterland' is a German word referring to an area behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. It is derived from 'hinter' ("behind") and 'land' ("land"). The term was first used in English in 1888 by George Chisholm in his book Handbook of Commercial Geography.
  • The Cult recorded this track for their Hidden City album. Stemming from the Spanish phrase "La Ciudad Oculta" or "hidden city," the record reflects an awakening of consciousness. "Hidden City is a metaphor for our spiritual lives, our intimate interior lives," explained frontman Ian Astbury. "I find today's gurus are trying to peddle some cure, product or insight as if it's a new phenomenon. My place is to respond, not react, to observe, participate and share through words and music. There is no higher authority than the heart."
  • The Cult filmed a haunting video for the track where a mysterious young woman enters a dream world: "'Hinterland' is a place both real and imagined, a hidden city symbolic of a new Rome," Astbury explained to Billboard magazine. "Through the eyes of several witnesses, we observe a young woman as she realizes her enlightened self in a dystopian dream world. 'Hinterland' is filled with symbolism, reflecting a new aeon in the shift of human consciousness as we realign with our planet's natural rhythms."
  • Ian Astbury explained the song's meaning to The Sun. "Hinterland is a place that's known and unknown. It's the power of nature. We're at a place in our evolution where we don't know what's going to happen. There's more conflict, the oceans are full of plastic... It goes back to the theme of existential spiritual crisis – the human condition."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.