Mixed Emotions (I Didn't Know How to Tell You What I Was Going Through)

Album: Truth Decay (2022)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Mixed Emotions (I Didn't Know How To Tell You What I Was Going Through)" began as a soul-baring poem penned by You Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi. It serves as an open letter where Franceschi pours his heart out to his bandmates, delving into the depths of mental health struggles and longing for better communication within their musical brotherhood.

    "This song is about the band," he told Attwood magazine. "About how we wish we'd been able to communicate better growing up over the past over 18 years. We're well versed in each other's trauma and life experiences as we've all shared them... It's trying to take accountability and asking for accountability, shedding light on the subject of toxic masculinity. We're far better now at understanding and empathizing with one another."
  • You Me At Six recorded the song for their eighth studio album, Truth Decay. They released it as the record's third single on October 21, 2022.

    "Truth Decay is an honest depiction of my equilibrium and I," he told Apple Music. "Trying to find the good in bad moments. I think music should make you feel like it was written specifically for you. Ultimately, that's when a song really connects. When it hits you in feels but sparks a sense of euphoria also."

    Franceschi said "Mixed Emotions" encapsulates the essence of Truth Decay, serving as its most potent embodiment.
  • The Sun asked Josh Francheschi if Truth Decay reflects his growing as a man in difficult circumstances. "There are some songs in the record like 'Mixed Emotions' which is about accountability," he replied. "Not necessarily just demanding it, but also offering it and recognizing there's no such thing as perfect in that sense. I was trying to be aware of the fact that sometimes part of you has to die for the next phase of your life."
  • You Me At Six recorded Truth Decay at Black Rock Studios in Santorini, Greece, with producer Dan Austin (Doves, Twin Atlantic). They reconvened in Rugby's Otterhead Studios to add the final touches, allowing their musical vision to flourish.

    This collaboration with Austin was not their first dance together. In 2012, he lent his engineering prowess to You Me At Six's non-album single "The Swarm." Austin later produced their 2018 record VI and 2021 set Suckapunch.

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