In their own words: Autumn

A lot of people considered singer Nienke de Jong leaving Autumn last year as the deathblow for the band. I mean, the Dutch rockers already had overcome some serious setbacks and just released the critically acclaimed album My New Time. All things were finally looking good, but when your leading lady decides to quit it’s something not many bands can cope with. But not Autumn. Despite this new disappointment however they did not kick the bucket. Within a week after Nineke’s farewell show the band had found a new vocalist in Marjan Welman, and as we speak a new album is on the brink of release. It will be entitled ‘Altitude’, and guitarist Jens van der Valk told us his thoughts about the songs on it.

’Paradise Nox’ was a clear favorite for the opening slot of Autumn’s latest chapter from the early stages of the writing process. Despite its great diversity of musical landscapes and its many twists and turns, this song bulldozes straight for its targets, being: making a musical statement of what the listener can expect from ‘Altitude’ and clearing a path for the enchanting voice of Marjan Welman. ‘Paradise Nox’ deals with twilight, confusion, nostalgia, loss and making permanent choices.

’Liquid Under Film Noir’ reads like a series of quotes from an incoherent diary fraught with obsession, arson, irreversible loss, guilt, regret and ultimately madness, found near a burnt down black and white film studio by the starring detective. Music about a film in a film.

’Skydancer’ was written to express the euphoric feeling of a dream about flying, real as life. To defy the laws of gravity and see the world from a bird’s eye perspective, with the music to accompany you. The kind of dream you’d never want to wake up from. Not easy to describe in word nor music. We hope we managed…

’Synchro-Minds’ tells the story of a strong connection between two people of different nationalities that have many things in common. The music follows the gradual buildup in tension that ensues from their first meeting, through their first parting to the lasting contact over a great distance. They decide to remain ‘synchro-minded’ and, because they’re worlds apart, not to romanticize their relationship. A wonderfully mature decision.

’The Heart Demands’ is a grooving, slightly rushing song about the way modern man lives his life. Lyrically, it’s a follow-up to ‘Satellites’ off the ‘My New Time’ album in a way. Haste has got a firm grip on us. Our jobs have got us running, because we collectively accept it. But if you think about it, who’s really dictating our pace? We’re on the run, crippling ourselves in pursuit of happiness.
The song’s bridge is a musical and lyrical moment of contemplation. In our illusion of haste and ambition, years have flown past. We haven’t stopped to think long enough about the things that make life worth living and there’s a gaping hole in our feelings and recollections. In a way, we have deceived ourselves and each other. Maybe it’s time for a step back and a look around.

’A Minor Dance’ is a musical journey of discovery and that’s exactly what the lyrics are about. It’s a real life ghost story. Mats: “I was on holiday at a cottage, alone in the middle of nowhere. One evening, a giant thunderstorm came rolling at me from the other side of the lake. It got really intense and lightning struck in or near the cottage. It blew the fuses, the lights went out and apart from the lightning, it was pitch black. All of a sudden an antique radio came to life and the cottage was filled with beautiful, enchanting music. It turned out to be a radio station playing music from the first 40 years of the last century. Beautiful! I lit some candles and didn’t change the fuses that night”. The song takes its time to draw to a close and demands several listening sessions before revealing its secrets..