The Lumineers are an American born and bred alternative-folk band and one I’ve held very close to my heart since 2012, when their hit single ‘Ho Hey’ was released. It was with that track that I discovered the, then upcoming three piece group and not long after went onto buying their self named debut album. A decade later and a band member down, sees the well established duo deliver their 4th album, ‘Brightside’ and oh what an album indeed!
This month’s SOTM is taken off that album with the title ‘Where We Are’. The track contains a meaningful story behind, of when piano player and founding member of the band, Wesley Schultz, took a trip alongside his wife and due to faulty mechanics of the car they were in, resorted in a swerve off the road. “The whole car wreck felt like a metaphor for how the world came to a screeching halt suddenly and we were left to pick up the pieces.” A profound metaphor and a feeling I think we can all relate to in life in one way or another. The song commences with a soft rhythmic flow of piano and the lyrics of “Where we are, I don’t know where we are but it’ll be ok” soon take place. The melody then progresses into an exquisite piano riff that’s played in such a way I feel I can close my eyes and see chapters from my past unravel before me. Which in my opinion, only reinforces the significant message within as a prompting that I’m still here today. Everyone at some stage has had a situation in life they’ve had to overcome so to me, this track is a heartfelt friendly reminder that I’ve overcome a lot in my life and in the end, it will always be ok.
This song has genuinely been somewhat of a lifeline to me this past month. As we all know life likes to throw us some pretty intense and sometimes scary curve balls, but with a soundtrack of realness and optimism, particularly within the chorus, I was given the perfect set of lyrics to have looped in my mind.