SONG PREMIERE: The Western Civilization Find Light at the End of the Tunnel with Smart Indie Pop Tune “If You’re Lucky”

Photo credit: Jack Potts

Reggie O’Farrell is earnest when it comes to conveying specific emotions musically. That’s his usual job as half of the songwriting duo behind Austin indie rock outfit The Western Civilization. Lyrically transformed by Rachel Hansbro and musically molded by Reggie O’Farrell, each song on the band’s forthcoming full-length, Fractions of a Whole, is a snapshot of a moment in time related to Hansbro in one way or another. There’s sincerity in how she recalls these instances, overtly tugging at these bits of remembrance that others can relate to. She likens the process to vomiting—an uncontrollable yet ultimately relieving release of remembrance as a means of helping her come to terms with it all. For O’Farrell, reaching that comfort comes from a slightly different facet of the songwriting process—by making sure everything feels and sounds just right. His keen ear and meticulous approach pay off fully on Fractions, taking the lyrical foundation laid by Hansbro and forming the walls, helping to create the whole room of an album that encompasses the dichotomy of being.

As a band, they have a way of ending on high notes, no matter how somber the topic or musical expression. They each have a background in heavier music and it shows; they’re able to find the proper connections between the message they’re sending out and the resonance that goes along with it, even if it’s not what one might expect.

Today Glide is excited to premiere the band’s new single, “If You’re Lucky,” an aurally enveloping avalanche of big tones and feeling, coming from all directions in sound and weighty, Conor Oberst-esque wordsmithing. Indeed, the vulnerable lyricism and vocals are contrasted with a hopeful swell of indie pop that pulls the listener along for the ride. Complex sonic layers give the song a compelling vibe that brings to mind artists like Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire while also sounding completely fresh and new. O’Farrell and Hansbro harmonize in a way that complements the joviality brought forth by the use of horns, synths and piano. These sounds, blended with a folk fervor, work in service of lyrical themes that touch on big notions like interpersonal guilt and existing as a human in a world on the brink of collapse – but it’s not all doom and gloom. Ultimately, “If You’re Lucky” is a message about finding and maintaining some type of hope in who you are as a person and the efficacy of effort you put forth. In other words, there is light at the end of the tunnel and The Western Civilization is here to take us along for the ride.

Reggie O’Farrell describes the inspiration behind the song:

When this was written I was feeling guilty about the way I had handled various situations with people I cared about. I was also feeling pretty confused about what my next move was as well as feeling a hefty dose of existential dread about the climate crisis and the state of society in general. If I had to distill it down, it’s about the pains, anxieties, and confusion of just trying to be a decent human that exists on a dying planet, and how life has a habit of kicking you into the dirt over and over again but you just have to keep picking yourself back up and trying again. It’s also about finding the strength to be OK with the fact that you’re never going to be perfect no matter how hard you try. The important part is that you try and remember to give yourself a little grace along the way.

Musically it actually started out as a really folky tune, but that just didn’t feel like it was conveying the right emotion. So we ended up making it into this more chaotic cacophony of electronics, synth, and crunchy guitar and bass. We still kept the acoustic guitar though and even threw in some banjo, piano, and trumpet. The juxtaposition of all that felt very fitting. We struggled for a while on what to do with the end of the song, to bring it all together. What we ended up with there at the end was actually inspired by a totally different song idea. It’s meant to convey that feeling that comes along with allowing yourself to start the process of healing even when you’re still in the thick of it. That point where it still feels heavy but you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think so much of our lives are spent in that place.

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