Dreamy and summery, but emotionally weary, Inspired & the Sleep’s “Getting Through” is a sweet indie pop song struggling to connect with those who won’t let us in.
Stream: “Getting Through” – Inspired & the Sleep
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/438669945?secret_token=s-JXORT” params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=true&visual=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]I’ve always felt that the people that impacted your life significantly should not but pushed away or banished.
Emotional distance can hurt even more than physical distance when it’s with someone close to you. Whereas so many recent songs capture the perspective of the individual incapable of, or wrestling with sharing that vulnerable part of themselves, California band Inspired & the Sleep have focused on the other side of this issue: The loved one trying to maintain a relationship. Dreamy and summery, but emotionally weary, “Getting Through” is a sweet indie pop song struggling to connect with those who won’t let us in.
There’s nothing to be said
For the thoughts that are brewing
In the cauldron of your head, hey
The star on the ceiling
Next to your brother’s bunk
And the scars they are healing
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Getting Through,” Inspired & The Sleep’s third single of 2019. The Los Angeles-via-San Diego based duo of songwriter/producer Max Greenhalgh and multi-instrumentalist Bryce Outcault, Inspired & the Sleep have been deliveringtheir genuine, rich brand indie pop tunes for the past five years – steadily building a strong fanbase while wearing their hearts squarely on their sleeves. In our premiere of 2018’s track “First Time,” we lauded the duo’s use of California influences to “create breezy rock bliss.” Having previously kept more to the realm of dream pop, “First Time” (which is currently Inspired & The Sleep’s most-streamed single) found Greenhalgh and Outcault branching out beyond their 2014-2015 work — a trait that has continued to mark this past year’s more recent songs “Right Place, Right Time,” “Stay,” and “Liaison.”
A buoyant pop/rock song with Jukebox The Ghost-styled piano chords and pronounced bass strums, “Getting Through” finds Inspired & the Sleep blending their native dream pop sound with accessible melodies to create a warm, percussive summery song. The verses find Greenhalgh lamenting his inability to connect with others. His voice is strong above the relatively cheerful bed of sound around him; without listening to the lyrics, one might mistake “Getting Through” for a happy song. However, this dissipates as Greenhalgh invokes a purer strain of disconnect in the chorus:
and you can stay in the shadows.
Dad I’m trying my best, but it just don’t matter to you
No chance of getting through, hey
“Getting Through describes the desire/hopes to overcome emotional blocks and walls towards the ones closest to you,” Greenhalgh tells Atwood Magazine. “It’s always been so odd to me to see two individuals who were once so close and and connected get to a point where they are so disassociated and detached from each other. This could be in the example of a friend, relative, girlfriend, or spouse. I’ve always felt that the people that impacted your life significantly should not be pushed away or banished.”
Pluck on the heart strings
Breaking them one by one
With each lover life brings
Flowers on your grave
The monster beneath your bed
And look now how we behave
It’s the ones we hold the most
Are the ones we push away
And the one that got in close
Is the one we’ll never say
Another word to, hey
“Getting Through” struggles to get through, but it never gives up that push to maintain a connection and presence with another person. Inspired & the Sleep unveil the hardships involved in being around (and truly loving) those who are unable, or unwilling, to share all of themselves, but they keep trying to support and be there for “the ones we hold the most” – a line that coincides with their song’s most beautiful (and poignant) musical moment.
Inspired & the Sleep continue to be amongst the upper echelon of budding Southern California indie pop acts. Stream “Getting Through” exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
And you can stay in the shadows.
Mom I’m trying my best, but it just don’t matter to you
No chance of getting through, hey
And you can stay in the shadows.
Babe you’re trying your best, but it just don’t matter to me
No chance of getting through, hey
— —
purchase “Getting Through” here!
Stream: “Getting Through” – Inspired & the Sleep
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? © 2019 art © Chase Shewbridge
