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Life is sacred, yet too often do we take it for granted. As we get older, it gets easier to disconnect, putting off phone calls and friendships for when the time is right. But there will never be a right time – you put off and put off, until it’s too late to enjoy life together, and you’re instead forced to dwell in past memories. For Florida’s Hoyle, a closed door led to a hard reset. Out of that, there came “Revival,” a pledge to go the extra mile, to live in the moment, and to support loved ones who need help, even when they won’t say it.
Pure revival
I’ve got to let her know
Cartesian shorelines
They’re such an obstacle
Where the dead now sleep
Do they wait for me?
Watch: “Revival” – Hoyle
[youtube=https://youtu.be/fh_jq2S2QFw?t=0s]Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering the music video for “Revival,” off Hoyle’s recently-released sophomore album Jenny’s Room (3/3/2017). Comprised of Nathan Beam, Patrick Chin, Corey Chin, and AP Harris, Hoyle are a hidden gem in Orlando’s indie music scene with superior potential. Their brooding indie rock/pop sound is a combination of ’70s wall of sound, ’80s dance pop, ’90s alternative tension, and ’00s sheen: Thus, there is something for everyone in Hoyle’s emotive anthems.
Especially “Revival.” Struggling through pain and bursting restless energies, Hoyle dive deep into their humanity and draw out an incredibly visceral, raw song of hope and helplessness. “Our friend took his life a few years ago,” explains the band. “He was a community leader and a foundation for a lot of people. Towards the end of his life, he made some bad decisions that became very public. He hurt a lot of people. It was strange to see someone who was once so beloved become the object of such ridicule. He began to isolate himself and destroy relationships. I don’t think he was able to distinguish that those who were most hurt by him, were most interested in reconciliation.”
If this tragic event was a wake-up call to Hoyle’s members, then “Revival” is their action item: It is their response to tragedy, not so much inspired by their friend’s passing as it is a reflection of their combined grief, love, and fear.
Tear my heart out
And tell me what you know
And each night, your heart breaks, call me
I’m not leaving you
You’re torn up. You’re left out. You’re gun shy.
It’s not what you do. It’s not right
“Revival” is an outstretched hand; a desperate shout into a long, dark silence. You go through a lot of what-ifs when confronted with the death of a loved one, and suicide hits that much harder. Compared to everything else in our lives, death seems so permanent and everlasting; in fact, it’s the only certainty we truly have, but we are too busy to notice until it’s too late. “The suicide of our friend took away a lot of the security I was holding in my worldview,” explains vocalist Nathan Beam. “Things that once felt familiar carried a new gravitas and an uncomfortable history. The estrangement of these foundational ideas began a cycle of isolation that mirrored that of my friend. This song took shape as I was realizing that a return to my previous ideals required a desire from me to want to return. And to be wanted in my return.”
God, I’m coming if you’re not
And I’ve been feeling shot
Tell me if you’re not, not, not
Are you not?
If they could go back in time, they would. But you can’t turn back the clocks, so instead Hoyle look forward. “Revival” is an unconditional commitment to be there, whenever necessary. Burdened with the weight of loss, guilt, and nostalgia, the band open their hearts and do justice in their friend’s honor. “Revival,” the band repeats in the chorus – again, and again, and again. The word tastes good, and each utterance is stronger than the last – both musically, and meaningfully. “Revival – tell me if it’s not for you,” Beam completes the sentence. If you’re struggling, lean on me!
The Dunlap Brothers-directed video captures the band’s distress, highlighting the dark element in their song while invoking the passion in Beam’s voice. Silhouetted shots of the band are interspersed with plot-driving scenes featuring artist Renee Gabrielle, who also starred in the music video for Hoyle’s title track, “Jenny’s Room.” The band mentions a loose storyline that threads all their songs together: “This LP, Jenny’s Room, is built off of a concept based around a camgirl and her relationship with a customer. ‘Revival’ lands in the middle of the record and most directly deals with the people who influenced the album.” Stark black-and-white scenes find Gabrielle seeking a phone booth to make that call; the imagery is simple, yet it completely grasps the gravity of the song and the situation.
Hell or high water, baby you know the truth
I’ve got one left to call on the fall, I’m not leaving you
Won’t you tell me if the problems rise up to the top?
I got one left to call on my fall
I’m not leaving you. I’m not leaving.
“Revival” is majestic in its ability to sweep us into Hoyle’s world and inject us with incredibly vulnerable emotion. The song acts like a giant wave; everything moves as one as Hoyle’s pain and determination soak our eyes and ears. It’s a hauntingly poignant, spine-tingling journey toward connection.
Bands like Hoyle don’t stay secret for long. Connect with Orlando music-makers and explore their record Jenny’s Room below; it’s a journey through powerful emotions and provocative instrumentals that is well worth the listen.
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cover © Herb Gonzalez
Jenny’s Room – Hoyle
