In 2011, Australian brothers Mitchel and Clinton Cave created a band with friend Christian Anthony. The band was called Chase Atlantic, a combination of two words that the group really liked, according to singer Mitchel. The band uses a fusion of several genres rap, r&b and rock, resulting in a sonic smoothness paired with vivid lyricism.
In three albums and seven extended plays, Chase Atlantic has displayed several different styles of songs in their discography. The top five songs picked out have displayed not only the depth and ability that Chase Atlantic possesses but also the diverse and mature topics that the band discusses within the lyrics.
1. Dancer in the Dark
“Dancer in the Dark” is the fourth song on the group’s self-titled album Chase Atlantic. With a display of sharp writing, this song describes a woman’s struggle with depression and use of drugs to cope with it. The song starts with a base synth that sets an eerie tone, complimenting the subject matter very well.
“Keep your hands on your face. Don’t let ‘em slip off with the pressure no, just stay blind. Take a gram to the face. Don’t let ‘em see your depression no, it’s not right”
The descriptiveness of the lyrics paired with bouncing synths and a saxophone solo bridge makes for a dancing track, despite its melancholic contents. This production choice creates a sonic dissonance in relation to the lyrics that serve as a metaphor for drugs masking this woman’s depression, as the song’s production is distracting from the sad story it tells.
2. Love is (Not) Easy
From their second studio album, Phases, “Love is (Not) Easy” is a ballad that expresses the difficulties of navigating love and places a lot of emphasis on the fear of being hurt, and how that leads to the denial of one’s true feelings.
“I think I got the message for a while. I’ll disconnect and keep the heart safe. I replicate emotion, medicate in doses that can help me feel the same way”
These lines reflect an image of someone mirroring the passion that another person feels for them while not truly experiencing it because of paranoia caused by previous heartbreak. The implication that drug use is the only way of letting down the protective wall saddens the song as it implores the listener to question how much pain went into the building of this wall.
3. Wasted
“Wasted,” the outro of the band’s 2021 album fuses ballad style singing with a more upbeat melodic rap to create a juxtaposition of tempo. The song’s simple production and instrumentation allow for the lyricism of the song to stand out more prominently.
“Overslept once again, if there was sunlight I missed it. Crucified to my bed, crucified to my bed.”
The use of crucifixion to describe how debilitating depression can be is a clever and poetically tragic employment of imagery. This being one of the first lines of the song makes it all the more captivating. The melodic rap in this song is easy to sing along to, making the second half of this track an ironically fun delivery of melancholy.
4. Mamacita
Starting with a baseline that lends itself well to dancing, “Mamacita” begins with a slow melody that transitions into an energetic chorus. The 808’s hitting at the start of this chorus makes the upshift in tempo more emphatic. The bouncing bass and catchy melody of the hook, along with the looping guitar chords make “Mamacita” a great party anthem. The saxophone complimenting Mitchell’s singing near the end makes for a smooth transition into the song’s conclusion.
5. Numb to the Feeling
Although much of the band’s music is about the negative effects of depression and the use of one’s to cope with it, “Numb to the Feeling” describes a different aspect of this ordeal. As suggested by the title, this song is a personification of the numbness that can result from these issues as well.
“My tolerance is going up and I’m getting numb to the feeling. And I’ve been abusing drugs and I’m getting numb to the feeling. I need you to show me love cause I’m getting numb to the feeling.”
The descriptiveness of these lines paint a clear picture for the listener. The sequencing does this even more so. Having the need for love be expressed after describing drug abuse being used to cope with the lack of it conveys a sense of desperation that makes the addiction all the more tragic.
Whether it’s a frenetic banger for a party, a ballad for a breakup, or tale of tragedy, Chase Atlantic can be the band for the occasion. These five songs showcase the band’s variety both instrumentally, vocally, and situationally.
Micheal Jacobs III is a staff writer for The Palmetto. He thinks Jordan versus Lebron is the most overrated debate ever. His main focuses are music, basketball, and combat sports. If you have a comment or tip for Micheal, feel free to contact him on social media or through email.
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