Scott Murphy of triton. writes about a solitary train ride, hinting at the despair of his life through the window as the landscape blurs and he recalls the last time orchids were in bloom.
Aptly named, “orchids,” Murphy pairs his poetic lyrics with a genre-bending sound that dances within the realm of indie rock, island reggae, and early emo music; contrasting beautifully and symbolizing the human struggle of facing personal demons in a world that continues to prefer the masking of vulnerable emotions.
Originally written as an acoustic song, featuring musicians Tim Payne (Thursday, LS Dunes), Jarrod Alexander (My Chemical Romance, Alkaline Trio), and co-producer Geoff Rickly (Thursday), the song became the apex of the album Sundown in Oaktown, set to be released on January 27, 2023.
The song begins with a little rumble of the amp and then hits hard with music and lyrics coming in at once. There is no subtlety here. “Morning benders” and “empty bottles from the night before” paint the picture of a tortured soul but the quick, light tapping of the drummer’s high hat has the listener peacefully swaying along. The dichotomy between the two makes “orchids” stand out from most of the other music heard today. Murphy introduces the listener to a nameless lost love that he hasn’t seen since “orchids were in bloom […] back in June.” He apologizes for the mess in his life and his head, recalling the time his nameless lover felt found only to be left alone again. Despite the somber themes of the poetry, Murphy and his collaborators use the sounds of their instruments to make prismatic music in service of human connection and a quest for identity in a world that feels more and more isolating every day.
“Orchids” is the second single off the LP and is now available on most streaming platforms. Pre-order Sundown in Oaktown now!
“orchids”
sat all alone with my face pressed to the glass
watched the landscape roll away so fast
the rails were humming this tune
just like youth, it was gone too soon
orchids were in bloom
last I saw you back in June
you were tripping over
half-read Hemingway
littered across my bedroom floor
along with the empty bottles
from the night before
I’m sorry my place is a wreck
I just wanted it to match my head
now I’m alone again in this bed
staring at the ceiling
thinking back on when you said
you’re glad somebody finally found you
opened your eyes to see there’s no one around you
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