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Deities In Decline

by Swahili Blonde

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1.
Why is it so hard? Why is it so hard? Would you not like to get caught? When the ground caves in, who's your first shot? Why are you so not? Why are you so not? Were you the first one to see JR shot? Spinning round and round, in this web your caught Don't you know you're always under the Sun Don't you know that you are not the only one Under the Sun Why are you so rough? Why are you so rough? Weren't you the first one to make up stuff? Bite worse than your bark, Officer McGruff Why is it never enough? Why is it never enough? Swing and sway, dance all day And I call your bluff Right as rain, fast as pain Never good enough Don't you know you're always under the sun Don't you know that you are the one holding the gun Under the Sun Under the Sun
2.
Truth be told my little one from the Sun Time leaves without a trace Wishing longing hoping for Something bright to shine and lead the way We all wish to be peaceful and weightless Floating in the serenity of space Pulls us close and tight, that Light Holds you safe, smiling, with a warm embrace With a warm embrace It's up to all of us to be strong, be brave Feet on the ground, head in the sky What's in between is for us to decide Walk with us Aurora In the lion's pride Discover us Aurora In the warrior's stride In the warrior's stride.... Discover Aurora Always look fear in the eye Discover Aurora Hope has never been shy Discover Aurora... Discover Aurora Always look fear in the eye Discover Aurora Hope has never been shy
3.
Somewhere in eastern sky There's a white cat with a diamond eye And he says it's time Somewhere in the western sky There's a black cat with a fractured eye And she says I'll go It's time for fight or flight... Somewhere there's a golden sky The white cat smiles and closes his eyes And he says it's time Somewhere there's a violet night And the black cat, in righteous delight She says I'll go I'll go It's time - I'll go.... It's time for fight or flight... Somewhere it's time for fight or flight And the two cats walk toward a pale midnight And they say It's time - to go...
4.
Magdalene 03:19
Not so young anymore Expired time to explore Maybe not what I used to be But I grow and set fire to the atrophy Youth, it laughs like a child And only lets you hold it for a little while It's not dependable It lacks dependable So not dependable Bring famine to your soul... So out of control out of control Bring famine to your soul in your soul So you of control out of control There's famine in your soul in your soul Out of control in your soul Out of control Nothing in your soul out of control in your soul Love is dependable Love is insatiable Love is the people Bring fire to your soul... Youth drifts away with the sea I prefer to be free

about

“I feel like I’m finally comfortable in my own skin—warts and all,” Nicole Turley confesses. “There's a grace and ease to self-acceptance that's really nice.”

This state of balance in being had a crucial effect upon the 34 year old musician’s process in making Deities in Decline, her newest EP as Swahili Blonde. Founded as Turley’s solo project in 2009, Swahili Blonde has always involved a varied and multi-talented collective of musical contributors across its releases—including guitarist John Frusciante, Duran Duran bassist John Taylor, Slits guitarist Viv Albertine, Devo drummer Alan Myers, as well as Los Angeles scene staples Brad Caulkins (Fool’s Gold), Laena Geronimo (Feels, The Like, Raw Geronimo), and Dante White Aliano (Dante vs. Zombies). This particular release, Turley sees as being her first true solo venture. Although she produces and engineers all Swahili Blonde albums in her Los Angeles studio, this marks the first time she has performed everything herself, alongside the string stylings of Laena Geronimo.

Across the EP’s four tracks, Turley examines the concept of unrealistically idolizing the people in our lives we love most. “Whether they love us or hurt us, they become our gods,” she explains. “We build these beautiful temples for them, but because of the delusional energy, it must all come crashing down. For our own good.” On lead track “With Love and a Bullet,” Turley begins to tear down the pedestal, challenging the audience, as well as herself: “Why is it so hard?” she asks interrogatively, over electronic beats, dubby bass lines, and the luscious loops of Geronimo’s violin. “Why is it never enough?” Experimental pop with an emotional home, Deities in Decline is Turley seizing power through self-realization. “The tarot Tower card was a big inspiration. It's a decline of delusional power and the harm it causes us and the ones we love,” she notes. The EP also delves into familial themes on “Discover Aurora,” a song of hope Turley wrote for her goddaughter, in-which she inspires Aurora to “find her tribe of people, be fearless, and have the courage to be herself.”

Written by Breanna Murphy

credits

released July 21, 2015

All songs written and recorded by Nicole in Los Angeles, 2012
Mixed and mastered by Nicole in Los Angeles, 2015

Violin performed by Laena Geronimo
Everything else performed by Nicole Turley

Cover photograph of Nicole by Sarah Sitkin, 2012

Special bonus track: The Cutter
Written by Echo & The Bunnymen
Music by Dante White Aliano
Vocals by Nicole Turley
Recorded and produced by Dante & Nicole

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