Haus Of Sound On the Making Of “Mirage”
What was the creative process like for this particular single?
This sound was originally written by our bass player Dex in 2017. He had gone through many versions, not even able to play the bass when he wrote the lyrics. He basically learned the instrument while writing the song. It went through many versions, starting with a Hard Rock version back then and graduating to what it is today. He made adjustments to the lyrics over time, but wanted something more our sound.
How did you approach the arrangement and composition of the music for "Mirage?”
We started with the structure of the old Hard Rock version, but with just Gabrielle singing, the song sounded like it was missing elements, so they came up with a back-and-forth approach, with opportunities to let each instrument shine. Dex kept his chromatic bass line from the original version, as even the wrong notes added to the song and built tension. The biggest feature Dex wanted to emphasize was the ending. After the bridge, the song “ends”, but right as everyone starts to cheer, we bring it back to one final chorus. That false ending itself is a Mirage.
How do you feel "Mirage" represents your artistic identity?
We’re storytellers, and this is a personal one by Dex, which is about constantly chasing a goal, and when you think you get there, you still have so much farther to go. He wrote this while working two jobs and going through college, all while trying to write books in the little free time he had. The grind can be hard, and taxing. It can create a sense of dread and make people want to give up. This song is for people going through the grind to be able to relate to, but at the end of the day, it’s a reminder for people to enjoy the journey, and not just the destination.
Can you tell us more about you as a band?
Dex and Gabrielle first met at a bar she used to work at. He was a weirdo who would come to the bar along and just read. He’s still a weirdo, actually. Gabrielle had been doing cover music for several years. When she found out Dex played bass, she invited him to audition or a Lady Gaga Tribute she was putting together. The two of them played covers for years with various acts and band members until they recruited Jon and Roberto, whose creative minds worked well with theirs, and so they finally started writing the music that had been on their minds for years. In the process, the hired Mike Lewin from the Disposable Zeros Metallica Tribute to record on guitar, who enjoyed the music so much that he formally joined.
Do you aim to convey any specific themes or messages through your music?
Our first album is supposed to be a bunch of stories that friends would tell around a campfire, drinking and lighting it up. Some are fiction, some historical, some spooky, and some are deeply personal stories. The different nature of each story correlates with the theme and sound of each song.
