“One Crazy Ride” is literally a song about a reptilian alien marveling at her new relationship, wondering:
“Is this one crazy ride for six months
Or is it the rest of my life?”
But that line came from how I feel about being able to make music with AI.
“Grain of Sand” is a song about standing in a space station, looking at the stars, and thinking of how in the scheme of the universe, you’re nothing more than a grain of sand on a grain of sand orbiting a grain of sand.
I love the way that the lyrics to “Two Reasons” are out of touch with reality:
“Everybody’s got a list
Everybody’s got a spreadsheet
And a plan”
Ah yes, notoriously true. Everybody definitely has a spreadsheet.
“Which Universe” was inspired by how every day this last half year — making music — has felt like a surreal break from the reality I thought I was living in.
Like there are two universes, and I just can’t believe I somehow ended up in this one.
“I’ll Be Gone” is like if “California Girls” were gender-flipped, set in space, and sung by a reptilian alien. You heard me.
Now you should probably hear it, because you definitely want to learn about all those cute alien boys.
“Across the Gap” is a song about how it’s easier to be kind to your future self and look kindly on your past self than to be good to yourself in the present moment. Even though it’s all just you.
But of course, set in space and sung by a reptilian alien.
If you’re gonna do a Beach Boys inspired set of space opera albums, there need to be songs about alien oceans. “Always a Wave (But Never the Same)” is very much that, but it’s also about just surviving as life buffets you around, always changing.
If you’re making space opera albums sung by a fictional reptilian alien pop star, you’ve gotta play with the nature of reptiles. That’s half the fun!
So, we get “Stronger Than the Shell” — a sweet song about encouraging someone to see their own strength.
“Chasing Your Ghost” was inspired by how it’s felt to watch quotes, clips, and interviews pour into the world since Brian Wilson died.
Of course, in the fictional universe of the song, Star-Shaker is singing about the writer of Cobalt Starstrong’s music.
“Finite” is a song that wrestles with the paradoxical nature of trying to understand our own finite existence while trapped inside a consciousness that can’t properly extrapolate beyond its own end.
Yeah… I have themes. But also, it’s pretty!