We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Music Box

by Molehill

supported by
dbrame
dbrame thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    11
    releases

    Get all 11 Molehill releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Hope, Threads, Say You Were Wrong, Snow Baby, Music Box, Hostage, Hearts on Fire, Tin God, and 3 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $25.20 USD or more (30% OFF)

     

about

I started writing “Music Box” in the Spring of 2014, shortly after getting fired from a job I’d had for almost 7 years. Most of my songs are not autobiographical, each one is more like a story told by a different character. So with “Music Box,” being freshly unemployed, it was pretty easy for me to get into the headspace of a musician who was going through hard times and asking his/her significant other how much longer they could bear to be with him.

I had maybe half of the song fleshed out when I reached out to Josh Lava – an amazing Chicago songwriter and musician – and asked if he’d be interested in doing some songwriting together. We got together and started messing around with the song. I told Josh it would be fun to try a drum groove like Steve Gadd on “50 Ways to Leave your Lover” but in the style of the Postal Service. That took the song in an entirely new direction. Josh put down a slick bass line over it and we threw together a chorus progression that frankly didn’t work very well.

Molehill recorded the Tin God EP while “Music Box” floated in the ether for another year, and then in mid 2015 I met up with Trevor and we wrote the music for the chorus and outro. All that was left was me writing the chorus vocals and the song was finally finished! Only thing was – it sounded so different from everything else we were doing. We kept writing and writing, we recorded the Hearts on Fire EP. We considered putting “Music Box” on it, but it just didn’t seem to fit. We kept going. Recorded the Hostage EP. Still, not a good fit. This whole time, every time I play a solo acoustic show, I’m playing “Music Box”. I had a strong attachment to the song but it just never seemed like the right time to release it with the band.

And now here we are in 2019. We decided – you know what, maybe we should just release this song by itself! We got our friend Yoo Soo Kim – another amazing Chicago musician and songwriter – to produce and record it, and we had it mixed by Justin Gerrish in Brooklyn. It’s been a 5 year process, multiple collaborative songwriting sessions, multiple times “not getting picked”, and I’m so excited to be finally releasing this song. I’m very proud of it and hope you enjoy!

lyrics

Some day I know something big is coming.
I’ve sang you the same song like a music box,
Just wind me up again, my darling.

I’ve done the best that I can do.

And if I play you the same old song,
Will you keep on singing along?
Do you still want this music box, or
Has your love all gone?

Some day, I’ll let go.
Someday, I’ll be old and gray.
I hope you’ll still be with me,
hope I don’t scare you away.

I’ve done the best that I can do.

And if I play you the same old song,
Will you keep on singing along?
Do you still want this music box, or
Has the thrill all gone?

You want a new mouth to feed,
But what about what I need?
Is love not enough to keep us happy?

credits

released August 9, 2019
Molehill is:

Vocals, Guitar | Peter Manhart
Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Synth Programming | Trevor Jones
Keyboards | Greg Van Zuiden
Drums | Devin Staples

Written by Peter Manhart, Trevor Jones, and Josh Lava
Lyrics by Peter Manhart
Produced by Molehill and Yoo Soo Kim
Engineered by Yoo Soo Kim
Mixed by Justin Gerrish
Mastered by Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound
Art by Scott Siskind

Publishing | Riding the Tidal Wave Music

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Molehill image

Molehill Chicago, Illinois

“Do not be fooled by the name. Chicago’s Molehill is more like a mountain constructed with big guitars, melodic keyboards, and pounding drums. Combining elements of progressive rock with pop sensibilities along with expansive and emotionally charged lyrics, this band delivers a symphonic listening experience.

–Jesse Menendez, Vocalo and WBEZ, 89.5FM and 91.5FM Chicago ... more

contact / help

Contact Molehill

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

Molehill recommends:

If you like Molehill, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now