B i o g r a p h y (by Airlock)
Often we don’t understand why something happens. Sometimes things take an unexpected turn and all we can do is try to catch up with the events. In 1998, Musicom, (a three piece from Brussels consisting of Pierre Mussche, Ernst Meinrath and Renaud Charlier), began crafting tracks of cool electronic ambience mixed with orchestral hip-hop, as soundtracks for adverts and underground films. Scottish born Esra Tasasiz was working in Brussels at that time singing on house records. She joined Musicom and the four decided to work together on recording a short piece of music. It was during these sessions that it soon became obvious that their creative output worked outside the confines of cinematography and Airlock were formed. The production of their first album ‘Drystar’ stretched over a period of two-and-a-half-years. During this time Airlock met with cult film director Oliver Van Hoofstadt and wrote some tracks in conjunction with the making of three of his films - Keo, Snuff Movie, and Parabellum. ‘Face Down’ the composition that appeared on Parabellum, finally made its way via European radio stations to the desks of British record labels as part of a demo. After being spoilt for choice, they signed up with One Little Indian on which ‘Drystar’ was released in 2001. The connection between Airlock and films was kept alive with their work on Roman Coppola’s the “Making of” of CQ. Furthermore, many tracks from ‘Drystar’ were used in films and series such as “CSI”, “CSI Miami”, “As If”, “Model Behaviour”, “5 go dating”, and more.
Airlock began work on their second album. The album was completed in October however, before they had played the album to anybody, all of the masters were destroyed in a studio fire. Airlock had to re-record the entire album! Whilst the studio was being rebuilt, the band decided to write some new songs for the album and worked in an improvised studio with minimal equipment. Though they had to change their working habits by that (the band considered this as a positive challenge), it also gave them the opportunity to concentrate more on the writing itself. The new album ‘Symptomatic’ has elements of tension, naivety, strength, conviction, vulnerability and freedom. Compared to their debut with its various musical directions, ‘Symptomatic’ is more coherent. For example, there are less instrumental tracks and warm sounds of analog synths are used on all tracks. The content of the album however, deals with a mixture of emotions, experiences and expressions (or symptoms…) resulting from the issues Airlock had to face. Many times we don’t understand why something happens but sometimes there are symptoms that point us to the source and help us to get our heads around it.
Drama 73 Slipinside Face Down DJ Risk vs. Airlock (Instrumental) Alpha Drystar (Instrumental) In The Mouth Of The Fish (Instrumental) Awakening Quiet Hour On The 2nd Floor (Instrumental) Escape Sleepinside (Instrumental)
The other way I am No gain Before the summertime Don't let them (change you) Revealing some interest (Instrumental) Dangerman Shape of light Suffocated Shelter Two dreams (Instrumental)
Drystar
Drama 73
Where is your shelter when the roof falls in What will you drink when the well dries up on you Who clots the blood when the cut sets in If a man can't talk, how can he sing What use is getting if you can't give back Who'll keep you warm if the sun won't shine on you Where is your home, on the rock or the sand Who do you serve, money and man Diamonds on your nails, pearls around your toes Make-up on your pillow, who will ever know, now You don't want to look like you You don't want to look like you Chorus : mirror mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all Who made the child in the depths of the womb Who'll bring you back when the earth has covered you Show me a man who doesn't reap what he sows If you can't trust friends, who are your foes Diamonds on your nails, pearls around your toes Make-up on your pillow, who will ever know, now Plastic on your face, your body's not your own, now To satisfy their eyes, you give away your soul Chorus Slipinside It doesn't have to be this complicated Or is it just me? I cherish you it's true And this love, i value If it's not meant to be I'll bow to destiny And settle for friends Looking to the left, turning to the right My life is full of no regrets I'll settle, i'll settle for friends Chorus: Friends, i'll settle for friends All i want, is to be your friend Friends, we can be friends All i want, is to be your friend You tell me you're not ready But i'm precious You don't want to start something You can't finish Sometimes we're blinded by desire What you want, not what you need Then it's too late To make ends meet Chorus Your friend, your friend….(repeat)
Face down Face down - to the ground I'm walking away, towards my goal So far, so Eyes towards the son, i hear i listen Ever so slow, i'll take a chance Victory, i won't let that wheeler-dealer Follow me, time runs out Authority, i can't let those interferers Pull me down, get one up (on me) Face down to the ground, who's laughing now? Never say never , i'm hearing you say Take it or leave it, i carry the key Chorus Break Chorus Face down to the ground, i'm walking away Ever so slowly Ever so slowly Alpha I know where this life is taking me And i know where this voice is leading me I know that i want to be set free Like everybody, everybody, you and me I am fearfully and wonderfully made You have searched me and you know me Chorus It's time to change, born again New creation, you can start again New foundation, past no longer reigns You have laid your hand upon me Chorus La la la…
Awakening There was a time i said i loved you, A time i thought you cared A time when things were flowing, But now i'm lost for words I tried so hard to understand, In silence and emotion You take my smiles away from me With your careless notions Will you bring me down Will you lift me up - will you lift me up Chorus : I want to be me When the night is fading, morning's waking Didn't do what you were supposed to Do when you said you would do Holding on while all along I was scared to say goodbye Those days have gone, the time has come now For me to draw the line My mind is made up baby I won't play your game Chorus Will you bring me down Will you lift me up I wanna be me……
Quiet hour There is a place where i can hide He comes to meet me there There in that hour, i can let go Be myself once more There in that place, the waters flow And the river runs - high Chorus I hear that still small voice What is this call on my heart I can be still in your care You show me the way Sometimes i'm scared to approach you But slowly i get there And realise i am home and Wish i could stay - and more Whisper your will in to my ear And your perfume fills the air Chorus
Escape Lady, where do you feel this life is taking you? Lady,what have your hopes and dreams transformed into? Lady, you came away from home to an unown world Don't look back - don't look down Lady, can you come against your destiny Lady, you're reasoning with things you cannot see Lady, you wanted to laugh at the days to come Don't look back - don't look down Who do you trust Who will you turn to Where will you go And how will you break through She's crying behind a veil of smiles She's wiping away the tears of strife She's running for her life No place to go Smooth was the sound of her voice Smooth was the touch of her hand Don't look back - don't look down Who do you trust Who will you turn to Where will you go And how will you break through Chorus
Symptomatic
The other way
I am small but I can see I am weak but I can feel You do what you want to do You say what you want to say And then when the times are bad You're down upon your knees Is it too much to empathize Just realize And he will break through you And he will break through you To go to the other end He will follow you Who's telling me Who's telling me Why tell me To look the other way Who's telling me Who's telling me Why tell me To look the other way We seem to talk far too much And I find myself asking where has all the love gone You know so well how to hate You know so well how to complicate Who's telling me Who's telling me Why tell me To look the other way Who's telling me Who's telling me Why tell me To look the other way And he will break through you And he will break through you To go to the other end He will follow you Who's telling me Who's telling me Why tell me To look the other way Who's telling me Who's telling me Why tell me To look the other way I am small but I can see I am weak but I can feel I am small but I can see I am weak but I can feel I am small but I can see I am weak but I can feel
I am
I don't talk, the way that you talk I don't walk, the way that you walk I don't see, the way that you see I don't feel, the way that you feel I don't think, the way that you think I don't sing, the way that you sing I don't speak, the way that you speak I don't need, the way that you need Je suis qui je suis (I am who I am) Je fais comme je sens (I do as i feel) Je vais essayer (I'm gonna try) De te retrouver (To find you again) I don't talk, the way that you talk I don't walk that way that you walk I don't cry the way that you cry I don't try the way that you try Je suis qui je suis (I am who I am) Je fais comme je sens (I do as i feel) Je vais essayer (I'm gonna try) De te retrouver (To find you again) Tu veux toujours parler (You always wanna talk) Tu n'écoutes jamais (You never listen) Si tu veux m'aimer (If you wanna love me) Pourquoi me changer (Why change me) Je suis qui je suis (I am who I am) Je fais comme je sens (I do as i feel) Je vais essayer (I'm gonna try) De te retrouver (To find you again) De te retrouver (To find you again) Tu n'écoutes jamais (You never listen) De te retrouver (To find you again) Pourquoi me changer (Why change me)
No gain
He tried to tell you it was over so many times You kept convincing yourself that he would change his mind You never thought that love could do this to you and him You thought that it was supposed to be innocent You gave him everything and more that you had to give Three shining faces that will never fade So tell me what it's like to be on his own again He makes it look like it's easy but I've heard That one before No place for tears You're giving him everything All or nothing No pain, no gain Now you can chase your dreams Chase your dreams Tonight you feel so weak, you're telling me down the phone Your mind's in overdive wondering where it went wrong You feel as if you loosing something that wants was yours No one could ever take away what belongs to you If you don't want to choose the choice will be made for you It doesn't matter what he decides to do He's walking his path, you have to find your way If you don't claim your life, you're giving it all away No place for tears You're giving him everything All or nothing No pain, no gain Now you can chase your dreams Chase your dreams He lost you while he was trying to find himself It's nothing new, I see it happening all the time So tell me, tell me, has he found what he's looking for He had the icing on the cake and he wants some more I know it's not been easy making it on your own Don't let it get you down, were here, you're not alone You've got your girls, what love, they'll always be by your side The grass has always been greener on the other side No place for tears You're giving him everything All or nothing No pain, no gain Now you can chase your dreams Chase your dreams No place for tears You're giving him everything All or nothing No pain, no gain Now you can chase your dreams Chase your dreams
*** Thanx a lot to Na for this one ***
Before the summertime
Looking into me Too many different choices Too many different voices Telling me what to do Feeling find again So many words and faces So many sounds and noises Where do they lead Where do they lead Where do they lead Before the summertime I'm gonna clear my mind I'm feeling fine Before the summertime I'm gonna clear my mind I'm feeling fine Before the summertime Hiding Inside of me Your sleeping, growing waiting Alive and real Listen Your whisper softly speaking love everywhere Knocking opendoor Illusions fade to clear Before the summertime I'm gonna clear my mind I'm feeling fine Before the summertime I'm gonna clear my mind I'm feeling fine Before the summertime Before the summertime I'm gonna clear my mind I'm feeling fine Before the summertime Before the summertime I'm gonna clear my mind I'm feeling fine Before the summertime Before the summertime
Don't let them (change you)
Yesterday, today and forever You are the same You and only you Will never change I'm talking about you I'm talking about you What would you do if they were to see you naked in the sun What would you do if they were to see your soul on the run Thinking is good, thinking is good Don't let them change you The moves you make, the chance that you take Will determine the war you win Don't let them change you The books you read, the food you eat Will make or break a man of you How many specks have you pulled out of your neighbours eye today I think you can't see, 'cause there's a piece of wood Blocking your view Try putting yourself into your brother's shoes, for a day Loving the lovable is easy We're giving to get, giving to get... Don't let them change you The moves you make, the chance that you take Will determine the war you win Don't let them change you The books you read, the food you eat Will make or break a man of you Don't let them change you The moves you make, the chance that you take Will determine the war you win Don't let them change you The moves you make, the chance that you take Will determine the war you win Don't let them change you The books you read, the food you eat Will make or break a man of you Don't let them change you Change you Don't let them change you Change you
Dangerman Sleeping heart Wake up Sleeping heart Wake up Sometimes, I feel like holding the sky Sometimes, I'm glad my feet are on the ground A solid rock that holds my weakened frame I realise then, my worries are all in vain I'm like a grain of sand But I know that I'm Sometimes, I feel like turning the page Sometimes, I’m reading things I can’t ignore I’m like a fading cloud But I know that I’m I knew it in my head And now I know it in my heart I let myself be touched I let myself be moved I knew it in my head And now I know it in my heart I let myself be touched I let myself be moved Sometimes, I think I'll live forever Sometimes, I'm glad I'll leave this world behind I never thought you thought so much of me You were always there So near to me I realised I belong And I can see I knew it in my head And now I know it in my heart I let myself be touched I let myself be moved I knew it in my head And now I know it in my heart I let myself be touched I let myself be moved I'm like a burning star And I know that I'm Valued, by you Valued, by you
Shape of light
What is it that makes you do Things that will bring harm to you What is it that fills your head And keeps you in your smoky bed What is it that makes you lie To yourself you don't know why What is it that has the power To keep you coming back for more You're blinded eyes What is it that makes you drink Destroys your mind so you can't think What is it that makes you take Another fix, there's no escape What is it you sacrifice Your everything, your very life What is it that pulls you down And kicks you when you're on the ground You're running dry Is there some place I can go Is there some place I can lie Take me under your wing I need to fill this space inside Made in a shape of light Vocoder What is it that ties your hands Trips you up and claims the land What is it that makes you laugh For a while, then all is dry What is it that pushes you Closer to the edge, each time What is it that makes you pay You're giving everything away It's time to rise Is there some place I can go Is there some place I can lie Take me under your wing I need to fill this space inside Is there some place I can go Is there some place I can lie Take me under your wing I need to fill this space inside Made in a shape of light Vocoder Is there some place I can go Is there some place I can lie Take me under your wing I need to fill this space inside Is there some place I can go Is there some place I can lie Take me under your wing I need to fill this space inside Made in a shape of light
Suffocated
I'm going out to get some air will you join me I want to feel the wind on my face will you join me Let my hair fall on my shoulders Let the sun shine on my skin I dreamt too much last night And then I couldn't sleep Worries got a hold of me Suffocating me I have no dignity Only God can see me But men they oppress me Suffocating me I have no dignity Only God can see me But men they oppress me Hiding me in the folds of my clothes I was once, full of milk and honey The ground dries up, beneath my feet I'm eating dust I want to breath I dreamt too much last night And then I couldn't sleep Worries got a hold of me Suffocating me I have no dignity Only God can see me But men they oppress me Men they oppress me Suffocating me I have no dignity Only God can see me But men they oppress me Suffocating me I have no dignity Only God can see me But men they oppress me Men they oppress me Suffocating me Suffocating me I have no dignity Only God can see me But men they oppress me Men they oppress me Suffocating me
Shelter
Calling me, calling me Back to the air that I want breathe (?) Drawing me, drawing me Back to the ground, that I once stood upon Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls Deep calls to deep in this place All of your waves and your breakers sweep over me The rain that beats down like a drum Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls Deep calls to deep in this place All of your waves and your breakers sweep over me The rain that beats down like a drum Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls Deep calls to deep in this place All of your waves and your breakers sweep over me The rain that beats down like a drum The rain that beats down like a drum Drum drum drum drum drum... These are my mountains, these are my roots This is my homeland, my shelter in the woods