Backseat Driver | OrcaMind

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Song: Backseat Driver by OrcaMind: ‪@michelleheafy‬ ‪@JosiahEverhart‬ ‪@donutdrums‬
Additional synths by Zane Smith
Headphones recommended for listening as always.

Lore time! In all our song's video descriptions, you can find the lore and meanings behind each one ~

Backseat Driver is the second song we wrote. It took years to get it to the finish line. Partly because of our long queue of new songs getting released, but mostly because we had to gain more experience with producing our sound to finish this. It's also thanks to Backseat Driver that we practiced higher energy performance on our stream, like jumping/dancing while performing.

The lyrics are about dealing with people who are both loud and wrong, aka backseat drivers. You know, people who give unwanted advice/nitpicks/explanation when you're the one in charge of a situation. Figuratively, it can apply to so many real life situations. This song is about empowering yourself and taking the high road. A main theme that came about when I wrote the lyrics is: the biased ways women's work or abilities are underestimated. One example is in music - from songwriting to production and everything in between. Shout out to everyone who is not like that, it's always received and appreciated. The overarching theme of empowerment extends to many real life situations for anyone. The message I'd hope you feel is - remembering you're in the driver's seat and in control!

The tone of the video, lyrics, melody, instruments, and synths intends to give this type of situation more of a lighthearted vibe, making it more sassy - like you can laugh instead of staying super heated. When we perform this, it's always a mood uplifter! Something so awesome about music & expressing yourself through art, is that it can transform uncomfortable feelings into better ones.

Some production lore:
The vocals in the beginning that go "aaah", and repeat a few times though the background were recorded on a phone, and put through cool effects to give that warm/synthy/buzzy chorus sound.
We layered a bunch of synths, including the actual synth used in Metroid Prime that you will surely recognize if you're into that. There's also some synth parts that are remind me of Totoro's soundtrack a bit.
Josiah recorded quite a groovy bassline, which is something he does a lot in our music!
We wrote the song's riff and chords on guitar and piano, and then switched it over to full band.
I wrote the lyrics/melody during this first writing session in 2022 and they haven't changed much since. The melodies of the vocals and guitar/synth riff are meant to intertwine, mirror, compliment, and dance with each other. We initially called the hooky riff the "311" riff.
I tried to avoid the song several times because it was intimidating to sing mostly leads. I prefer singing together or switching, but artistically we chose this arrangement. Josiah really insisted that we release it, and over time I gained the confidence to really sing it. This thing happens often, where one of us has more leads and tries to scrap it,, and we must encourage the other to keep going (example: Sujameco) haha.

Well that was the lore dump! Everything about the song and video has been chosen with a lot thought and intention, and we're happy to share it with you. Thank you for reading!

Lyrics:
And after all this time
You still give me the run around
I watch you waste your time
You try to shut me down

You think that it's just luck
When I tell you I know the way
The steering wheel is stuck
No matter what you say

You can pull over now
I will see myself out
I choose the option disengage

Double down, rigid grip
Won't let me out of this
In that case, if you insist

You're always backseat driving
Who’s got the wheel now?
I don’t know
I’ve got to keep myself alive when
You lose control

I cant believe you tried to scam me
Tried to run with it
You said you'd let me be
Your words were counterfeit

And every time I try to fly
You tighten your grip
It's just an insatiable compulsion
Admit it

Your hand blocking my vision
Won't let you cause this collision
All impact will backfire
On you

You're always backseat driving
I've got the wheel now
On my own
And I will keep myself alive when
You lose control