Ahead of his upcoming album, ‘Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour’, set for release on the 10th of October through VanGarrett Records, ‘Hollywood Signs’ from Kramies evokes nostalgia that is reminiscent of The Beatles (think ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’), while maintaining a timeless feel that is clearly Kramies’ very own.
You’re going to want to listen to this a few times – the first time with your eyes closed, mind emptied of all other thoughts apart from the song itself, in order to fully appreciate all the subtleties and nuances. The second time you can listen with your eyes open, but if you feel yourself drifting off, allow it. The third time, watch the accompanying stop-motion animation lyric video, that’s just as trippy and sublime as the song itself.
Comparisons will be made between Kramies and others who’ve gone before him; I’ve done it already in my opening paragraph. But I don’t think this is mere co-incidence, else why would Kramies fit the line, “Scoring our drugs on the subway in New York” where the music is at its most ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’? I love it so much though! There are probably a lot more comparisons to be made, but right now, that’s the one that leaps out at me.
This idea of time, and having a limited amount of it, and deciding how to use it most wisely, is all through the song – we could spend it emulating others, or we could choose to instead think for ourselves.
The lyric video has us imagine ourselves hitting the road in a Kombi van, somehow able to drive between London and New York, Big Sur and Hollywood, the latter of which he bemoans the “stupid Hollywood signs!”. It’s unclear whether or not he’s talking about road signs or the big white letters in the Hills, but hey, why not both? Either could be a metaphor for wasting time, whether it be on the freeway or in chasing fame. Let’s not waste time, we should choose to have our time now, rather than putting it off for a rainy day – who knows what tomorrow brings?
Watch the lyric video for ‘Hollywood Signs’ below, and find out more about Kramies and his music online on his official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
