Title: “Kerosene”Artist: Oh Captain|My Captain
From: TBA (2016)
Release Date: May 15, 2016
Length: 2:58
Format: CD Single, Digital Download, Weekly Airplay
Recorded: January/February 2016 – Studio 101, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre: Alternative Rock, Electronica, Post-Hardcore
Label: Songs to Love and Die By
Written: December 2015
Writer(s): Kayleigh Skye, Kyle Irvine, Matthew Fay, Cara Zayn
Producer(s): Cara Zayn, Oh Captain|My Captain
“Kerosene” is the third official single from the British alternative rock trio ‘Oh Captain|My Captain’, the group from Brighton, England signed a record deal with ‘Songs to Love and Die By’ back in 2015 and have slowly begun working on material for their debut album as well as taking supporting slots on a number of tours for bigger bands in the industry. Their previous single “Empty Walls” peaked at number eight on the singles chart and is their best effort to date. However, the progress of the band has been rather stop-start since they debuted in the industry and they have struggled to maintain any consistent buzz that they had previously. Although it’s expected that they’re set to pick things up a little throughout the rest of the year as they close on the completion of their debut album and are likely to receive more promotion in the following months in anticipation for that record.
The song begins with an electronic backdrop, the combination of keyboards and lead guitar signalling the beginning of the song, but it’s the vocals of Kayleigh that help the song shine through at the early stages as her voice is emotive and powerful as she sings “Don’t blame me for the scars on your skin/It takes more than one element to cause a fire or a flame/But, let’s face the truth/The match was lit the day that you let me in/I’m done grasping on/I can’t hold on for too long.” It becomes evident that she’s singing about a volatile relationship and again following on from an autobiographical song like “Empty Walls” which had a lot of emotional depth about the loneliness of moving away from home for the first time and moving to a completely different country, this follow up signals a different kind of vibe altogether, emotive in parts, correct, but as it progresses it becomes more about aggression and power.
The chorus to the song is bellowed out in front of a drum and guitar battle and the haunting echo of Kayleigh’s vocal as she sings, “So baby you’re the match/Ignite the flame/I guess you can call me kerosene/And they’ll say that I’m the one to blame.” Has a power to it and is instantly recognizable, the sort of catchy chorus that you may have heard from bands in the pop-punk heyday.
Another highlight is the verse immediately following the chorus, as Kayleigh reminisces about her former lover, a female for those of you that are unaware of the frontwoman’s sexual orientation, “Those nights of passion/Bodies tangled together/Become nights of danger/When you pulled the lever/Aim and ignite baby/Fire our best shots/Scream and scream darlin’/So I know that I’ve hit the right spot.” Show an element of sexuality within the lyrics, an element that has yet to be seen from the group in their first few releases but something that could no doubt become a feature for the group of teenagers, just trying to figure their way into the world.
The song was written in December last year and recorded between January and February of this year at Studio 101 in Brooklyn, New York. The track was written by the entirety of the group with additional help from Cara Zayn whom also produced the track alongside the trio. It will be released through ‘Songs to Love and Die By’ on May 15, 2016 as a CD Single, Digital Download and Weekly Airplay.
Lyrics“Don’t blame me for the scars on your skin
It takes more than one element to cause a fire or a flame
But, let’s face the truth
The match was lit the day that you let me in
I’m done grasping on
I can’t hold on for too long
They warned you from the start
That I have a reputation of breaking hearts
But fuck em’ all
They don’t know
What goes on
Behind closed doors
So baby you’re the match
Ignite the flame
I guess you can call me kerosene
And they’ll say that I’m the one to blame
Those nights of passion
Bodies tangled together
Become nights of danger
When you pulled the lever
Aim and ignite baby
Fire our best shots
Scream and scream darlin’
So I know that I’ve hit the right spot
They warned you from the start
That I have a reputation of breaking hearts
But fuck em’ all
They don’t know
What goes on
Behind closed doors
So baby you’re the match
Ignite the flame
I guess you can call me kerosene
And they’ll say that I’m the one to blame”
Personnelyleigh Skye – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, lyrics, production
Kyle Irvine – lead guitar, backing vocals, lyrics, production
Matthew Fay – bass guitar, drums, lyrics, production
Cara Zayn – production, engineering, mixing, lyrics
