REVIEW & INTERVIEW: SENSES “LET ME IN”
In an inspired, flapping soundscape, guitar-strumming fades into the background when the surrounding light dims and brings focus to an intimate lyrical theme about unconditional love that isn’t reciprocated. “All this time when you feel that you can’t pull through, I’ll just keep holding out these hands for you.” The fine line between past, present, and future becomes obscure as “Let Me In” goes beyond its lyrical meaning into the manifestation of an unrealized dream.
Years ago, a bird flew into the big window in Ronan O’Connor’s (bassist) parents’ kitchen, where SENSES sometimes used as a rehearsal space. He took a picture of the bird print on the window and sent it to Brian Callan (lead singer, lyricist), which stayed with the band for years. When Callan went back to the image, looking for inspiration, the bird print manifested itself into “Let Me In” and became crucial to its existence.
When the lead singer brought the first draft of “Let Me In” to the rehearsal room, they realized something different as soon as they started playing. “We just looked at one another, and it all clicked,” O’Connor commented, “the song wrote itself.”
“We can describe the vibe we want in some weird or obscure way, and we just get it. A great example was the droning guitar sound. We wanted that melancholy feel from it, so the chorus could break free,” he continued, “The staccato feel really helps create tension and then builds for the chorus, so there’s like an outpouring of hope. I guess that’s the overriding message within ‘Let Me In’ and a thread that goes through the whole of the forthcoming debut album.”
Little Pictures Without Sound is an unfinished project set for release 12 years ago. Although the album has been around over time, the journey to realization has its bumps and twists.
The initial stages of SENSES were full of experimentation and spontaneity: “four guys bonded over a love of alternative, indie and shoegaze music growing up, finding their calling in a school detention for hiding in the music rooms.” They would go around, finding interesting sounds to sample. They would go to a Radio Shack and buy electronic equipment like stereo microphones or walkie-talkies to make sounds then layer up with ambiance on demos.
Although time has changed, and they have moved far past the early DIY stage, the adventurous, creative spirit stayed the same. “For us, it’s about the creating and recording. That chance to experiment and explore. To experiment sonically and to explore emotions and feelings. For all of us it was a good way to express ourselves too,” said Ronan O’Connor.
In a local studio, they recorded the first songs from Little Pictures Without Sound and sent it to BBC Radio 1. The demos ended up in the unsigned chart and quickly attracted major attention. They started working with the legendary music producer Gavin Monaghan of Editors, The Blinders, and The Twang, eagerly hoping to share Little Pictures Without Sound with the world. Everything that seems too good to be true has a downside that could potentially destroy everything. They were full-heartedly occupied with the excitement of their initial success and didn’t notice a storm brewing in a distance.
“It was something we weren’t really ready for. All of a sudden, we had major labels and some of the world’s most famous producers contacting us,” Ronan O’Connor reflected on the past, “on the one hand, it was great to get airplay and attention, but we could have done with someone to guide us. We ended up wrangling by labels. From not having contracts signed to having money stolen from producing vinyl to being asked to change out sound – that was really the one that pushed us over the edge. The album got put on hold and we went on a hiatus.”
During the lockdown, SENSES decided to pick up where they left off. With the help of Gavin Monaghan, they are bringing Little Pictures Without Sound to life. “Let Me In” is a special song for the band. From “Let Me In” to Little Pictures Without Sound, the songs have witnessed their journey and grown alongside SENSES.
100% profit from the singles and the album is going to charities. “The thing we love is that we can get to do something we love and hopefully make great art and create some positivity through it,” said SENSES.