Future Shine by flor is an excellent addition to their discography, filled with so many drum-heavy and experimental features. As an album, it transitions them smoothly from the synths and keyboards of the past two records to a more mainstream sound that complements their growth as an artist. But there is one thing missing from the overall tracklist. This is where ‘Every Night’ comes in; a head-spinning song that’ll drive fans dancing wild at their live performances. Fittingly, the single’s release fell just before the start of their Future Shine tour.
Earlier this year, the band looked through their old demos and stumbled across the track first written in 2013. According to lead singer Zach Grace, it was something they were working on long before they were even flor. Following the stylistic and thematic choices of Future Shine, the band finally released ‘Every Night’ on 2 September. “[We] all agreed it was time to give the song the Future Shine spin,” Grace said. The single blends well with the rest of the playlist, with the juxtaposition in its upbeat delivery and existential lyrics. There’s a war between the evocative words and the adventurous pop production.
There are lyrical hints to an abusive relationship, but nothing outright explicit. It explores the battle of wanting to be with someone and suffering under their hold and manipulation. ‘Every Night’ is akin to these nightly encounters to war, using words and phrases like “scars” and “face down on the floor” to allude to the violence. What’s especially gripping here is the allusion to memory loss of the night before. The song likens this phenomenon to the idea of losing one’s self. The subject in question then tries to regain a semblance of control. But try as they might, they remain stuck because of their attachment to their significant other.
Repetition in the lyrics is accompanied by fast-paced music. The whirlwind of rhythmic chords and the strong presence of drums suggest a continuous cycle. Even as the song descends to its last few seconds, the final words sung are “Every night I lose myself wanting more”. More so than that, there’s a tone of desperation in Grace’s vocals. It’s as if the subject is trying to convince themselves to leave, but just can’t. The hyperactive instrumentals and production feel like an effort to drown out the reality of the lyrics.
Words by Mae Trumata
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.