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Truth or Consequences

by Yumi Zouma

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1.
Verses I was embarrassed when I knew who I was; so wild and zealous, and overly down for the cause I'm sliding under, diving back into clouds We went running, you were leading me on You lost your hope and I knew, it wouldn’t last as long I think about it, I'll think about it in time Pre-choruses I know that you say I’m just another one I won’t pretend you’re the best I see what you want me to see (Whatever we’re going to be) And now I fall through your ceiling like you’re the only one, always the hardest to test Chorus So why’d you want to make me lonely after? Wouldn’t try to break what’s holding you back We were on the hook to save you sinking, back when you liked that Don’t you want to save your breath for nightime? Show me why it’s hard to come around I know that you’ve been full with anguish lately, yeah, we were let down Verse II I called your brother, he said we’re serving him soup Broke down my door to reclaim a small part of his youth Yeah you can hate me if it helps you get back Another moment of impossible doubt You wanted quiet but everything was just so loud My memory’s fading, memory fading to red Prechorus II I can’t play the game but i’m living like i won, taking it all on the chest tell me i’m not on my knees i’m dead in the water beneath and you’re a sight to be seen and i’m falling undone it’s getting harder to sleep Chorus So why’d you want to make me lonely after? Wouldn’t try to break what’s holding you back We were on the hook to save you sinking, back when you liked that Don’t you want to save your breath for nightime? Show me why it’s hard to come around I know that you’ve been full with anguish lately, yeah, we were let down Outro Think i’ve done well, I waited on my soul A weekend on pacific time, best i’ve ever known Let’s take it on, i’ll take it on for you
2.
Verse I A little distance on my day off I never claimed that I was different And you were talking about yourself but I could’ve sworn it was a mantra Prechorus I Try to keep my mouth shut, throw me right up Everytime that you shove, I just get stuck Telling me to get tough, testing my faith But I couldn’t complicate it Chorus I i'm telling you you've earned it When we were feeling so set I need another day to Abandon all the trust and take away the love I gave you Verse II Cut me up and keep me open Oh it won’t hurt me in the morning I’ll leave the lightness for the long days For when i really have my head straight Prechorus II You were on the right track with the wrong man You know you’re a good girl, g-g-gone bad You could tell me bad things, no i don’t mind And i could forget about it Chorus II I'm telling you you've earned it When we were feeling so set I need another day to Abandon all the trust and take away the love I gave you And we were bleeding sunset But i would never go back To when i used to play you I never was enough, but you say i'm the one to change you
3.
Verse Searching for a sign or a reason to leave, or a reason to cry I could never believe you could take me there or lead me home Standing in the back by the rest of my friends By the time that you’d left, it was time to extend Please don’t leave me here or let me go Chorus Oh and I am imperfectly yours Can we get by Without your love? You give me trust You give me lust Can we get by Without your love? Verse II Written in your past was a story untold When I wasn’t so smart I was letting off smoke like a cigarette or dying flame Turning in my head and I wonder if I could be dancing the steps, is it true that we try but we all pretend we’re not to blame? Chorus Oh and I am imperfectly yours Can we get by Without your love? You give me trust You give me lust Can we get by Without your love?
4.
Sage 03:01 video
Verse I We learn the journey isn't the reward I know you say that life is dirt nothing makes me feel unsure like when we’re fading Prechorus I (last in your way) I’m erasing all my safe schemes (waiting for days) Did you guess that I’d forget about it? (screamed to myself) And I swore that you’d hold me (Now that I’m counting days of the year) Chorus You’ve got your reasons I can’t wear you down I could give you more or we walk away right now We’ll take a minute I won’t bleed you out I can tell you more when we take a drive downtown Chorus II You’ve got your reasons I can’t wear you down (I can’t wear you down) I could give you more or we walk away right now We’ll take a minute I won’t bleed you out (I won’t bleed you out) I can tell you more when we take a drive downtown Verse II I’ll burn, treason isn’t worth the wait or dedication Confusion, gripping at my throat with choked infatuation Prechorus II (tell me the truth) When I call to hear you each day (Just me and you) Your too far to tell if you’re still loving (reaching away) I’m wondering daily (Under the night where I can be lost)
5.
Verse I You’re alone, but I know, you’re just waiting on a song (where I wore myself out on you) I'm feeling like you're leaving you say that you need breathing now (And I’m trying to forget you) Prechorus I Had me coiled up in your palm like a thread Before you told me all the dangerous thoughts in your head And now I think so many times of the words to be said And you tell me I've chosen enough I should forget about you Chorus And I'm trying to hide it That you're my desire and I was yours They won't hear a heartbeat, I walked too fast through your door Every time that I love, It comes right from the gut, But you say that I’m stuck to your past But I react so dumb and trifling A mirror to the fire inside of me Verse II Chasing hands, is the darkness just breaking all your pla-ans (Is the blame inconsequential?) I'm hoping that you'll catch me, or text me when you're heading out (I'm ashamed of our intent, you) Prechorus II Had me coiled up like a dog in your bed Before I realised that my time had run out and you'd left And now I think so many times of the words to be said And you tell me I've chosen enough Or I’ll forget about you Chorus And I'm trying to hide it That you're my desire and I was yours They won't hear a heartbeat, I walked too fast through your door Every time that I love, It comes right from the gut, But you say that I’m stuck to your past But I react so dumb and trifling A mirror to the fire inside of me Outro Every time that I love, It comes right from the gut, But you say that I’m stuck to your past But I react so dumb and trifling A mirror to the fire inside of me
6.
Verse I It’s earnestly said, My resolution is dead if you refuse to see the sunlight Moving through defenseless front lines I keep on finding your hair A constant presence of fear And difficulties more unknown The air is thicker where I’m going Prechorus It’s not a dark situation I’d rather tumble than be taking it slow I had a hard time figuring out It was no wonder why you go Chorus Omissions never flare, they go out if you let them Changing every year, I was cool for a second Find me in the fall, swept underneath Forgetting every charm, took a bullet together You could pull apart, so I’d never remember The image that would call you back to me Verse II Four months and a day What other sucker would wait For someone else to take advantage When all you give is took for granted A long-distance brawl Or sympathetically called Consideration taken daily To think that you would hope to shake me Prechorus It was a bad hesitation A little stumble in the back of your soul Another hard time alone in yourself It was a step too far to know Bridge Whatever I can do, you go treat me indifferent A flicker of appeal, wouldn't kill you to give in Another little dream falls at my feet Chorus Omissions never flare, they go out if you let them Changing every year, I was cool for a second Find me in the fall, swept underneath Forgetting every charm, took a bullet together You could pull apart, so I’d never remember The image that would call you back to me
7.
Verse I Working hard to make an autumn last forever I’m a sucker for the spin of time Reading paper through your legs, another compromise Wash my hands of all the tense and tired moments I was never gonna lose on you Feeling sick I gotta take a walk and try to hide Chorus I’m not too ambitious, i’m okay on my own I thought that we would make it, but we made it too slow When you asked for me to leave, yeah I was ready to go Yeah it’s true, yeah it’s truer than ever And i’m not trying to keep it from you, most of the time And conditions they got rigid, I was losing my mind But you thought that we could make it better being combined I don’t care, I don’t mind, I don’t mind, I don’t mind Verse II i’m a loser of the lengths you go to and I’m just a lover of the stupid lies you’re a wave throughout my nervous sea so take a dive Calm me down to take the weekend off from it And this time I can’t really change your tune Walking deep into a snowy blast of paradise Chorus I’m not too ambitious, i’m okay on my own I thought that we would make it, but we made it too slow When you asked for me to leave, yeah I was ready to go Yeah it’s true, yeah it’s truer than ever And i’m not trying to keep it from you, most of the time And conditions they got rigid, I was losing my mind But you thought that we could make it better being combined I don’t care, I don’t mind, I don’t mind, I don’t mind
8.
Got caught in the hallway, you turned to the door I thought this was nothing, whispers I could ignore You wore me like jasmine, in summers we spent Pretending to notice, looking for the descent Chorus I’m gonna play the game another way I know that I could be so brave But I am gonna turn away And I want to stay but living is a chase along another helpless plane and you were just a hurricane Verse II You tell me you miss this, and we’ll meet in time Obsessionist mystics stole my peace of mind My palms are your reference to hold to your heart They say we’re all different ,they devour your past Chorus I’m gonna play the game another way I know that I could be so brave But I am gonna turn away And I want to stay but living is a chase along another helpless plane and you were just a hurricane Bridge I never wanted this to hurt me But I could never love so truly I never wanted you to be alone Chorus I’m gonna play the game another way I know that I could be so brave But I am gonna turn away And I want to stay but living is a chase along another helpless plane and you were just a hurricane Outro And the way we were would change the hurt when we were both in lust I could never taste it all you’re late, alone I’m giving up on love And the way we were would change the hurt when we were both in lust I could never taste it all you’re late, alone I’m giving up on love
9.
Magazine Bay 03:53
Intro I’m gonna stay here cause there’s nothing else to do, I’m on a winner loving you And when you find me on the backstreets on the way up, pull me closer to the graces of the day Verses I know what you did to me Baby we can hurry we can try to see We can take it back, make it all repeat We don’t have to worry now Prechorus So you can tell me I’m not the friend you wanted but you You’ve got to play the part that I knew I think you need to walk in my shoes Know what I do Chorus Help me I’m trying Its okay that you’re mad We can do it like that, maybe I get so helpless I know I’ve been sad But you never come back, yeah (Since you’ve been so unaware I changed my mind and cut my hair I’m not okay with nothing to do) (I don’t want another lately Waiting for you made me crazy Trans-Atlantic talking it through) Verse II Trading on the taste of you It’s not like I ever try to think things through We can bring it under if you need to prove Maybe i’m in trouble now, trouble now So you can tell me Prechorus II It's not the side you’re on but we know You’ve got to give it up now go slow I think you pushed the limit too low I guess I’ll go, I’ll go Chorus Help me I’m trying Its okay that you’re mad We can do it like that, maybe I get so helpless I know I’ve been sad But you never come back, yeah (Since you’ve been so unaware I changed my mind and cut my hair I’m not okay with nothing to do) (I don’t want another lately Waiting for you made me crazy Trans-Atlantic talking it through) Bridge I’m gonna stay here cause there’s nothing else to do, I’m on a winner loving you And when you find me on the backstreets on the way up, pull me closer to the graces of the day Trading on the taste of you It’s not like I ever try to think things through We can bring it under if you need to prove Maybe i’m in trouble now, trouble now So you can tell me Chorus Help me I’m trying Its okay that you’re mad We can do it like that, maybe I get so helpless I know I’ve been sad But you never come back, yeah (Since you’ve been so unaware I changed my mind and cut my hair I’m not okay with nothing to do) (I don’t want another lately Waiting for you made me crazy Trans-Atlantic talking it through) Outro You take your blessings from the secrets of the past Forget your lovers when you do And when we find you in the backseat of the Skyline In the suburbs with your brothers by The Brae
10.
Verses Pull me apart Pour me a drink I know that you lost your everything They figured us out A single nagging doubt Holding my tongue You tell me I’m bold I’m getting outside a comfort zone Your will to believe A measure of deceit Chorus And I thought so hard about it I would fall so far without it Say that you want me bad Say that you want me back Put my mind on hold a minute You could take my life and quit it Lie like you never have Lie like you want me back Verse II Counting the cost Meet me inside You’re driving too fast, I nearly died Is that who I am? A dancer to the end Save the suspense Tell me I’m mad The way that you’re blaming, it makes me sad So, all of us “done”, Onto another one Chorus And I thought so hard about it I would fall so far without it Say that you want me bad Say that you want me back Put my mind on hold a minute You could take my life and quit it Lie like you never have Lie like you want me back Bridge Tried to tell you That I’m tough And I’m the charmer that You’d never get again You were open I shut up So I left you there Will it ever end? Chorus And I thought so hard about it I would fall so far without it Say that you want me bad Say that you want me back Put my mind on hold a minute You could take my life and quit it Lie like you never have Lie like you want me back

about

In the early 2010s, the members of Yumi Zouma spent time together on a New Zealand street that gave its name to their first single, “The Brae.” After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake destroyed that street and much of the city, its members took off for other parts of the globe and soon began writing their first songs over email.

As a result, the band was born, and distance became a recurring theme in Yumi Zouma’s work. This makes sense given the far-flung cities the group of musicians currently call home: New York City for Burgess, London for Ryder, Wellington for Campion, and Simpson remaining in their native Christchurch. Of course, distance can also manifest metaphorically, and it’s in these figurative chasms that Truth or Consequences, Yumi Zouma’s third album and first for Polyvinyl, finds its narrative: romantic and platonic heartbreak, real and imagined emotional distance, disillusionment, and being out of reach. There are no answers, there’s very seldom closure, but there is an undeniable release that comes from saying the truth, if only to oneself.

“In the age we’re living in, there’s an emphasis on making things clear cut” says Burgess about the album’s title. “But in life and in art, nothing is ever that definitive. The truth is usually in the gray zones, and I think that’s so much of what we were trying to explore and understand on this album.”

Whilst exploring these realms, Yumi Zouma deliberately pursued a deeper sense of collaboration in order to craft a record that reflects the bond between them. Produced by the band and mixed by engineer Jake Aron (Solange, Grizzly Bear, Snail Mail), Truth or Consequences stems from sessions in Los Angeles, London, and Christchurch, where the band actively took a collegial approach, often working note-by-note, to ensure the foundations of the album reflected a sense of togetherness.

“We wanted to make the songwriting process as egalitarian as possible. Completely sharing the process helped us feel like we were capturing a purer sense of atmosphere,” says Ryder.

Much like how the first moments of a new year can usher in a wave of emotions, the first notes of Truth or Consequences wash over the listener with the contemplative yet rapturous opener “Lonely After,” in which Simpson softly sings "I was embarrassed when I knew who I was, so wild and zealous and overly down for the cause." As Burgess recalls, it’s about “that pit in your stomach when you start to question your own identity,” who wrote the first lines of the song one lonely New Year’s Eve, during the nebulous beginnings of a budding relationship.

Lead single “Right Track / Wrong Man” exhibits a Balearic tempo and bass-heavy energy that belies its underlying tension. Simpson reveals, “At the time I was living with a boyfriend who was quite lovely, but there wasn’t that passion or excitement that you imagine for yourself when you’re young. That song is about accepting that something’s not working, and deciding to just be on your own for a while.”

Album centerpiece “Cool For A Second” coalesces the motif of isolation and its ensuing fallout into a letter to a past connection: Whilst on “Truer Than Ever,” the band draws inspiration from the classics to radiate a brazen spirit of perseverance. “I love the duality in a lot of disco songs, where they’re incredibly upbeat, but there’s real frustration in the lyrics – sort of like, ‘Nothing’s going the way I want, but I’ve got to deal with it any way I can,’” Simpson says.

Throughout, Simpson’s voice gives weight to whispers of impressionistic poetry, shielding hard truths with soft tones, while Burgess’ vocals reveal a rarified dimension of raw and lucid romanticism. With this being the first Yumi Zouma album to feature live drums, courtesy of Campion, Truth or Consequences is a testament to the success of the band’s approach – a unified body of melody that mines the spaces in between.

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released March 13, 2020

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Yumi Zouma Christchurch, New Zealand

Yumi Zouma is Christie Simpson, Josh Burgess, Charlie Ryder, and Olivia Campion.

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