TWIG CINNAMON JUST RELEASED NEW TRACKS AND WE'RE PRETTY NOSEY OVER HERE AT WIZARD WATER, WE THOUGHT WE'D DIVE RIGHT IN.
SINGLE NAME IS - DON'T TELL // SILVER SCREEN LISTEN HERE
Twig Cinnamon, based in Brisbane, Australia, is the creation of frontman Frank Woods. As the sole lyricist, Frank draws from a diverse range of influences including Oscar Wilde, Lou Reed, William S. Burroughs, Stanley Kubrick, and Irvine Welsh. These inspirations shape his unique punk rock style with a gentle approach. Frank’s aim is to infuse an aura of mystery and bewilderment into the music scene without being overly awkward. Each of Frank's compositions stands out as a new musical direction for the band, creating a varied yet cohesive sound. Ewan Palmer, Frank's long-term friend and songwriting partner, plays a crucial role in bringing this vision to life. Described as the Eno to Frank's Bowie, Ewan’s lead guitar adds a contemporary twist to the band's post-punk/new wave approach. Drummer Heath brings urgency and energy to each track, complementing the dynamic lineup which is rounded out by a versatile multi-instrumentalist. Twig Cinnamon’s music spans genres and moods, taking listeners on a journey through the highs and lows of Frank Woods' psyche. They captivate and engage their audience with an undeniable presence. Twig Cinnamon is a band constantly evolving, always surprising, and deeply compelling.
"Don't Tell" deals with themes of secrecy and privacy. What inspired you to write about these topics?
As the cliche goes, I was having a really hard time with the state of my mental health when I penned this song. I was going through a bad breakup with not only my partner at the time but also my best friend of many years (I know what that sounds like but trust me, it was two entirely different traumatic events). Anyhoo, the way I conducted myself during this time was driven by pure mania and when I snapped out of it, I would get those overwhelming feelings of shame. Shame I would rather have kept in an elegantly, privately, locked up vault of sorts.
The repetition of "Don't tell" throughout the song is quite impactful. What effect were you aiming for with this repetition?
Nothing went through my head when writing the chorus other than “Aye, fuck, this’ll be easy to sing along to if you’re fucked up in the mosh…” Sometimes it’s really not that deep. This shouldn’t be taken as a literal plea to hide my own or anyone else’s wrong doings. Lighten up people, it ain’t so bad!
The lyrics mention stumbling back three steps for every step forward. How does this metaphor relate to your personal experiences?
As mentioned previously, this song was written at a very turbulent point in my life. Everything I did felt futile. I was constantly in and out of work, that sort of thing. The whole walking up the hill line literally came to me as I was walking up a very steep hill… strange the way things pan out sometimes. Pain creates art, or at least aides it immensely, of that I am convinced.
The song mentions treating someone like dirt and feeling half berserk. How do these emotions play into the overall message of the song?
It doesn’t go that deep - there’s no real message to this song. I’d like people to treat it as more of a narrative about one of the most turbulent and manic times in my young life. In regards to the “treated you like dirt” line, you know who you are and if you’re reading this, I am truly sorry.
How do "Don't Tell" and "Silver Screen" complement each other as an A/B side release? What themes or messages tie them together?
Sonically, the songs do not complement each other at all. However this is our first major release and if now isn’t the time to have some fun before our more serious releases coming up this year, then I don’t know when the fuck is. Both songs have the same theme in that the expression of poor mental health is prevalent. I’d say in terms of emotion, Don’t Tell is the manic high, in which you feel just fucking smashing, you know? Silver Screen represents the soul-crushing low you feel after mania. At least to me it does… Like all art, ours is also open to interpretation.
"Silver Screen" has a very evocative set of lyrics. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song?
The inspiration ironically came to me at a point in which I lacked any kind of motivation because of heartbreak. I was stuck in a creative rut and I wasn’t sleeping well. One night at around 3am, I woke up with “The House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals on a loop in my head. Great band, great track. I picked up my guitar and attempted to learn the song by ear (not one of my stronger attributes) and the chords to Silver Screen came out. I’ll be the first to admit that the arrangement isn’t the most inspired piece I have written but something about it just resonated with me. On the spot, I penned the lyrics with the aim of taking an arrangement that sounded old school and classic but at the same time utilising my post-punk sensibilities, which is where I think the lyrics are plucked from. All of this coupled with my declining mental state at the time essentially wrote the track for me. It helped that when I awoke that night, there was a big fuck-off spider actually on my television screen, keeping me company.
The line "There's a spider on my television set" is quite striking. What does this imagery represent to you?
Well, no one likes spiders. No one. Unless you’re a fucking weirdo (more power to ya if that’s your niche). But yeah, a disgusting big spider blocking your view of the television, especially if you’re invested in what’s on screen, I feel, creates a very weird emotion within ourselves. It’s the perfect conflict of interest in a sort of confusing sense. The inspiration for the spider line in the song coming from my experience I mentioned above resonates with me as to this day, I cannot properly articulate the emotion I felt at that exact moment in time. A little spider paralysed me.
The theme of vices is central to "Silver Screen”. What prompted you to explore this topic in your song?
Well that’s quite simple really. I can answer that question with a question of my own: Do you know more people are addicted to nicotine than people who aren’t? The answer is a resounding “Yes, I am surrounded by filthy smokers & I am one myself.” I have nothing against nicotine - I say a prayer to Sir Walter Raleigh before and after every meal. I suppose the point is everyone has their vice for one reason or another. Prescription medication, nicotine, alcohol, illicit drugs and that morning cup of coffee. Oh vices, everyone’s got one. You know what I mean?
How do you balance the darker themes in your lyrics with the overall sound and vibe of your music?
We try to keep it fun. No one likes a group that takes themselves too seriously. We don’t subscribe to one sound. What sounds good to us sounds good. That’s it. We never aim to write an arrangement or a set of lyrics with a certain intent. We are lucky that it just kind of flows naturally to us. That came with time of course. The development of my friendship with Ewan (co-founder/lead guitarist/ love of my life) really fostered the mentality we have going into crafting a new song. We’ve got a sound pinned down and we’re ready to pick it up off the floor and shove it in the public’s face. Very politely of course.
The cat scratching at the bedpost and door adds a layer of mystery to the song. Can you share what this symbolises for you?
The point I was attempting to convey with that line is quite literal. The cat is scratching at the door but the mental agony that the “character” in the song is going through is preventing him from fulfilling even the simplest tasks, like letting the fucking cat inside the room. It’s a commentary on how debilitating depression can actually be and I hope this helps people realise that others suffering from depression simply cannot just “suck it up” or “be a man”. We are definitely moving towards a society in which expressing these emotions openly is becoming more accepted and encouraged but we still have a long way to go in my humble opinion.
"Life ain’t worth living so it’s not worth dying for" is a powerful line. What message do you hope to convey with this sentiment?
If you believe your life isn’t worth living then why is going through everything that comes with taking your own life, worth it? The way I see it, life and death are two sides of the same coin. If one isn’t for you then why should the other be an option? No one takes a strong stance on whether they prefer heads or tails until it comes time for the flip. Nothing is permanent, even the most wretched of emotions. Taking your own life is a long-term solution to a short-term problem. Why go through that effort if living in general doesn’t appeal to you? I can grasp becoming a hermit and shutting yourself off from the world more than any other form of self-harm. I’m well aware of how rotten this world can be. Suicide only makes things uglier. The intent behind the line is definitely tough love to any beautiful person out there who is struggling. I definitely choose the simplest wording in the song to get this point across because it’s a topic that I can go very deep on and I don’t want to bore all of you out there… Hi Mum!
How does "Silver Screen" fit into the larger narrative or theme of your upcoming releases?
Honestly, it doesn’t. It’s a song I feel needs to be out there no matter the context it is released in. The releases we have planned are drastically different in tone to Silver Screen, but hey, we are a band with big aspirations and we’re trying really hard not to be awkward about that.
Can you share any interesting stories from the writing or recording process of Silver Screen?
Not to be a bore but honestly, not particularly. The most “wow” moment I’ve had with this song other than crafting it was transposing my guitar composition to piano. It opened my eyes to the fact that some tracks just call for the grand elegance of the keys over the guitar. Not a story but an interesting thing about the recording process of Silver Screen was the development of the working relationship we made with our new producer, George Mundell. The recording process was a lot more streamlined and to the point in comparison to our first session with Georgie boy. I think this definitely speaks volumes on the value of keeping the same people around and developing together. Comrade shit, you know what I mean?
What do you hope listeners take away from Silver Screen when they hear it for the first time?
Obviously I’d like the initial reaction to be one of pure enjoyment for the track alone. I do hope people pay attention and connect with the lyrics. The message I ultimately want people to take away is: ‘’Your life is worth it. Let the cat in the room.”
As a band, how do you handle your own vices, and how do they influence your music and creative process?
In my more juvenile years, my vices handled me. I’ve definitely chilled out a lot. I still partake in select vices that are more common than not these days with people my age. I have it under control. I don’t have any plans to give up any of the vices I currently have. I’m a big advocate of not depriving yourself from harmless pleasure. As for the rest of the band, they have it under control. A couple of nicotine addictions and some big egos. No harm done - same rules apply.
We don’t particularly carry this frame of mind or over analyse said vices when the band is crafting a new tune. It’s more about the effect this topic has on our personal lives over our creative endeavours. However, as a lyricist, it’s a force of habit for me to utilise the darker headspaces I find myself in to craft a set of lyrics or a piece of poetry that reflects exactly how I feel at any given moment.
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