Waterparks face struggles with humor in brutally honest single “If Lyrics Were Confidential”
“I hate 50% of our fans,” Awsten Knight, frontman of Waterparks, sings in their latest single “If Lyrics Were Confidential” released on September 19 via BMG.
This bold statement is just one of many from Knight as he dives into his experiences with restraining orders, labels' strange suggestions, and having to hide his relationship. The track is packed with brutal honesty of what success in the music industry looks like and uses comedy to cope.
Waterparks’ latest single “If Lyrics Were Confidential” released on September 19 via BMG.
In the first verse Knight touts his expertise in filing restraining orders saying, “I'm a bit of a restraining order juggernaut / it cost $25k but the creeps don't stop / there's no peace in the three hundred feet I bought.” These restraining orders and safety concerns, according to Knight, are the same reason he can’t share any information about his relationship.
This isn't the first time Knight has opened up about the experiences he's had being stalked by fans. In the deceivingly upbeat track “Violet!” off of the trio’s fourth album Greatest Hits, Knight recounts being followed back to his apartment by a fan.
The second verse discusses Waterparks’ absurd interactions with labels such as asking if Knight is friends with actor Timothée Chalamet, and suggesting that he should take a sponsor that would pay “almost a penny a click.” Knight imitates one label executive saying, “You're a little too niche for the radio, but I bet you drive TikTok crazy though.”
The statement holds a bit of truth as the band's equally confessional song “I Miss Having Sex But At Least I Don't Wanna Die Anymore” off their 2019 album FANDOM gained traction on TikTok, making it Waterparks’ most streamed song.
While “If Lyrics Were Confidential” is, fittingly, a lyrically driven track, a beat provided by drummer Otto Wood and a guitar riff from guitarist Geoff Wigington bring fullness and depth to the song. The instruments build up through the verses picking up and stopping as if Wood and Wigington are emphasizing Knight's points.
“If Lyrics Were Confidential” gives an unfiltered account from Knight — well, mostly. Toward the end of the track, Knight wants to talk about how someone called him and “saying he was going to ‘fucking kill me!,’” but the name of the alleged caller gets bleeped out.
Waterparks is set to head out on a North American tour with notable stops in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
“Did you just bleep [beep] and not ‘f*ck?,’” Knight sings. “That doesn't even make sense, don't bleep me on my song.”
Waterparks is set to head out on a North American tour beginning November 6 in San Antonio and ending in Los Angeles on December 18 with notable stops in Chicago, New York, and Atlanta.
“If Lyrics Were Confidential” is available to stream on all platforms!