Track By Track: Melbourne Outfit Self Talk Take You Through Their New EP, 'Almost Everything'

With their latest EP, Melbourne rockers Self Talk are showcasing a more intimate and sonically diverse side of their songwriting, as vocalist Stacey Cicivelli explains, breaking down the six tracks on Almost Everything.

Little Song

What an imaginative song title to kick things off! This one started as a really short demo on my phone, hence the name. There’s a cello throughout it (played by the amazing Eileen Sparks) and if it doesn’t give you shivers I don’t know what will. It’s a bit of a different song for us and we’re excited to show another side to our songwriting. Little Song is about me remembering the good things I have, and the people I have, when other things don’t work out the way I’d hoped. Sometimes I lose my head and forget, you know?

Bedside Dictionary

Bedside is kind of an ode to the tiny, little relationships that barely make it past the starting line, but are still real enough to hurt when they end. It’s a weird situation to be in, mourning something that never really was. It was such an easy song to write as a band – everyone’s parts just fell into place so well. Seeing this one go from demo to fully fledged song was something else, and I have the rest of the band to thank for that. I love singing this one, it feels really intense. Recording the high vocal part in the bridge took everything out of me!

Old Habits

This one’s our upbeat party tune, even if it is a bit of a sad one lyrically. The title of the EP comes from this track. It’s about how falling back into old habits can be so damn easy, even (or especially) when they’re bad for you. I wrote the vocal melody first, then the band added hook after hook – the synth lines, the guitar riff… I think this might be the catchiest song on the record. Eileen Sparks makes another appearance on this song, and she added a whole layer of tension and chaos to the bridge with her magical cello.

Good for Nothing

I love how this one is loud and chaotic straight off the bat – it’s heaps of fun to play live, feels like it hits as hard as it’s meant to. I wrote it about trying to understand anxiety, how debilitating it can be, and not knowing how to help someone through it. The chorus came to me after a conversation about that horrible inner voice that gets in your head sometimes and makes you feel that you can’t do anything right, that you’re good for nothing.

Skin

Skin is an oldie that we reworked in the studio. It’s the mellow, cruisy track, and it gives me this really uplifting vibe, especially those lush ‘oohs’. Although, it’s actually quite angry lyrically – it’s basically telling someone that their effect on you was only skin deep. “You’re in my skin, but my bones are clean”. Ouch. There are heaps of different layers slowly building to a bit of a frenzied finish. I even played alto sax in that instrumental section at the end, a throwback to my nerdy high school music days.

Origami

We were only going to record five tracks for the EP originally. But at the last minute, I had the urge to bring back Origami – it had been a real rock track in early Self Talk days. We flipped it on its head, and I’m really proud of what we came up with in the studio. It’s more subtle, simple, and a little more heartbreaking, I think. The droney, wobbly organ that sits underneath gives it this real sad, haunting vibe that fits with the lyrics, I think.  It’s turned out to be one of my favourites. I love the slow build, and when the whole band kicks in it gives me all the feels. I really can’t wait to play it live.

Almost Everything is out today