Mobbin' Out

Album: Treehouse (2016)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song deals with the departure of original I See Stars members Zach Johnson and Jimmy Gregerson, who were dismissed in 2015. The group didn't replace them, downsizing from a 6-piece to a 4-piece for their fifth album Treehouse.

    Johnson, Gregerson and the band all released statements saying the there were no hard feelings, but circumstances surrounding the dismissals remained unclear. Lead singer Devin Oliver expressed best wishes to Johnson and Gregerson, but in this song, he vents his frustrations:

    I gave you hope
    You buried your chances
    Aren't you the one who said you bled for this?


    In our interview with Oliver, he said, "'Mobbin' Out' is discussing what it feels like to be so heavily invested in something like music or your career, and partnering up with somebody who isn't always there, who doesn't appear to be as invested as you, and dealing with it for such a long period of time.

    The issues we've had with Zach were ongoing for a long time, and I love the kid to death - we're still friends - which is why it's so hard to talk about it in words as opposed to in song. It can be a little more disguised when you're talking about it in your lyrics."

    Oliver adds that business can get in the way of friendship. "I think there is a difference between being friends with somebody and partnering up with somebody, and running a business with somebody. It's hard. Those two things are completely different. Some of my best friends in the world I could never imagine myself being in a business with them, or starting a career with them.

    That was one of the hardest decisions we've ever had to make as a band, letting those two go. Because we are such good friends with them - still to this day. But I think that song just sheds some light on how it was a necessary thing."
  • The video was done by the Detroit production company Katai. It comes with a warning that it may trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.

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