Feed The Mantaray

Album: Are You Satisfied? (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Soft Play guitarist Laurie Vincent explained to Digital Spy that the quirky lyricism of the songs on Are You Satisfied? reflect their state of mind at the time of writing. "I think all of our songs have meaning. I find they're quite like therapy," he mused. "When we look back at writing the album and you look at the lyrics, I can really tell where our heads were at when we were writing it. A lot of confusion and a lot of surreal - songs like 'Wow!!!7AM' are just a bit weird."

    "'Feed the Mantaray's definitely a reflection of how strange we all found it," he continued. "It's surreal, isn't it? It's a portrait of that."

    "As far as the lyric goes, we had all the other lyrics and then there was no hook and I walked out to go and get some food and I came back and they'd recorded, 'Feed the Mantaray' over it and then I went, 'It's always the mantaray,'" Vincent added. "Then we were going to change the words to fit because sometimes you write a melody first. And then we never changed it and I was like, 'That's so stupid.'"

Comments: 1

  • Darby The Infamous from Southern California I love your music! I know myself and others are waiting for you guys to come through the states so we can catch your set live. Greatest 2 piece I've ever heard. I listen to at least 1 Slaves song everyday, and I always am on the lookout for new material. Keep up the great work, mates!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.