Mind Over Matter

Album: Mind Over Matter (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title cut of Young The Giant's sophomore album finds frontman Sameer Gadhia singing of being "a young man after all." The record they explained was a way for the band to go back that same head space they had at 16-years-old and just be creative without "really thinking or worrying about much and living in the present."
    "I think it's just us trying to figure things out and maybe trying to tell a story for everyone who's trying to figure their life out," Gadhia stated.

    Guitarist Jacob Tilley added: "I think this time around and this batch of writing that we did for this record, all of it was pretty much derived from our experiences of being on the road and growing up as five individuals together and all the challenges that we had to overcome. From the most obvious ones like being away from home and family and the taxing environment which touring is but also what we dealt with as a band in creating a sophomore record."
  • Young The Giant suffered from the increased expectations for their sophomore set. It was this song which not only broke their creative block, but also sonically shaped the record. "'Mind Over Matter' got us over all that, and everything came together after that," Gadhia explained to MTV News. "For us, it's about trying to connect with who we are, completely, external and separate from the world that we find ourselves in, and about trying to connect with ourselves as individuals and sonically, our music-scape. We definitely explored a lot on this album, particularly the idea of choice; one can either do what they want to do, or completely destroy themselves, based on their own choice."

Comments: 1

  • Ali from TexasAbsolutely the best song Young the Giant has made. It's one of those songs you never get tired of hearing, no matter how many times you've heard it. The power and passion behind Sameer's vocals give me goosebumps every time. Especially at the break (around the 2:50 mark in the video). It's absolutely outstanding.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.