Editor's Note: This story is part of a series examining the inspiration and lyrics of songs written by bands performing in Athens.
Josh Landis has a fear of his life being out of his control.
It was that fear, in conjunction with a movie about suicide, which inspired him to write the song Women & Children First with his band In Silent Movies.
The movie, Love Liza, is about a man whose wife commits suicide, leaving him with only a note. The man struggles to decide whether or not to open the letter, and his life spins into confusion as he tries to determine why she killed herself.
Landis, lead singer and guitarist for the self-proclaimed melodic indie pop band, said suicide can make the family and friends of the deceased feel out of control - he wanted to express that feeling in the song.
I don't think anyone is ever really sure why someone commits suicide. You feel even more loss because you can't get the answers that you want
said Landis, a senior studying audio production.
In times of loss, Landis said people sometimes turn to religion, which he addresses with the lyrics Over and over we kneel at your feet / and we pray though it's doing no good.
People go back to religion and they pray but then there are still people that die and these things that happen and who is stopping it? I guess that is about not being in control again.
Landis wanted to document the stages of grief in the song, with the protagonist spiraling out of control as it continues.
When I sing 'Women & Children First
' again it is this idea that everything is swimming out of control and the captain can't be found
the way can't be found.
When bass player Mike Jones, a senior studying audio production, heard Landis sing about the women and children leaving the boat first, he immediately knew what he wanted to do with the bass.
All I could think of was the Titanic or some ship sinking in this huge storm and the idea of an old sea folk feel
and then making the chorus kind of thundery
he said.
The band often juxtaposes soft lyrics with aggressive music, as it does in Women & Children First.
I think that is a big part of how we are developing ... It's surprising that way
and I think that keeps the music interesting
said the band's drummer Pierce Martin, a senior studying audio production.
In the end, Landis brings in songs and the band takes them in a new direction, something Landis said he likes about the group.
I come in with my heartbroken tunes
and they rage them out and make them everything that I could never have done on my own
Landis said. It works out well.
In Silent Movies will perform at 8 p.m. tomorrow at The Union. The band also has plans to release a new EP, They Had Faces Then, this month.
