Track By Track: Reptile Room Breaks Down New Album Jade

Atlanta-based trio Reptile Room is breathing new life into the electro-pop genre with a touch of excitement and a lush yet electrifying out of the box flair.

Formed just three years ago by Bill Zimmerman, together with brother and sister Sean and Sami Michelsen, the band always works collectively—whether in writing, recording, or designing art—and quickly caught the attention of major networks like MTV and E!.

On Friday, Reptile Room released their new album Jade, a collection that dives deep into topics like addictions and internal battles. However heavy the themes might be, the band still finds a way remind listeners to find peace through the darkness.

Reptile Room broke down Jade track by track for Musical Notes Global readers. Check out their thoughts below.

1. ‘Games’ is about a relationship gone wrong. It’s gone completely off the rails become toxic, and you’re now faced with this reality that you’re addicted to this toxicity and the repetitive patterns it runs you through. You see that you’ve been a pawn in their game, but no one ever really wins.

2. ‘Design’ focuses on the feeling of constriction. The urge to speak is overwhelmed with the inability to properly express the feeling. “I can’t find the words” rings out the sentiment. The want to communicate is there, but the ability to do so is not, and that’s a complicated feeling.

3. ‘Worlds’ describes the feeling of being physically close to someone, but emotionally distant. Sami writes “You’re the moon and I’m the stars...together, but we’re worlds apart.”

4. ‘Control’ is a rebellion. People will try and take from you, try to manipulate you for their gain and give you every reason why you can’t do something. Tell us we can’t do something and we’re going to do it.

5. ‘Midnite’ tells the story of someone battling their vices and giving into temptation. Like the old story of an angel & devil on your shoulder.

6. ‘Ghost’ is about watching someone change to the point of being unrecognizable to you. The “living ghost” in the song represents that person - someone you used to know very well who has become something else, and can’t seem to get themselves back.

7. ‘Talk’ isn’t just about one person or one thing that happened, it’s about everything that’s left unsaid; every little thing that ends up seeping through your cracks and changing things, being without the things you want and need.

Reptile Room will celebrate their new album with a release show on August 18 at 529 in Atlanta, GA.

Listen to Jade on Spotify.