Are you on my side for now
Or are you on my side
How can you call yourself a friend
When you're not even an ally
Unconditional
With an asterisk
Support
Until it's inconvenient
If this is love
Just say what's really on your mind

They go low
We go high
Wouldn't want to be uncivilized
They go low
We go high
My friends are bleeding out
So are you on my side for now
Or are you on my side
Shake hands at the betting table
While we fight for our lives

Are you not entertained
We want more than just surviving
To fight another round
We dream of burning down the arena
Now help pour the fuel
Or get in the ground

Made for Express Yourself 2025.

Getting all the different sections to flow together smoothly (especially the transition into the outro) was a challenge, and I learned a lot. I wiped the mix and started from scratch 2 or 3 times, but it worked out in the end, mostly thanks to a ton of multiband glue at the mastering stage.

GEAR:
FL Studio
Schecter Damien Platinum 8, drop Eb (Eb-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb); automated pitch shifting via Kilohearts Pitch Shifter
Rogue LX205b with Bartolini J pickups
Rhythm guitar tone: LePou HyBrit (free) + God's Cab IRs (free) via Fruity Convolver
Lead guitar and bass tones: IK AmpliTube 5 + sub replacement on bass
Drums: Steven Slate Drums 4 Platinum + a ton of post processing
Vocals: Audio-Technica AT2020 + my closet