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about

Press release:
Boston indie rockers Air Traffic Controller releasing new single “20”, from their upcoming Dash album, due to be released on November 11th, 2022.

A repeating chord progression that band member Adam Salameh had on file gave birth to "20". After a while of singing nonsense against a new melody, Dave Munro changed his lyric to “I was 20”, and took the opportunity to reflect on his past life as a young air traffic controller in the military.

Munro explains, "When I was 20, I moved from the barracks to an apartment with two fellow air traffic controllers. Getting outside the confines the Navy base was a life-changing event. I was finally able to live out my late adolescence, and just put on a uniform and go to work like everyone else. I was writing my first songs, pursuing my career in aviation, things just seemed to be going well."

"20" was originally demoed on Adam's old Korg Triton. He decided to use the sequencer to create a multitrack demo, but there was no way to save it, so he had to create a whole new one every time he turned it off and on again. The demo would be played through headphones and recorded using an iPhone held up to the headphones, with no actual recording equipment. Salameh laughs, “It was asinine. I’ve come a long way since engineering that ridiculous demo!” The song really came to life once the whole team got involved in a real studio (Dimension, Boston). Adam reached out to sax legend Morphine's Dana Colley to take the track to new heights. Munro adds, “We asked Dana to please play whatever he wanted and he completely blew our minds. The breakdown gets real Morphine-ey… he chose to layer his different saxes for the big ending. In the mixing phase, we decided to have the whole band drop out for that moment so it’s just a bunch of Danas. I knew right then, this song is going to hit people, especially if they’ve been 20!”

lyrics

20

It was chapter one
Mother’s favorite son
Callin home, let ‘em know
That I’m good, I can handle this

I was just a kid
Drove a piece of shit
When I moved in with two other guys I was workin with

When we get off today
We’re gonna celebrate
Go to sleep and repeat cause we all got bills to pay

I was 20
I just believed
Big things gonna happen for me

Kinda funny
I’d rather dream
out there in the middle of the street

Quite an optimist
When I thought of this
I was telling myself
It’ll all fall into place

When I get out of here
I’ll grab a big career
Get a house, a garage and a yard where the kids can play

Like a tidal wave
On a Crystal Lake
Couldn’t watch couldn’t run
so I learned how the heart could break

No feeling bad for me
This ain’t a tragedy
Cause it is what it is what it was wasn’t meant to be

I was 20
I just believed
Big things gonna happen for me

Kinda funny
I’d rather dream
out there in the middle of the street

I was 20

credits

released October 28, 2022
Produced by Dan Cardinal
with Seth Kasper and Air Traffic Controller

Mixed by Dan Cardinal

Recorded at Dimension Sound Studios, Boston, MA

Additional Production by Adrian Aiello

Additional tracking by Steve Scott at Ruby Garden Recordings

Mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA

“20” written by Dave Munro, Adam Salameh, Joe Campbell, Seth Kasper, Adrian Aiello

Dave Munro- vocals
Joe Campbell- bass, synth
Adam Salameh - piano, synth
Adrian Aiello - guitars
Bobby Borenstein - guitar
Seth Kasper - drums
Dana Colley - saxophones

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Air Traffic Controller Boston, Massachusetts

ATC created a place all their own in the indie pop world. After serving in the US Navy as an air traffic controller, singer/songwriter Dave Munro built a legacy with ATC for crafting heartfelt, luscious and genuine indie-folk-pop songs that are timeless and classic. The band includes Dave Munro, Adam Salameh, Joe Campbell, Bobby Borenstein, Emi, McSwain, and Steve Scott.
afficcontrollermusic.com ... more

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