What is the inspiration behind “Paralyzed?”

“Paralyzed” was inspired by some difficult experiences from my childhood. There were a few older neighbors who were always very kind to me. They took their own lives. It left a deep impression on me because, from the outside, they seemed as happy as anyone else. As I grew older, I went through periods where I struggled with feelings of hopelessness myself. Even when I tried to express it, not always directly, but through small signs, it sometimes felt like the people around me couldn’t hear or see what I was going through. It made me feel invisible.

Over time, I realized that many other people have similar stories. Moments when they reached out for help in ways that weren’t always recognized. Sometimes even the people closest to them didn’t realize how much they were hurting. “Paralyzed” tries to capture lyrically and musically that feeling of isolation and the quiet struggle so many people face.

There’s another side to the song too. It describes that feeling you get in a nightmare, where you’re in danger and want to fight back, run, or call for help, but you’re frozen and can’t move. It’s a metaphor for feeling trapped by fear or sadness, and how important it is to reach out and be heard.

Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?

The most memorable moment was a session where we recorded the tribal drums. We had drums of all different sizes and shapes placed around the room, and none of us had really worked with those kinds of drums before. While we were recording, they didn’t sound very good at first. Some of them were out of tune, and some were so deep in bass that they were hard for the ear to even register.

It took a lot of trial and error, but once we found the right balance, the drums created these beautiful, rich layers of rhythm. They gave the song a unique feeling that really tied into the raw emotions we were trying to capture.

What impact do you hope “Paralyzed” will have on your audience?

There may be people who hear it and, on some level, feel that same sense of isolation and wanting to be heard. I hope for those people, it helps them feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

Can you tell us more about you as a band?

Satellite Train is an experimental indie rock band based in Melbourne, Australia and Los Angeles, USA. Each musician in the band is involved in their own projects, so Satellite Train gives everyone a fun side distraction and a chance to play with old friends.

The band includes some incredible musicians. Michael Paynter, who sings lead vocals on “Paralyzed,” recently won the Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Sydney Theatre Awards for his role in Jesus Christ Superstar. Chris Chaney, who plays bass, is now a member of AC/DC. Jamie Muhoberac, who plays keyboards, has been on tour recently with My Chemical Romance. Shane O’Mara, Pasquale Monea, and Tony Hicks regularly perform jazz shows around Melbourne, and the list goes on.

Satellite Train is really an experimental project. It’s a place where we try to create interesting alternative music and experiment with new concepts and technology. Some of the upcoming releases will feature ideas that haven’t really been done before. It might not appeal to everyone, and that’s fine. We like pushing boundaries and trying things that commercial, major-label bands might not always have the freedom to do because their focus, and understandably so, is more on data and sales. For us, it is just about having fun, being creative, and seeing where the music takes us.

In a way, it’s a little bit like an open-source coding repository. Everyone can contribute however they like. It’s all about collaboration and exploration.

What keeps you motivated and passionate about continuing to create and perform music?

The songs and lyrics are usually tied directly to real emotions and experiences that are happening right now. That’s where the music comes from. As those experiences happen, music becomes an outlet to express them and sometimes find a sense of resolve. The desire to experiment and try new things is also a big part of it. Music can get locked into the same styles for decades, and reaching outside those boundaries can be exciting, fun, and really rewarding.