Writing and recording Dopamine (Third Eye Blind album)

- brad hargreaves, on creation process himself , frontman stephan jenkins.

one of jenkins efforts overcome writer s block life swap fellow musician living in small dorm-like apartment in dangerous part of city, environment jenkins had been in while writing band s self-titled debut album prior of band s fame in late 1990s. experience inspired lyrical content track 0 . track written lyrically @ time, reworked sonically in studio later on, in collaboration hargreaves. jenkins lyrically inspired beyoncé song mine . band started playing cover version of song live @ concerts , dress rehearsals in 2014, , in response positive fan reception, proceeded record studio version of song during dopamine sessions. jenkins put special care making sound third eye blind song; hargreaves believed original composition of jenkins upon first listen it. , forth first verse of track based on real conversation jenkins had else. track features spoken word piece in bridge k.flay. lyrics part, written jenkins, meant represent own self-doubts regarding music creation process. similarly, me out of here lyrically represented jenkins anxiety towards live performance shows, composition being made sound similar rock operas such rocky horror picture show. song blade written , performed live under name dream sequence , inspired jenkins recurring dreams cutting through tension of nightmares. song describes dream jenkins attempts stab out of jealousy in dreamlike state, other person unaffected. rites of passage inspired david bowie track changes , , contains several direct allusions bowie s work. after album s release, jenkins referred album collectively being search authenticity , connection in increasingly isolated , isolating culture.

the band wrapped final recording sessions album on may 12, 2015, jenkins , reid putting final touches on track dopamine . album entered mixing phase on same day. 6 songs recorded in dopamine sessions left unmixed , not released on album, jenkins planning on releasing them separately upon having time finish vocals , mixing them after wrapping touring in support of dopamine in late 2015.