SIXTH JUNE – Drowning (2013)

Sixth June are an audio/visual project from Berlin with origins in Belgrade, formed in 2007 by visual artist Laslo Antal and actress Lidija Andonov. All their releases have seen the pair explore multiple sides to their dark cinematic post new wave sound.

Sixth June’s band name has no concrete reference to June 6 in history. Their music is strongly influenced by 1980s Dark culture bands and their albums, such as The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds (1980), Depeche Mode’s Music for the Masses (1987), Dead Can Dance’s self-titled album (1984), and Mask by Bauhaus (1981).

The lyrics of “Drowning” by Sixth June use water imagery to convey feelings of helplessness and desperation in a failing relationship. The opening lines “When you hear the summer calling, when you see another day” evoke the passing of time and the changing of seasons, hinting at a reluctance to move on from the familiar but toxic relationship. The use of the word “drowning” invokes a sense of suffocation and struggle, as the singer pleads for their partner to try harder to understand and love them.

The repeated phrase “Let me try to love you harder, let me try to go your way” suggests that the singer is willing to put in more effort to make things work, but that their efforts are met with resistance and indifference from their partner. The line “With a smile I can’t be dead” implies that the singer is masking their true emotions, perhaps to avoid conflict or out of fear of losing their partner.

When you hear the summer calling When you see another day Can you feel I′m almost drowning? Can’t you see I′m almost dead? Let me try to love you harder Let me try to go your way Can you feel I’m almost dry? With a smile I can’t be Dead

And you see me lie Like I am always on your way And you see me lie Like I′m always on your way I′m drowning today When you hear the summer calling When you see another day You can feel my head is burning Can’t you see I′m almost there? Let me try to love you harder Let me try to go your Way Can you feel I’m almost dry? With a smile I can′t be dead And you see me lie Like I’m always on your way And you see me lie Like I′m always on your Way I’m drowning today (like I’m always on your way) I′m drowning today (like I′m always on your Way)

I’m drowning today (can′t you see I am almost there?…) I’m drowning today (with a smile I can′t be Dead)