Into My Own Hands

The opening riff of Into My Own Hands doesn’t sound like a simple hook: it’s a spiral of keyboards twisting in a 5/4 pattern, something rare in mid-80s pop. The drums, closer to a heartbeat than a strike, lend a hypnotic air, as if the song breathes in slow motion. It’s not the kind of structure you’d find in the era’s radio hits, yet that’s where its power lies: a calculated risk that ends up being addictive.

They recorded it at Real World Studios, a place where sound feels more organic than in conventional Los Angeles studios. Engineers Paul DeVilliers and Lois Oki let the synthesizers and guitars coexist without forcing them, while Mick Guzauski and Mike Shipley—in the mix—balanced that apparent chaos until everything clicked. It lasted five minutes and twelve seconds, just enough time for the song not to rush, yet not to get lost in empty repetitions.