When asked about the famous symbol that has come to represent the band, |-/, frontman Tyler Joseph told interviewers that the meaning of that symbol has a lot to do with “Kitchen Sink,” an extremely important song to him.

Something happened to me at a kitchen sink. There was something I realized. That song ‘Kitchen Sink’ and that reference means something to me. But if I were to tell you exactly what that meant, those times where I need the motivation to continue forward, I wouldn’t have that as part of my motivation. In my darkest hour, when I’m trying to figure out what to do with myself, there’s that thing, that song…If I were to no longer continue forward, there would be no one there to explain this thing. I will not tell you what a kitchen sink is to me because it represents something that only I understand.