Through Clairecords (Sacramento), Airiel released a series of four-song EPs titled Winks & Kisses. The EPs were also sold as a limited edition boxed set, capturing the evolution of Airiel in its current form. Their CDs are consistently some of the top sellers of the label, and the Frosted EP has already sold out. The group has also been asked to contribute to several compilation CDs, including Never Lose That Feeling by Club AC30 (U.K.).
In addition to their recordings, Airiel has also gained a reputation for being a live band. In addition to playing such local Chicago landmarks as the Double Door, Subterranean, and the Bottom Lounge, they have performed in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Denver, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. They have toured the U.S. East Coast, performing in New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and points in between. Airiel has also opened for some high-profile acts, including The Dears and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
Swimming Through Us
Airiel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
if you found me here
I can not pretend
how I'd see you near
no one knows my name
I remember when
I could see so far
that space can seem so near
I've changed it there for you
as you slide, into the ocean
and you slide, into the sea
The lyrics to Airiel's song Swimming Through Us appear to be about longing for someone who is not present. The first two lines suggest that the singer is waiting for someone to find them, perhaps hoping that the person they miss will come looking for them. The next two lines express the difficulty of pretending that everything is fine without this person, and the desire to be near them once again.
The next two lines, "no one knows my name / I remember when," suggest that the singer has been forgotten or overlooked in some way, even as they recall a time when things were better. The following two lines, "I could see so far / that space can seem so near," are a bit more ambiguous, but may be related to the idea of distance and longing - the singer can see far, but even then, the object of their desire still seems close, or attainable.
"My sky is always warm / I've changed it there for you" could be interpreted in a few different ways, but suggests that the singer has made some kind of effort to make their world a better place for the person they miss. Finally, the last two lines, "as you slide, into the ocean / and you slide, into the sea," suggest that the person the singer misses is perhaps moving further away, or becoming more distant in some way.
Overall, the song seems to be about missing someone deeply, and the pain and loneliness that comes with that.
Line by Line Meaning
How much would it take
What would it cost for you to find me here?
if you found me here
If you were to locate me in this place
I can not pretend
I am unable to fake it
how I'd see you near
The way I would perceive your proximity
no one knows my name
I am not identified by anyone
I remember when
There was a time where I recall
I could see so far
I had the vision to perceive great distances
that space can seem so near
Even faraway spaces can appear close
my sky is always warm
I always have a pleasant atmosphere around me
I've changed it there for you
I have altered my surroundings especially for you
as you slide, into the ocean
As you submerge yourself into the vast sea
and you slide, into the sea
As you dive deeper into the ocean
Contributed by Alex L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.