This in turn led to her starting her own fanzine called Brain Bulletin (which continues in the form of a blog on her website) in which she wrote about her favourite bands, books and films. Inspired by a family friend in New York, who wrote a fanzine called The Curse, she distributed it at concerts, through a local record shop and at a launderette on Shepherd's Bush Road.
As part of the coursework for her Music GCSE she had to compose the music and lyrics for a song. Through the basic chords she had learnt fooling around on her sister's guitar and "the combination of the poetry and the stories that I had been writing for my fanzine" she composed the song Glendora.
Discovering a new passion for writing and performing, she left school to pursue music at age 16. Although supported by her parents, she promised them that she would return to school after one year if nothing came of it.During this time she quickly gained a following with her demos posted on her myspace and self-released the Bedroom Bound EP via her own independent label - Zooey.
To avoid confusion with the music act The Alessi Brothers, her mother suggested calling herself Alessi's Ark: "I liked the idea of a boat, where everybody is welcome, even friends that are geographically far away – we are together.” Representatives from record labels Heavenly Records and EMI soon saw her performing and offered her a deal. On the eve of her 17th birthday she signed to EMI.
Mike Mogis worked with Alessi and she travelled to Nebraska to record the album at Mogis' and Conor Oberst's studio in Omaha. The resulting album, Notes From The Treehouse, was released in May, 2009, featuring full band versions of some of the songs from her Bedroom Bound EP, as well as newer compositions such as The Dog and Hummingbird. The album also featured many musicians that inspired her to begin making music including Jake Bellows of Neva Dinova and Nate Walcott from Bright Eyes
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Following the release of the album, Alessi's Ark continues to play live around the UK and also played support to a diverse range of artists such as Robyn Hitchcock, Mariee Sioux, Johnny Flynn, Emilíana Torrini and Cerys Matthews, as well as playing at Neil Young's Hyde Park show in London in June. Riverside Studios in Hammersmith also played host to an exhibition of her drawings inspired by her songs, called Handmade, which ran from August 20 to September 27 2009.
In 2010 Alessi's Ark left Virgin and signed with independent label Bella Union, releasing an EP called Soul Proprietor. On April 25, 2011 she released her second album, Time Travel, which was produced by Alessi and David Wrench.
Over The Hill
Alessi's Ark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll find a library
I like the bird books best
But you can choose from a variety
And if you shake the book really fierce
Out will fly a note from me
I know we'll get there eventually
I love you
Oh, I love you
We feed ducks in the local park
And eat ice-cream, get all jittery
Not from the sugar in the dessert itself
But from what you do to me
I want us to be sewn together
On a detailed embroidery
So the distance and the water between us
Won't keep you away from me
I love you
Oh, I love you
Well, all the rivers, oceans and lakes
Try to wash you on a shore faraway
And all the miles and the months that we wait
I've packed my suitcase, I'm here to stay
Oh, I will walk across vast miles of sand
To keep wrapped up in your hands
It's just a shame that from the very beginning
You've always been her man
I love you
Oh, I love you
It's just a shame that from the very beginning
You've always been her man
The song "Over the Hill" by Alessi's Ark is a dreamy and romantic tune that talks about two people in love who are struggling with distance and separation. The song opens with the line "Once we get over the hill, we'll find a library," suggesting that there is hope for the pair to overcome their obstacles and find happiness. The library represents a place of knowledge and enlightenment, a destination that they hope to reach together.
The singer expresses her admiration for bird books, but she notes that her partner can choose from a variety. She then suggests that if they shake the book fiercely, a note from her will fly out, further emphasizing the importance of communication when dealing with distance. She acknowledges that reaching their destination may take time, but she asks her partner to bear with her, highlighting the need for patience and commitment.
The song then moves on to describe some of the things the couple enjoys doing together, such as feeding ducks and eating ice-cream, activities that bring them joy and pleasure. However, the singer notes that the real reason for her jitteriness has nothing to do with the sugar in the dessert, but rather the effect her beloved partner has on her.
The final verse represents the climax of the song, where the singer expresses her desire to be sewn together with her partner. She uses the metaphor of embroidery, saying she wants them to be connected intricately so that the distance and the water between them don't keep them apart. She acknowledges the obstacles of geography and time that try to separate them but vows to walk across vast miles of sand to keep her partner's love wrapped up in her hands. However, the bittersweet coda of the song reveals that the singer's love has always been her partner's woman, placing a heartbreaking twist on the song's end.
Line by Line Meaning
Once we get over the hill
After overcoming our difficulties, we will find a library.
We'll find a library
We will discover a place filled with knowledge.
I like the bird books best
Among the many books there, I have a particular fondness for books about birds.
But you can choose from a variety
However, you are free to select any book that interests you.
And if you shake the book really fierce
If you agitate the book with great force,
Out will fly a note from me
A message from me will suddenly appear.
I know we'll get there eventually
I am confident that we will reach our destination in due course.
But I'm english, so bear with me
However, I am English, so please be patient with me.
We feed ducks in the local park
We enjoy the simple pleasure of feeding ducks in a nearby park.
And eat ice-cream, get all jittery
We also indulge in ice cream, which makes us feel giddy and excited.
Not from the sugar in the dessert itself
Our euphoria is not caused by the sweet treat we are consuming.
But from what you do to me
Rather, it is the effect that being near you has on me.
I want us to be sewn together
I wish for us to be permanently bound to one another.
On a detailed embroidery
Perhaps by careful needlework or another intricate method.
So the distance and the water between us
Such that any physical gaps or obstacles will not prevent us from being together.
Won't keep you away from me
So that nothing can separate us, no matter the distance or situation.
Well, all the rivers, oceans and lakes
All the many bodies of water in the world,
Try to wash you on a shore faraway
Attempt to carry you off to a distant place.
And all the miles and the months that we wait
Despite the many miles and long spans of time that separate us,
I've packed my suitcase, I'm here to stay
I want to be with you permanently, so I have prepared to move here.
Oh, I will walk across vast miles of sand
I will make any sacrifice necessary to be near you,
To keep wrapped up in your hands
To remain close to you and be held by you.
It's just a shame that from the very beginning
Unfortunately, it is regrettable that from the outset of our relationship,
You've always been her man
You have always been committed to another person.
I love you
I have strong feelings of affection and attachment for you.
Oh, I love you
I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I care for you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALESSI LAURENT-MARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ericofcrows
lovely unique voice.
Tanner Castillo
I fail to understand why this video has so few views and likes, and why Alessi's Ark has so few subscribers. Needless to say, I'm glad to contribute in anyway I can. This is undoubtedly one of the best songs I've heard in a long while! I know it's not wise to assume, but I have a feeling that the popularity of this song and this band is going to explode exponentially.
Best regards,
-TC
Michael Smith
Love the video.
Karen Ainsworth
Beautiful video, beautiful lady....and many, many cups of tea :-) xxx