Form… Read Full Bio ↴Synthpop act based on US consisting of Alexander and Andrew Jarson.
Formed in 2012 in the wasted sands of Tempe, Arizona, electronic dance faction Body of Light have proven to be a teeming creative force within the present-day electronic landscape. As the archaic drones and abstract measurements of their earliest collections have evolved into to prodigious cinematic pop ballads and darkwave compositions, itβs clear that the two brothers, Alex and Andrew Jarson, are no strangers to blurring the compositional lines that confine underground music. Having worked together and separately over the years within the folds of the co-founded Ascetic House collective, Alex and Andrew have given life to a variety of projects such as Otro Mundo, Blue Krishna, Somali Extract, and Memorymann, and also have unveiled over a dozen visual, audio, and written works under various other monikers. Body of Light is simply another extension of their exercised method of immediate and natural experimentation.
After previous releases on Chondritic Sound and Ascetic House including Follow The Current, Lustre, Universal Sin, VolantΓ Di Amore, and Limits of Reason, Body of Light teamed up with Dais Records for their 2016 LP Let Me Go. This release shows the bands evolved sound from embryonic ideas to fully-realized synth-pop anthems and erotic aesthetics. Let Me Go came full circle under the production guidance of engineer Ben Greenberg (Uniform/ The Men), and each song follows the next with lucid moments of catharsis and romanticism that pull from their self-conscious mysticism and lawless spiritual hedonism.
Hesitant to define themselves strictly as a βsynth-popβ collaboration, the brothers incorporate a wide variety of components into Body of Lightβs sound. They attempt to formulate an unparalleled artistic direction filled with decay, warped tape loops, aging VHS home-movie sound samples from their childhood, primitive waveforms, and processed vocals tinged with harmonic specters. Their aim is to utilize past and present technologies in a way that feels unique, honest and sensible.
Don't Pretend
Body of Light Lyrics
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Caught behind
Through the metal bars
Seconds from the barrel of the loaded gun
Black as night
Where I hide
All my hidden pain
Can you please explain?
I can hear your voice when the rain is falling
I'm alone, but I can hear you calling
I can hear your voice when the rain is falling
I'm alone, but I can hear you calling
I just can't hold on for long
Try to escape, but I just can't get away
Was this ever love?
I just can't hold on for long
Try to escape, but I just can't understand
Was this ever love,
Or just the end?
Deep inside
There's a light
As my memories fade
Seconds from the center of the morning sun
Hear the cries
They all hide
Then, you run away
Left to fight like a child
Can you please explain?
I can hear your voice when the rain is falling
I'm alone, but I can hear you calling
I can hear your voice when the rain is falling
I'm alone, but I can hear you calling
I just can't hold on for long
Try to escape, but I just can't get away
Was this ever love?
I just can't hold on for long
Try to escape, but I just can't understand
Was this ever love,
I just can't hold on for long
Try to escape, but I just can't get away
Was this ever love?
I just can't hold on for long
Try to escape, but I just can't understand
Was this ever love,
Or just the end?
Or just the end?
Or just the end?
Or just the end?
The lyrics to Body of Light's song "Don't Pretend" explore themes of inner turmoil, pain, and the struggle to find meaning in a relationship. The opening lines suggest a feeling of confinement and being trapped, both physically and emotionally. The mention of metal bars and a loaded gun create a sense of danger and impending doom. The singer describes hiding in darkness, alluding to the hidden pain they carry. They then ask for an explanation, perhaps seeking understanding or closure.
The second verse continues with a reference to the rain and the voice of another person. It implies a longing for connection, despite the singer feeling alone. The repetition of the question about love suggests uncertainty and doubt, questioning whether the relationship they are referring to was ever genuine. The line "Try to escape, but I just can't understand" reinforces the confusion and inability to find clarity.
The chorus repeats the longing for connection and the struggle to hold on. The reference to the rain falling and hearing a voice calling again highlights the desire for closeness. The repetition of the question "Was this ever love?" reveals the doubt and uncertainty that the singer is grappling with. The repeated line "Or just the end?" suggests a fear of the relationship ending or perhaps questioning whether it was doomed from the start.
Overall, "Don't Pretend" portrays a sense of internal conflict, longing, and confusion surrounding a relationship. It explores the struggle to understand one's emotions and the uncertainty of whether love ever truly existed.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep inside
Within the depths of my being
Caught behind
Trapped and unable to move forward
Through the metal bars
Restricted by barriers that confine me
Seconds from the barrel of the loaded gun
Moments away from facing imminent danger
Black as night
Filled with darkness and despair
Where I hide
The place where I conceal myself
All my hidden pain
The deep-seated anguish that resides within me
Left to fight like a child
Forced to struggle without the understanding or maturity to handle it
Can you please explain?
Seeking clarity and understanding from someone
I can hear your voice when the rain is falling
Even in solitude, I can sense your presence
I'm alone, but I can hear you calling
Despite my isolation, I can feel your beckoning
I just can't hold on for long
I am unable to endure this struggle much longer
Try to escape, but I just can't get away
Attempting to break free, but feeling trapped
Was this ever love?
Questioning whether the relationship was genuine affection
Or just the end?
Wondering if it was simply the conclusion
There's a light
A glimmer of hope
As my memories fade
While my recollections diminish
Seconds from the center of the morning sun
Moments away from the source of renewal and warmth
Hear the cries
Perceiving the sounds of anguish and distress
They all hide
Others conceal their pain and suffering
Then, you run away
You retreat and escape from the situation
Or just the end?
Or was it simply the conclusion?
Contributed by Alaina K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yanagalkina7677
Literally one of the best songs out, changed my life for the best and gives me faith that true quality music never died β€οΈ
@nigeljohn9805
I am glad you guys have such an original 80s goth club sound,and I am grateful for your existence in this harsh world.
@mikedixon8830
I'm listening to this in 1984 in my Goth girlfriends bedroom at her Dad's house.
@Offensive_Username
*goth
*girlfriend's
*dad's
@denverwood5290
@@Offensive_Username Sentence fragment
@feeeweeegege
When I first heard this song I thought it was a cover of an 80s song, it just replicates that feeling so well
@lose8447
saw this live in London. Was ecstatic t it when it came on. It was incredible and helped on strongly by the lead singers energetic presence
@PC-rr3hw
I missed them because I was smoking my spliff before the show in Cambridge, but I heard this outside. Sounded so perfect for that cold night last year
@ibelieveicansoar
I'm seeing this band tonight opening for Drab Majesty & HIND. Reminds me of Lansing-Dreiden, Camouflage, In Mirrors, Clan Of Xymox, and Miracle.
@btango7029
@@DRALGIERS- I think I might've been at this very show. It was rad.