Bonobo's first album - 2000's Animal Magic - was released via Tru Thoughts before being picked up by Ninja Tune. It announced him as a serious talent; able to bring a musician's edge to electronic music, with all the freedom that skill allowed. His subsequent albums for Ninja, Dial 'M' for Monkey and Days to Come, developed his sensibility, won him fans across the globe, and saw him develop his live show into a mesmeric re-working of his records.
He has also worked hard as a DJ, a part of Green's arsenal that perhaps truly came into its own at the same time as 2010’s Black Sands. 2012 saw him take the uptempo, club re-edits of Black Sands from a seminal Boiler Room performance in London to dance floors across the world, and unveil a new light show that further enhanced the impact of these stunning songs. A remix album was released featuring reworkings by fans and peers such as Machinedrum, Floating Points, Mark Pritchard, Lapalux and FaltyDL.
Later the same year, he finally settled down in his New York studio to write his fifth album. The North Borders was another long stride forward - both a natural evolution and a continuation of the electronic palette of Black Sands. With vocal features from Erykah Badu, as well as Grey Reverend (The Cinematic Orchestra) and Cornelia (Portico Quartet) it's another finely balanced body of work.
Bonobo has a long history of unearthing new talent (Andreya Triana, Bajka) and The North Borders saw him do so once again. The vocals of new collaborator Szjerdene are sprinkled across the album.
Since the album’s release, Green has gone on to play over 175 shows across three continents and 30 countries, wowing audiences with the hypnotic, extended live versions of his songs. He performed sold out shows at The Sydney Opera House and Brixton Academy, and his very own, day long festival at London’s Roundhouse. 2014 saw him and his band play the iconic Coachella, Sonar, Glastonbury and many more. This period of extensive touring came to a breathtaking close with his largest show to date at London’s Alexandra Palace in November. In celebration, Ninja Tune released The North Borders Tour. — Live. in October. A deluxe release including a live album, hardback book and a DVD of seminal live performances from a truly memorable tour.
In January 2016, Bonobo announced on Twitter that he intended to release a new album sometime in 2016. Bonobo released his sixth album, Migration, on 13 January 2017 via Ninja Tune. It was announced on 3 November 2016 with the release of the single "Kerala", and an official video. The album features Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker), Rhye, Innov Gnawa and Nicole Miglis (Hundred Waters).
Eyesdown feat. Andreya Triana & Dels
Bonobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got my eyes facing down
I'll show you where my tears come down
Slowly down
Hands up
I got my eyes facing down
I shudder when my tears come down
So slow down
Suddenly my tears come down
Slowly down
Hands up I got my eyes facing down
I'll show you where my tears come down
Slowly down
So slowly down
Hands up I got my eyes facing down
I 'll show you where my tears come down
Slowly down
Hands up I got my eyes facing down
I shudder when my tears come down
So slowly down
So slow down
The lyrics to Bonobo and Andreya Triana's "Eyesdown" convey a sense of vulnerability and sadness. The repeated phrase "Hands up, I got my eyes facing down" suggests a posture of surrender and defeat, as though the singer is accepting defeat and allowing themselves to succumb to their emotions. The imagery of tears slowly falling down is also prominent throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's sadness and feeling of being overwhelmed.
The lines "I shudder when my tears come down" and "Suddenly my tears come down" convey a sense of powerlessness and unexpectedness, as though the singer is surprised by the intensity of their emotions. However, there is also a sense of release and catharsis in the song, as though the act of acknowledging and expressing their emotions is a necessary step towards healing and moving forward.
Overall, "Eyesdown" is a powerful exploration of emotional vulnerability and the need to sometimes surrender to our emotions in order to process and overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Hands up
An expression of surrender or being held at gunpoint
I got my eyes facing down
I'm avoiding eye contact or feeling ashamed
I'll show you where my tears come down
I'm willing to be vulnerable and reveal my emotions
Slowly down
My tears descend gradually, indicating my sadness
I shudder when my tears come down
The act of crying makes me shake or feel uncomfortable
So slow down
Please refrain from anything that may make me cry more
Suddenly my tears come down
My crying can occur unexpectedly or when triggered
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trikkykidd1980
Awesome chilled beats with deep lyrics. One of my fave Bonobo tunes
@Suplington
Great production, great verse, great singing, great music, and a great video... Essentially, I think this is great!
@quentin_lnh
both versions are great !
@koojean
3 of my favorite artist together, craaazy! i love it
@StHawk
This song is ILL!!! Great chairs featured in the vid too. Got an Eames molded plastic with dowel legs @1:45 and a Harry Bertoia Diamond Chair chair @2:08. Classic
@Yaenu1093
Cant wait for the album to be released
@Insomnimanic805
original song was OBVIOUSLY much better, and i dont think very many people would say otherwise. however, external sources adding an elements of hiphop to bonobo's music is not a bad call. a buddy of mine rapped over kiara and fucking KILLED it. so give it a chance people
@dwebsone
I feel its a good mix of poetry hip hop and of course bonobo!
@bubbyeater
Personally, I prefer the original, but the rapping goes really well too.
@makkanastra
on repeat!