By any reckoning, Iranian native Kia has an extraordinary story to tell; he calls Ashes “music to lament to,” and he is only half-joking. As a small boy, he fled Tehran for London with his father, after witnessing up close the internecine violence of the Islamic Revolution. In the U.K., he was reintroduced to the mother he’d virtually never known, since she’d left Iran years before him, and he found himself placed in the strange, regimented environment of a British military school. As he grew up, the feelings that Kia was unable to articulate in words alone found expression in songs. He was so intuitively skilled at this creative channeling that he attracted the interest of a major London music publisher. As Kia built a repertoire, he decided to go to the United States in pursuit of his first record deal.
After making the rounds in New York City and Los Angeles, he signed a deal with Interscope Records. So far so good, but it wasn’t long before he discovered that the industry was more interested in molding him to suit the tastes of the moment than in exploring what he might really have to offer in his own right. One can understand why: Kia has an impressive, elastic vocal range, able to perform hushed ballads as eloquently as anthemic rockers.
As the powers that be tried to figure out how they wanted to present their find, Kia decided he would prefer to do it his own way. So he jettisoned the cadre of producers, mixers and constantly gear-shifting executives who surrounded him. He chose a tougher, more D.I.Y. approach to his fledgling career, touring relentlessly as a solo artist, opening for better-known acts. After meeting and working with bassist Toby Evers and Guitarist Simon Gibson, the trio began touring at an unrelenting pace, playing over 400 shows in less than two years. “It was on the road, in the crammed space of the tour van, that our new sound was formed and Buddahead was reinvented as a band”, says Gibson.
Their 2004 debut, Crossing The Invisible Line, showcased a prodigious talent with the vocal prowess of Thom Yorke and a band so skilled at arranging that it recalled vintage U2 or contemporary Coldplay. But these artful tracks barely hinted at the roiling emotions lying beneath their sleek surface and the truly dramatic stories Kia had yet to tell. Ashes changes all that. Surrounded by the darker musical influences of Gibson and Evers, Ashes are Kia’s stories as he wants to – has to – be heard. “Urgent but less desperate, Ashes is the amalgamation of a band that is growing up.”
Ashes has its origins in some of the darker moments of a few far-flung lives, yet these real-life scenarios connect in many tangible ways to our collective cultural and political history, and that makes them all the more powerful. In his lyrics, Kia doesn’t offer answers to the dilemmas he presents, yet in the very act of creating these songs, articulating these emotions, Kia makes Ashes an uplifting experience. His catharsis becomes our own. Gazing into the ashes of torched relationships, Kia discovers a spark of hope for us all.
Outside
Buddahead Lyrics
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But you can go blind staring at the sun.
Sometimes when I look at you I have to turn away
But I can't bare the darkness when you're gone
And I reach out for you.
Don't know where to begin,
Always outside looking in.
Always outside looking in.
Now I only think about how I can't live without the light,
I take my chances staring at the sun.
If I could only look at you I would never turn away
Because I can't bare the darkness when you're gone
And I'd reach out for you.
Don't know where to begin,
Always outside looking in.
Don't know how to begin,
Always outside looking in.
The lyrics of Buddahead's song "Outside In" begins by reflecting on the importance of light, but also the danger of staring at the sun. The singer then compares this concept to their relationship with someone they care about. When they look at that person, they find it both exhilarating and overwhelming. They can't stand being away from this person, but they also can't look at them for too long. The chorus then repeats the phrase "always outside looking in," highlighting the singer's feeling of being disconnected from the person they care about. It seems like the singer is struggling with how to connect with this person in a healthy way that doesn't result in going "blind" from their intensity.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes they can't live without the light that this person brings to their life. They are willing to take the risk of staring at the sun and being overwhelmed because this person is so important to them. The singer's desire to be with this person becomes stronger, and they acknowledge that they need them in order to feel complete. Despite this, the chorus repeats the words "always outside looking in," suggesting that the singer is still struggling with how to properly connect with this person.
This song's lyrics seem to be about the difficulties of intimacy and connection in relationships. The singer is clearly very passionate about their feelings for this person, but they are also aware of the dangers of this intensity. The chorus suggests that the singer is feeling isolated in some way, unable to find a way to bridge the gap between themselves and the person they care about. Despite this, the song ends on an optimistic note, suggesting that the singer is willing to take a risk and pursue this connection even if it is overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever thought about how nothing lives without the light
Have you ever considered the importance of light to all living things?
But you can go blind staring at the sun.
However, staring at the sun can have negative consequences such as temporary blindness.
Sometimes when I look at you I have to turn away
Sometimes I find it overwhelming to look at you directly.
But I can't bare the darkness when you're gone
But it's even more difficult for me to be without you, as it feels like I'm in the dark.
And I reach out for you.
And I try to connect with you as much as possible.
Don't know where to begin,
I'm uncertain how to start or approach a certain situation.
Always outside looking in.
I feel disconnected from a situation or group of people, as if I'm an outsider looking in.
Now I only think about how I can't live without the light,
Now I prioritize the importance of light, as it's necessary for my own survival and well-being.
I take my chances staring at the sun.
I'm willing to take risks and face challenges, even if there's a chance of negative consequences.
If I could only look at you I would never turn away
If I had the chance to constantly connect with you, I wouldn't feel overwhelmed or disconnected.
Because I can't bare the darkness when you're gone
Because being without you feels unbearable and isolating.
And I'd reach out for you.
And I would try to find ways to connect with you, no matter the circumstance.
Don't know where to begin,
I still feel unsure or at a loss on how to proceed.
Always outside looking in.
I still feel disconnected from a certain situation or group of people.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind