The band's figureheads and main songwriters were Jelle Paulusma (lead vocals) and Anne Soldaat (guitar, vocals). Critics often heard echoes of early Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and other sixties bands from the American west in Daryll-Ann's particular blend of indie rock.
After an initial EP (Decibel, 1991) and début album (Renko, 1992) on tiny domestic labels, the band drew the attention of Hut, the indie branch of Virgin Records. The I Could Never Love You and Come Around EP's (1993 and 1994, respectively) were praised by critics in Holland and the U.K. The group toured Europe and their first full-length album for Hut, Seaborne West (1995), even saw a U.S. release. It received rave reviews in the U.K. music press.
Due to disappointing sales, however, the band was dropped by Hut and joined the respected Dutch indie label Excelsior Recordings, for which they continued to release albums to huge critical acclaim (but moderate commercial success). A small international cult following continued to follow the band, so that some of their Excelsior releases were also put out internationally.
Daryll-Ann's studio albums for Excelsior Recordings:
Daryll-Ann Weeps (1996)
Happy Traum (1999)
Trailer Tales (2002)
Don't Stop (2003)
Excelsior also released a limited edition live album, entitled DA Live (2000).
The band decided to call it a day in 2004. Frontman Jelle Paulusma resurfaced two years later with his first solo album, using his his family name Paulusma as his moniker, whereas guitarist Anne Soldaat went on to form the band Do The Undo (self-titled début album released in 2007) and subsequently started recording under his own name, Anne Soldaat.
2014 saw Daryll-Ann's eagerly anticipated re-formation: original line-up, no new new material, old songs only. The band's brief reunion and farewell tour of The Netherlands received rave reviews.
On April 24, 2022, the band reunited once again, this time for one night only, to perform at Paradiso during the 25th anniversary party of Excelsior Recordings.
Low Light
Daryll-Ann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nothing left to talk about
Free from every strain
Another year, another weary love
You're brighter than the light I'm in
Sometimes you ache, you burn my skin
And be your friend
Though I feel so much near the fountain
There's a lot to be left behind
Still I wonder about the flavour in life
Days are over, lights are loud
And nothing left to talk about
Free from every strain
Another year, another dream apart
Though I feel so much near the fountain
There's a lot to be left behind
Still I wonder about the flavour..
I feel so much near the fountain
There's a lot to be left behind
You're bright and still the light I'm in
Will never ache or burn my skin
But be your friend
The more I see the more I think I don't
The song “Low Lights” by Daryll-Ann is a melancholic tune that speaks about the feeling of hopelessness and the end of a relationship. The opening verse reflects a period of time when the excitement and passion of the relationship are over, and the future looks dull and monotonous. The tone is set with the lines “Days are over, lights are loud, there's nothing left to talk about,” which expresses that the spark of the relationship is gone, and there is nothing meaningful to discuss. The reference to the phrase “free from every strain” suggests that the singer is attempting to move on from the difficult times and look forward to a new start. However, as the song continues, it becomes clear that the writer is still struggling with feelings of attachment.
The chorus speaks to the complexity of emotions that come with the end of a relationship. The writer is still in love and admires their partner's qualities, despite knowing that the relationship has run its course. They feel "brighter than the light I'm in" but simultaneously "ache" and "burn my skin." There is a sense of longing to hold on to what's been lost and the difficulty in letting go. The repeated reference to "near the fountain" ties back to the theme of starting anew, yet still being drawn to lingering feelings of the past.
Overall, the song portrays the internal struggle of moving on from a relationship that has ended while being unable to let go of the memories and lingering emotions of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Days are over, lights are loud
The good times have passed and the present seems too overwhelming
There's nothing left to talk about
There is a lack of meaningful conversation in this situation
Free from every strain
Feeling relieved from the burden of stress or responsibility
Another year, another weary love
Experiencing yet another tiring and unfulfilling relationship
You're brighter than the light I'm in
The other person is more vibrant and lively than the artist's current existence
Sometimes you ache, you burn my skin
While being close with this person brings pleasure, it also causes pain
And be your friend
Despite the complications, the singer desires to maintain a friendship with this person
The more I see the more I think I don't
The closer the artist gets, the more they realize they don't understand this person
Though I feel so much near the fountain
There is a sense of emotional depth in this particular location
There's a lot to be left behind
There are many things or people that are best left in the past
Still I wonder about the flavour in life
Despite previous hardships, the singer is curious about what else life has to offer
Another year, another dream apart
Continuing to have unfulfilled desires and longings
You're bright and still the light I'm in
This person shines brightly and continues to be the center of the singer's attention
Will never ache or burn my skin
This person will never cause pain or distress to the singer
But be your friend
The singer values this person's friendship and wants to maintain it
The more I see the more I think I don't
The artist still feels like they don't fully understand this person, even after spending more time with them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFF AMENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind