The current lineup of Dirty Projectors is Dave Longstreth (vocals, guitar, other instruments), Nat Baldwin (bass), Mike Johnson (drums), Maia Friedman (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Felicia Douglass (percussion, keyboards, vocals), and Kristin Slipp (keyboards, vocals).
Based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with connections to the Portland, OR music scene, the group has produced a distinctive sound of electronic experimentation, melded with traditional instruments and harmonically complex vocals. Their recordings range from Prince-style one-man-recording-studio productions (The Glad Fact), to arranged orchestrations (the "Slaves' Graves" half of Slaves' Graves & Ballads), to basic voice over nylon-string guitar (the "Ballads" half of the aforementioned) to an amalgamation of all these tactics (the 'glitch opera' of The Getty Address and the mixed nature of New Attitude EP). Throughout, Longstreth's aggressively melodic vocals provide a consistent identity for otherwise widely divergent approaches to pop music. Longstreth claims influences ranging from Don Henley to Mariah Carey. The former's influence is most easily seen in The Getty Address album, which is a conceptual opera written from the point of view of Henley as a Spanish Conquistador, though the latter's vocal gymnastics clearly provide a clue to Longstreth's approach. Rise Above is an attempt to re-imagine the lyrics of Black Flag's DamagedDamaged album from memory over complex music that sees influence from the contemporary African blues and funk of such artists as Ali Farka Toure and Konono No. 1.
Members of Dirty Projectors collaborated with Björk to perform an original composition by Longstreth, written for five voices and acoustic guitar, as part of a charity concert to benefit Housing Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter for homeless men, women, and children suffering from AIDS.
Useful Chamber
Dirty Projectors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a shining, shining winter
Rosette in a snow globe
Ride it up, clean and gold
I spread love
She is anticipating on it
Magic and old invention
Callin' out, woah no
She sees what no one sees
Far away, with you
While every need, and water blue
We'll sail away, on this boat
Till suddenly it's new
Who made loss or whatever alone?
I know I cannot wait that long
I don't know what I should be lookin' at
But I will look wherever I'm told
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
I'm caught up in a storm
That I don't need no shelter from
All I want and all I need
Right here with me
You're right here with me
Call to me, soft and sweet
Cool the fire that burns in me
Catch me when I lose control
Look into my eyes
Look into my eyes
I'm caught up in a storm
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Bitte orca, orca bitte
The lyrics to Dirty Projectors' song "Useful Chamber" are filled with imaginative and descriptive language that paints a picture of a magical and dreamy winter wonderland, and the intense emotions that come with being in the midst of such a surreal experience. The singer refers to the subject of the song as an emerald, an object that is rare, vibrant, and precious, symbolizing the beauty of their relationship. The winter setting described throughout the song also suggests a feeling of stillness and quietness, and the idea of a snow globe creates a sense of encapsulation, as if they are in their own little world within this larger world.
Line by Line Meaning
She is an emerald
She is unique and valuable, like a precious gem
In a shining, shining winter
In a beautiful and bright time, despite the cold and darkness
Rosette in a snow globe
A delicate and ornamental decoration, surrounded by a protective barrier
Ride it up, clean and gold
Take advantage of the opportunity, elevate it to something pure and valuable
I spread love
I share kindness and positivity with others
She is anticipating on it
She is eagerly awaiting something special
Magic and old invention
Something enchanting from the past, imbued with wonder and creativity
Leanin' out the window
Leaning towards the unknown, searching for something new
Callin' out, woah no
Expressing surprise or disbelief in response to what is seen or heard
She sees what no one sees
She has a unique perspective, noticing things that others overlook
Far away, with you
Together, in a far-off place, distant from the worries of the world
While every need, and water blue
In the midst of fulfilling all of our basic needs and surrounded by natural beauty
We'll sail away, on this boat
We'll escape together, on an adventure of our own making
Till suddenly it's new
Until we discover something unexpected or revelatory
Who made loss or whatever alone?
Who is responsible for causing pain or suffering, and why are they doing it on their own?
I know I cannot wait that long
I understand that waiting for answers or resolution can be excruciating
I don't know what I should be lookin' at
I'm uncertain about what I should focus on or pay attention to
But I will look wherever I'm told
I'm willing to follow someone else's guidance or direction, without question
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Possible nonsensical phrase, may refer to an orca (killer whale)
I'm caught up in a storm
I'm trapped or overwhelmed by strong emotions or difficult circumstances
That I don't need no shelter from
That I don't need protection or safety from, despite the chaos
All I want and all I need
All that truly matters to me
Right here with me
Is present and available to me, now
Call to me, soft and sweet
Reach out to me in a gentle and affectionate way
Cool the fire that burns in me
Soothe the passion or intensity within me
Catch me when I lose control
Support and guide me when I feel overwhelmed or unbalanced
Look into my eyes
Connect with me on a deeper level, see me for who I truly am
Bitte orca, orca bitte
Possible nonsensical phrase, may refer to an orca (killer whale)
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: DAVID DONNELL LONGSTRETH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind