Her father is Italian and her mother Icelandic. Emilíana grew up in Kópavogur where, at the age of 7, she joined a choir as a soprano. She continued with the choir until she went to opera school at the age of 15. Later she worked as waitress at her father's restaurant. In 1994, Emilíana became well-known at the age of 17 after winning the song competition for junior college students (Icelandic: Söngkeppni framhaldsskólanna), singing "I Will Survive".
Prior to her appearance on the worldwide stage, she released 3 other albums in Iceland: Spoon in 1994, Crouçie D'où Là in 1995, and Merman in 1996. Emilíana also worked with trip-hop group Gus Gus on their debut Polydistortion (1997) on two songs: Is Jesus Your Pal? and Why?.
Later Torrini continues to collaborate with other artists, notably composing Kylie Minogue's international #1 track Slow with Dan Carey in 2003, and providing the voice for Gollum's Song, the closing theme for the film "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". Also in 2002, she sang vocals on Paul Oakenfold's song Hold Your Hand taken from his Bunkka album.
In 2003 she collaborated with Thievery Corporation on two songs Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes and Until the Morning from The Richest Man in Babylon (2005), and Slovo's debut album, Nommo.
Emilíana Torrini released her international debut album, Love In The Time Of Science in November 1999. This trip-hop album was produced by Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears. Four singles were issued: Dead Things, Baby Blue, To Be Free, and Unemployed in Summertime.
Working with Dan Carey, her second major album release released in 2005, Fisherman's Woman, signified a departure from her earlier electronic roots to an acoustic-folk sound; applying the ethereal beauty of her voice in a much more intimate setting, reminiscent of the work of Nick Drake and fellow Icelanders múm. The singles Lifesaver, Sunnyroad, and Heartstopper supported the album.
Her third album, Me and Armini was released on 8 September 2008, to generally good reviews. The album was promoted by three singles: Me and Armini, Big Jumps, and Jungle Drum. The single Jungle Drum became Emilíana's most successful song, reaching #1 in Iceland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, #5 on Finland, and #11 in Switzerland.
Her fourth international studio album, Tookah was released in 2013.
http://www.emilianatorrini.com/
Torrini has lately worked with Canada's Kid Koala, providing vocals on the ambient album Music To Draw To: Satellite, released in January 2017.
The album is described as "...his first non sample-based album, with all the instruments and effects being manipulated by him and him alone) and lyricist (a collaboration with Icelandic vocalist Emilíana Torrini, who somehow makes this sometimes stark, often celestial-sounding record even more chilling with her captivating performances on tracks like "Collapser" and "Adrift") — is able to transport listeners to the depths of space, or wherever their imagination wills them, with ease."
http://exclaim.ca/music/article/kid_koala-music_to_draw_to_satellite
Heart Stopper
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This messy state of love affair
And I drink too much and smoke too fast
And this city's cleared my innocence
Coffee is pouring out my ears
It's the only thing they have in here
And my heart stops beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Number tree still on my plate
I heard the trains are running late
And I laugh out loud
My life is a mess
I have gone too far
In my lifelessness
Another coffee it's on the house
The poor girl look is on the owners spouse
And my heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Outside your house
To make a scene
In my head you grabbed me passionately
But the lights are out
And in an hour I walked on home
In the pouring shower
Lost my keys in front of me
My neighbor's smile he's handing me
The blackest coffee you will ever see
And my hearts stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
In Emiliana Torrini's song "Heartstopper," the singer seems to be in a state of confusion and disillusionment with love and life. The song begins with the idea that the singer is somehow responsible for the current state of her love affair, perhaps suggesting that she has made mistakes and regrets her actions. As she continues to reflect on her life, she talks about how the city has taken away her innocence, suggesting that she is no longer the person she once was.
The singer finds comfort in coffee, which is the only thing they have in the place she’s in. She almost seems to be pleading for her heart to stop beating, as the chorus repeats "and when it stops it stops, my heart stopped beating," suggesting that she has given up on life and love. The scene shifts to outside her lover's house, where she fantasizes about a passionate reunion, but is disappointed when no one answers the door. She walks home in the rain and eventually loses her keys, but her neighbor helps her out with the blackest coffee she has ever seen, leading to a final repetition of the lines "and when it stops it stops, my heart stopped beating."
The song as a whole seems to be about the loss of innocence and hope that comes with growing up and facing the challenges of adult life. The singer is lost and struggling to cope, turning to coffee and fantasy as a way of escaping reality. Ultimately, however, she seems to reach a point of resignation, accepting that her heart has stopped beating and relishing in the blackness of her coffee.
Line by Line Meaning
You said I began
The singer is acknowledging that someone has accused them of being the one to initiate a messy love affair.
This messy state of love affair
The singer is referring to a tumultuous romantic relationship they're in.
And I drink too much and smoke too fast
The singer acknowledges that they have unhealthy habits that they use to cope with the difficulties in their life.
And this city's cleared my innocence
The artist implies that living in their current city has exposed them to experiences that have made them lose their naivety.
Coffee is pouring out my ears
The artist has consumed so much coffee that they feel like it's coming out of their ears - a hyperbolic way of saying they've had too much.
It's the only thing they have in here
The singer is suggesting that the coffee shop they're in doesn't offer much else besides coffee.
And my heart stops beating
The singer experiences a brief moment of intense emotion, causing them to feel like their heart has stopped.
And when it stops it stops
The repetition of this line emphasizes the finality of things when they come to an end.
My heart stopped beating
The artist is fixated on this feeling of their heart stopping - it's a metaphor for intense emotions that leave them feeling overwhelmed.
Number tree still on my plate
The artist has unfinished business or unresolved issues that they can't seem to let go of - represented by an un-eaten tree on their plate.
I heard the trains are running late
The singer is passively observing the world around them, taking in information without acting on it. It's another indicator of their emotional malaise.
And I laugh out loud
The artist's laugh is a reaction to feelings of nostalgia or regret. They're on an emotional rollercoaster and can't help but react outwardly to what they're experiencing.
My life is a mess
The singer is acknowledging that their life is in disarray - their unhealthy coping mechanisms aren't resolving the issues they're struggling with.
I have gone too far
The singer realizes that they have reached a point of no return in their current situation - they've made choices that they can't take back.
In my lifelessness
The singer feels like they are going through the motions of life without truly feeling alive - they're numb or desensitized to their experiences.
Another coffee it's on the house
The artist is offered a free coffee, which suggests that their presence in the coffee shop is a regular occurrence.
The poor girl look is on the owners spouse
The artist makes an observation about the owner's spouse's expression, which could be interpreted as one of pity, sympathy or discomfort.
Outside your house
The singer is imagining a scenario where they confront someone at their house.
To make a scene
The singer is fantasizing about a dramatic confrontation - they want to make their presence felt and cause a stir.
In my head you grabbed me passionately
The artist is imagining an intimate moment with someone that they desire.
But the lights are out
The artist's fantasy is interrupted by the reality that the person they desire is not available or responsive to their advances.
And in an hour I walked on home
The artist's emotional journey seems to have ended fruitlessly - they're going home empty-handed.
In the pouring shower
The singer's environment is reflective of their emotional state - the rain could represent their tears, or the way they feel overwhelmed by their feelings.
Lost my keys in front of me
Even the simplest things in life seem to be difficult for the artist - they can't even keep track of their keys.
My neighbor's smile he's handing me
The singer is offered a kind gesture from their neighbor, which could be seen as a ray of hope amidst their despondency.
The blackest coffee you will ever see
The coffee being offered is an embodiment of the singer's current state of mind - dark, bitter and heavy.
And my hearts stopped beating
The singer returns to the refrain of their heart stopping - they're still wrestling with the intensity of their emotions.
And when it stops it stops
The final repetition of this line emphasizes the idea that the artist is stuck in a emotional loop - they can't move forward until they resolve their inner turmoil.
My heart stopped beating
The final line of the song is a poignant reminder of the artist's state of mind - they're still grappling with the intensity of their emotions, and they can't escape the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DE MUSSENDEN CAREY, EMILIANA TORRINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind