With the additions of cellist Nathan Blaz and drummer Brian Ostreicher, Geographer spent the next year cutting their teeth in the Bay Area, winning over crowds with the heart-pounding epics that make up their debut record, ‘Innocent Ghosts’.
After being selected one of three ‘Undiscovered Bands You Need To Hear Now’ by SPIN Magazine and garnering considerable word-of-mouth praise from their energetic live shows, the band signed to San Francisco-based label Tricycle Records, releasing a 7” single for the song ‘Kites’ in October 2009.
‘Animal Shapes’ follows up ‘Kites’, building on the synth-driven aesthetic of the single, while flirting with darker, more esoteric underpinnings. The record merges Geographer’s aptitude for crafting beautiful, haunting melodies with textural sounds and poly-rhythmic energy, marking an evolution of their distinct style.
With the overwhelming response to the release of ‘Kites’ and ‘Animal Shapes’, punctuated by a dynamic and engaging live set, the band has already begun to make an indelible mark on the ears of music fans worldwide.
Vesijärvi
Geographer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fills my head
Just enough to falter
But not to let me in
Cool mist
Fills the air
I don’t know where it comes from
Vesijärvi
Now that i found you
What will we become
We’ll have to make it up now
As we go along
The midnight sun
Soon will glow
Just to remind us
That we are here for show
Vesijärvi
We both know by now
The light it folds into a new position
And soon this night will turn
Into just what it is we think we’re missing
The song Vesijärvi by Geographer speaks about the uncertain journey of life and the search for meaning and purpose. The first stanza talks about the overwhelming feeling of being lost and confused, with the metaphor of black water filling the head just enough to falter, but not enough to make one completely lose themselves. The second part of the stanza introduces the cool mist, which adds to the overall sense of confusion and disorientation. The chorus then brings up the title, Vesijärvi, which is a lake in Finland, but also serves as a representation of the unknown future.
In the second stanza, the lyrics suggest that finding Vesijärvi, or the meaning of life, does not mean that everything will suddenly become clear. The line "what will we become, we'll have to make it up now, as we go along" emphasizes the idea that life is a journey of self-discovery and that we have to navigate it ourselves. The third part introduces the metaphor of the "midnight sun," which represents the brief moments of clarity or epiphanies in life, hinting that even though we may feel lost and confused, there are times when things become clear. The chorus is repeated, concluding with the last line reminding us that what we feel we're missing may not be as significant as we think.
Line by Line Meaning
Black water
The singer is describing their mind as a depth of dark water.
Fills my head
The singer feels overwhelmed by their thoughts and emotions.
Just enough to falter
The amount of thoughts and emotions is just enough to cause difficulty in functioning.
But not to let me in
The artist cannot fully access or process their thoughts and emotions.
Cool mist
The atmosphere is filled with a refreshing, gentle mist.
Fills the air
The mist is widespread and enveloping.
I don’t know where it comes from
The singer is unsure of the origin of the mist.
Or why i should care
The artist is apathetic towards the mist's source or purpose.
Vesijärvi
This is the name of a lake in Finland, whose exact significance to the artist is unclear.
Now that i found you
The artist has discovered Vesijärvi.
What will we become
The singer wonders what their relationship with Vesijärvi will be.
We’ll have to make it up now
The artist and Vesijärvi will create their connection as they go along.
As we go along
Their relationship will develop over time and with experience.
The midnight sun
In Finland during the summer, the sun remains visible through the night.
Soon will glow
The midnight sun will soon appear.
Just to remind us
The sun serves as a reminder or symbol of our presence in the world.
That we are here for show
Our existence may be performative or exist for the purpose of being witnessed.
We both know by now
The singer and Vesijärvi have been together long enough to know some things.
The light it folds into a new position
The changing light indicates the passage of time and the constant cycle of renewal and change.
And soon this night will turn
The present will become the past and give way to the future.
Into just what it is we think we’re missing
We are constantly searching for and trying to define what is missing from our lives.
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.