Kathryn was born in a small town in the far west of Ireland. While country life was idyllic, she soon found herself yearning for different skies and traded open fields for the winding streets of Dublin. While playing in and out of various clubs she encountered Belfast-born Daniel, who was leading his own band at the time. She quickly kidnapped him from what he describes as “a really bad marriage” and they soon found writing together led them to better places. Kathryn tempered Daniel’s starker melodies with subtle undertones and stronger harmonies, while Daniel added a pulsing bass to lift her mellower songs. On a short exploratory visit to London, they encountered Benji, a Cornish drummer. Benji had toured with bands such as All About Eve, but was between projects. They bonded over early Weezer and Jimmy Eat World and started playing together shortly after. They quickly found he brought a harder edge to their sound, giving more weight to Kathryn’s emotive songs.
In 2010, I Am Not Lefthanded released their sophomore EP, Time To Leave, earning them effusive praise online and in print, as well as radio play across Ireland and the UK. The band toured extensively, their focused energy and stirring harmonies leading to invitations to tour with bands such as Duke Special, The Rumble Strips and The Answering Machine. In September, they made their first visit to North America, heading to the US for a 15-date tour across 10 states.
2011’s highlights included headlining a stage at Liverpool’s Sound City Festival and hosting a charity show at London’s Bush Hall. The band’s music was placed in a number of TV shows and indie films - including a global ad campaign for P&G. They also played their first shows in Canada at Toronto’s Indie Week in October and were invited back to NXNE in June 2012.
Fully embracing the joys and perils of the internet, the band recently completed a partnership with fan-funding website SliceThePie.com to raise $11,000 to make their first full-length album. They spent a year holed up in a country cottage, writing, re-writing and recording. The new album, The Fire & The Sigh, was released into the wild on June 3rd, 2012. The album is deeper in scope than previous releases - more time was spent crafting the songs in a studio space rather than simply recreating the live sound of the band, with Kathryn’s lyrics exploring themes of loneliness, distance and hope for an imminent return.
Brace Brace
I Am Not Lefthanded Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wrestling in the shadows
Racing with my monsters
Cause there's honour in a fresh and open wound
In wading through the shallows
And testing my responses
Now there's you. I'm done
No-one, had made me reconsider this success
Cause yes, the morning star burns brighter on its own
But we overflow
The hardest part of flying is letting go
Small scrapes are hidden by the views
The mountains hold our shadows
Until we're dashed upon them
Now there's you. I'm done
Like waking up and blinking off the sun
No-one, had made me reconsider this success
Cause yes, the morning star burns brighter on its own
But we overflow
The hardest part of flying is letting go
And there's so little hope for landing
But I would rather make a stand
And take your hand and crash
Now there's you. I'm done
Like waking up and blinking off the sun
No-one, had made me reconsider this success
And yes, the morning star burns brighter on its own
But we know the the hardest part of flying is letting go
So little hope for landing
I brace myself to crash
So little hope for landing
The song "Brace Brace" by I Am Not Lefthanded is a powerful depiction of the singer’s journey of self-discovery, and how meeting someone special can change one’s perspective on their own life. The lyrics start by describing the singer’s past, where they used to believe in darkened rooms and wrestling in the shadows. They believed that there was honor in a fresh and open wound, and they enjoyed testing their responses. However, the arrival of the person they’re singing to has changed everything. They describe this person as having made them reconsider their success and their approach to life. While the morning star may burn brighter on its own, the two of them overflow with love and connection. The hardest part of flying is letting go, and the singer is more than willing to take that risk with this person.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges the risk involved in such a connection. There is little hope for landing, and they brace themselves for the crash. The mountain will hold their shadows until they are dashed upon it, but they would rather make a stand and take their love’s hand through the ups and downs than miss out entirely. The hardest part of flying is still letting go, but with this person by their side, the singer may not have to let go at all.
Overall, the song is an excellent representation of how love can change someone’s perspective on their life and the risks they’re willing to take. It shows how vulnerability can sometimes be a strength and that sometimes taking a risk is the only way to truly live life.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to believe in darkened rooms
I used to be comfortable with the unknown and even found some sort of honor and thrill in facing my fears in the shadows.
Wrestling in the shadows
I was accustomed to struggling and fighting in the shadows, away from the light and certainty.
Racing with my monsters
I was always in a competition with my own fears and insecurities, pushing myself to overcome them.
Cause there's honour in a fresh and open wound
I believed that exposing my vulnerabilities and wounds was a sign of bravery and integrity.
In wading through the shallows
I was willing to take risks and test my strength, even in less challenging situations.
And testing my responses
I was constantly learning from my experiences and adapting my actions to be better prepared for future challenges.
Now there's you. I'm done
Since meeting you, my perspective has shifted and I am no longer content with my former beliefs and behaviors.
Like waking up and blinking off the sun
My eyes have been opened to a new way of living, and it is like waking up to clarity and understanding.
No-one, had made me reconsider this success
Until I met you, I had not encountered anyone or anything that challenged my previous notions of success and bravery.
Cause yes, the morning star burns brighter on its own
It is true that individual strength can shine bright on its own, but that is not enough for me anymore.
But we overflow
Together, we have more potential than we could have separately, and that excites me.
The hardest part of flying is letting go
It is difficult to relinquish control and allow myself to trust in something, or someone, else.
Small scrapes are hidden by the views
Sometimes, the beauty of a situation can mask the challenges and difficulties lurking beneath the surface.
The mountains hold our shadows
The backdrop of our journey, which may seem daunting and impossible, is actually what gives shape and meaning to our actions and decisions.
Until we're dashed upon them
However, the reality is that there is always a risk of failure or pain, which can be unavoidable.
And there's so little hope for landing
Despite the uncertainties, I am willing to take the risk and commit to the journey, knowing that there may not be a clear path ahead.
But I would rather make a stand
I would prefer to take action and attempt to make progress, rather than simply waiting and hoping for the best.
And take your hand and crash
I want to face the challenges together, with your support and companionship. Even if we do fail, at least we did it together.
And yes, the morning star burns brighter on its own
Although individual strength may be admirable, the potential of working together is greater than any one person could achieve alone.
But we know the the hardest part of flying is letting go
The challenge of trusting and relying on others can be daunting, but it is ultimately necessary for true growth and success.
So little hope for landing
Despite the risks and uncertainties, I am committed to the journey and will face whatever challenges come our way.
I brace myself to crash
I understand that there may be turbulence and obstacles ahead, but I am prepared to face them head-on, with determination and resilience.
So little hope for landing
The future may be uncertain, but I am willing to take the risk and see where our journey takes us.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Kathryn Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind