After moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1986, she auditioned for a number of bands, made the rounds of the Minneapolis music scene, and paid her bills working in a coffee shop. It was around this time she met Prince.
Prince, impressed by one of Chavez' demo tapes, took her under his wing in 1987. She was known as The Spirit Child on his 1988 album Lovesexy, and she starred as his romantic interest, Aura, in his 1990 film Graffiti Bridge.
In 1989, she collaborated with Richard Werbowenko on a handful of electronic music compositions that were released only on a demo cassette.
Chavez's debut solo album, titled May 19, 1992 (actually released in 1991; the title is the first anniversary of the date the cover art was photographed), was initially intended to set her spoken-word poetry to music supplied by Prince. It was recorded in bits and pieces from late 1987 to mid-1991. When Warner Brothers pushed for the album to have sung vocals in place of the spoken word, Prince abandoned the project. Five of the album's tracks ended up as spoken word with atmospheric music by Prince under his Paisley Park alias, and the remainder were relatively poppy tracks with sung vocals, co-produced by Ingrid with Prince's studio hands Michael Koppelman and Levi Seacer, Jr.. The singles "Hippy Blood", "Heaven Must Be Near", and "Elephant Box" were released as singles (along with club remixes).
Chavez also wrote the bulk of Madonna's sultry 1990 hit "Justify My Love" with musician Lenny Kravitz, and received a large out-of-court settlement for not being credited on that single's initial release.
In 1992, not long after recording vocals with David Sylvian for the songs "Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)--Returning to the Womb" and "Cloud #9" on Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1991 album Heartbeat, Chavez married David Sylvian, and over the years contributed her trademark breathy vocals to a number of her baritone-voiced husband's releases.
During the mid-1990s, Chavez worked with Sylvian and Werbowenko on a second solo album titled Little Girls With 99 Lives. Chavez and Sylvian sent out demos to record labels and close friends, yet could not strike up interest in a deal. The album would have included tracks entitled "Lighthouse", "Snowfall", "Whose Trip Is This?", "Starred And Dreaming", "Kall/Les Fleurs Du Mal", and "Remembering Julia".
Chavez has a son, Tinondre, born circa 1984, who reportedly lived in Atlanta for a time. She also has two younger daughters, Ameera and Isobel, with Sylvian.
After living in Atlanta, Albuquerque, and Minneapolis, she was last known to reside with Sylvian in New Hampshire, along with all three of her children. However, the couple announced their intention to divorce in 2005.
Ingrid Chavez has no relation to Miami nightclub owner Ingrid Casares, a longtime friend and rumored lover of Madonna.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Chavez"
dreamland
Ingrid Chavez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
your life is calling
dreamland opens here
the path is clear
put on your overcoat
summer is shying
the birds are flying
shall we?
fires are waiting now
to spring to life you see
stack the wood
strike a match
we'll find ourselves apart again come september
and i will watch the snow fall
from the old cape windows
counting
counting
counting
the days
the days go by...
in the cry of the whip-poor-will
on the tail of an Autumn breeze
by the fading light of fire flies
we'll say our goodbyes
dreamland opens here...
let the long winter begin
close your eyes and think of me
when you see the moon upon the sea...
that is where i will be.
The lyrics of Ingrid Chavez's song "Dreamland" depict a sense of longing and reminiscence where the singer inspires someone to embark on a new journey. In the first stanza, the singer urges someone to take a chance and follow their dreams. The path to "dreamland" is clear and the stars are falling, symbolizing the beginning of a new journey. The second stanza seems to be about the end of summer with the birds flying south and the fires waiting patiently to be lit. The singer mentions that they will be apart again come September, indicating that this journey might last only for the summer.
The third and final stanza highlights the passing of time as the singer watches the snow fall from the old cape windows, counting the days as they go by. The use of nature elements such as the whip-poor-will and autumn breeze amplify the mood of nostalgia and melancholia. The song ends with the singer urging the person to close their eyes and think of them when they see the moon on the sea, indicating that they will be waiting there.
Overall, "Dreamland" by Ingrid Chavez seems to be about taking chances and following one's dreams. The lyrics portray a sense of longing, reminiscence, and a reminder that time passes by quickly.
Line by Line Meaning
the stars are falling
Something exciting is happening, as if even the stars are celebrating.
your life is calling
Your destiny is calling you, and you must answer its call.
dreamland opens here
This moment feels magical and special, like entering into a dreamlike state.
the path is clear
There are no obstacles in the way, and the way forward is obvious.
put on your overcoat
Get ready for a colder time, both literally and metaphorically.
summer is shying
The happy times are passing, and a duller period is beginning.
the birds are flying south
Nature itself is telling us that it's time to move on and leave the past behind.
shall we?
Are you ready to move forward? Let's go together if you are.
fires are waiting now
There are new opportunities and experiences waiting to be explored.
to spring to life you see
These experiences will come alive and be transformative.
stack the wood
We need to prepare and work hard to make the most of these opportunities.
strike a match
We have the power to make these opportunities happen, but we have to take action.
we'll find ourselves apart again come september
This moment is temporary, and we'll have to say goodbye eventually.
and i will watch the snow fall
Even when we're apart, I'll be keeping an eye on things and thinking of you.
from the old cape windows
I'll be nostalgic and sad, looking back on old memories.
counting
I'll be keeping track of time and waiting for the next chance to be together.
the days
Each day apart feels like forever, but I'll keep counting and hoping for a reunion.
the days go by...
Time passes and life goes on, but the memory of this moment will stay with me.
in the cry of the whip-poor-will
The sad sounds of nature remind me of how much I'll miss you.
on the tail of an Autumn breeze
The changing of the seasons is a metaphor for the change in our lives, and how we must adapt.
by the fading light of fire flies
We're losing the magic of the past and facing a dull, unknown future.
we'll say our goodbyes
We may not want to, but we have to accept that this moment is ending.
let the long winter begin
We're entering into a difficult, lonely period, where we'll have to be strong and endure.
close your eyes and think of me
Even when we're apart, keep me in your thoughts and heart.
when you see the moon upon the sea...
When you're feeling lonely or lost, know that I'm there for you in spirit.
that is where i will be.
Our love and connection transcends distance and time, and we'll always find our way back to each other.
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andri Mar Arnlaugsson
Love this song ,very beautiful cant get enough of it
ali faulds
how utterly beautiful..thank you
Ulla Rezende
lindo!!!
Nymphelita
this is why björks vespertine sounds like it sounds :-D wonderful,i really like it
Arkady Marto
nice sound&pics.respect
Koko Szatan
amazing...