After Juilliard, Kristin spent a year at NYU and her songwriting evolved as she combined her classical roots with accessible pop sensibilities. She was briefly signed to Capital Records, but ended up self-releasing her first album Divided Heart, which she not only wrote, but co-produced, engineered and recorded. All the while, Kristin continued to hone her performance skills with a residency at Café Vivaldi in Manhattan’s West Village. Along with playing some 200 shows, selling 3,000 copies of Divided Heart and securing a loyal local following, As the buzz grew louder, Kristin was discovered at Vivaldi by Interscope and soon after signed to the label.
After enlisting her longtime musical collaborator Darian Cunning, along with producer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Tool), Kristin escaped to Longview Studios to make the album she’d always dreamed of. "I really had a very special, deep experience writing this record,” she explains of her time in the converted farmhouse studio in the middle of pretty much nowhere. In all that quiet open space, and with the help of a great piano left behind by Keith Richards, Kristin’s songs evolved with love and care.
Using her piano as a vehicle for her voice, Kristin keeps her instrumentation simple, so the gorgeous melodies and lyrics resonate with the audience on songs like “Home,” which is about finding inner-strength, “Bittersweet,” a song about choosing to follow your dreams over taking the safer path and the title-track “Real,” a song about being true to yourself.
Of her live performance, Kristin muses, “I hope to stimulate my listeners to go deeper within themselves to places they may be reluctant to go. I’ve come to realize that my greatest challenges have emerged from my mistakes, and that they were really blessings in disguise.” Through her gift for songwriting, Kristin illustrates spectacular sonic stories. "My music can reach across a lot of generations,” says Kristin of her varied audience. “Connecting to people by creating music is my contribution to the world."
Light
Kristin Hoffmann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spent my night inside your gloom
Paying you attention
Cut my hair off in the rain
Took my woman down again without even thinking
You know that life doesn't have to be so painful
Do you see the light
Do you hear the whispers?
They've been calling out to you
'Cause nobody hurts like you try to
Just see the light... shining
The future plays a dangerous game
Tempts a man to go insane
Lost in mind's illusion
Keep your power, keep your grace
Spend it in a worthy place
Where it will come back to you
Under the night
There's a star that's trying to send a sign
Do you see the light
come shining through?
Do you hear the whispers?
They've been calling out to you
'Cause nobody hurts like you try to
Just see the light... shining
There'll be nights of broken hearts and fallen promises
Even tragedy and sorrow will always have a place
But if you choose to find the light that forms the shadow
You'll be looking at the sky and crying a rainbow
Do you see the light come shining through?
Do you hear the whispers?
They've been calling out to you
'Cause nobody hurts like you try to
No nobody hurts like you try to
Into the doorway wrapped in gold
A welcoming to a place of old
It's always inside you
You just have to know to see the light
See the light
In Kristin Hoffmann's song "Light," the lyrics explore themes of struggle, pain, and hope in the face of adversity. The opening lines about the "keeper of the shadow room" and spending the night in "gloom" hint at a sense of being stuck in darkness. The singer reflects on moments of thoughtlessness and recklessness, cutting their hair off in the rain and taking their lover down again without thinking about the consequences. The repetition of the lines "Just see the light... shining" throughout the song serves as a reminder that amidst the darkness and pain, there is always a glimmer of hope.
The second verse acknowledges the challenge of staying centered and focused in the face of the chaos and illusion that life can present. The line "Lost in mind's illusion" articulates a common experience of being caught up in our own thoughts and struggling to navigate reality. However, the lyrics encourage us to choose where we direct our energy and maintain a sense of grace and purpose. The reference to a star trying to send a sign offers a hopeful reminder that there is guidance and meaning to be found in life.
The final verse offers a glimpse of redemption and healing, acknowledging that heartbreak and tragedy are inevitable parts of life, but they don't have to define us. The final lines about the possibility of "crying a rainbow" convey a sense of acceptance and transformation, as the darkness and light are both necessary parts of our journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Keeper of the shadow room
I am someone who holds onto the darkness and negativity of life.
Spent my night inside your gloom
I immersed myself in your sadness and despair.
Paying you attention
I am giving you my focus and care.
Cut my hair off in the rain
I made a significant change to my appearance during a difficult time.
Took my woman down again without even thinking
I made a mistake that caused harm to someone I love without realizing it.
You know that life doesn't have to be so painful
There is hope for a life that is not filled with so much suffering.
Do you see the light
come shining through?
Are you able to perceive and appreciate the goodness and positivity in life?
Do you hear the whispers?
They've been calling out to you
Do you hear the subtle messages that are telling you to seek joy and hope?
'Cause nobody hurts like you try to
Just see the light... shining
Pain is often self-inflicted, but you can find healing and happiness if you seek the light.
The future plays a dangerous game
Uncertainty about the future can be scary and risky.
Tempts a man to go insane
It can drive someone crazy to constantly worry about what is to come.
Lost in mind's illusion
Getting caught up in your own thoughts can distort reality.
Keep your power, keep your grace
Spend it in a worthy place
Where it will come back to you
Focus on using your strengths and virtues in a positive way, and you will be rewarded.
Under the night
There's a star that's trying to send a sign
Even in the darkness, there is a glimmer of hope and guidance for those who look for it.
There'll be nights of broken hearts and fallen promises
Even tragedy and sorrow will always have a place
Life will always have its share of pain and heartbreak, no matter what.
But if you choose to find the light that forms the shadow
You'll be looking at the sky and crying a rainbow
By seeking out the good in life, you can find true joy and beauty even in the midst of darkness and sadness.
Into the doorway wrapped in gold
A welcoming to a place of old
It's always inside you
There is a place of happiness and peace within you, waiting to be discovered.
You just have to know to see the light
See the light
You must be open and willing to see the good in life, even when it is hard to find.
Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.