There are at least four artists with this name:

1) Leaves is an Icel… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four artists with this name:

1) Leaves is an Icelandic indie band which came to prominence in 2002.

Icelandic indie band Leaves will release its third album this spring. The album, called We Are Shadows, will be available through download and mail order on May 11th. Four years in the making, the album sees the band develop their sound and songwriting even further.
Formed early in 2001 the band has an interesting story to tell. It all began when Arnar Guðjónsson and Hallur Már Hallsson rented a house in downtown Reykjavík. Arnar had been in a popular band but had songs in stock which didn't fit their style. This happened when computer recording was in its early days, the house was transformed into a studio and demos for songs piled up. Through series of coincindences the demos ended up at the offices of record labels in London and Los Angeles which immediately showed interest. Old friends; Arnar Ólafsson (guitar, vocals), Andri Ásgrímsson (keys) and Bjarni Grímsson (drums) began playing the songs with Arnar and Hallur and soon the band was formed. After some pondering the group settled on Leaves as an apt name. Referring to Five Leaves Left, the first album of English legend Nick Drake.
Leaves practiced mercilessly and played their first gig at a converted art gallery at the Airwaves festival in October 2001. For the summer everyone in the band sensed that something special was happening and the interest from abroad did nothing to dampen that feeling. The bands show garnered instant praise from Iceland’s music press which indicated what was to follow. A critic from The New York Times was impressed with the bands performance and Hallur appeared in an interview in the newspaper having only played one gig.....ever! A recording contract followed with London based B-Unique records. The contract stated that Dreamworks had first option for signing the band in the U.S.. Leaves had the industry buzzing and declined deals from Virgin Records, Island Records og Indiependiente in order to sign to a more indipendent label. In the fall of 2001 the band went on a short tour with The Bluetones before travelling to L.A. playing a showcase at the Viper Room for agents from Dreamworks which instantly spotted the bands charm and signed Leaves.
Early in 2002 the band began recording their first album in Reykjavík. The awayTEAM (Badly Drawn Boy, Athlete) was brought in to handle recordings. In the spring the band played all over the U.K. with bands such as Doves, The Coral, Electric Soft Parade, Athlete to promote the album which was mixed by Steve Osborne (Doves, Suede, Happy Mondays, KT Tunstall, Elbow, Starsailor) in Air Studios. At the homefront the song Breathe gained popularity and
gigs with The Strokes and Travis helped lift the their profile further.
Breathe was released in August 2002. Critics loved the album wich got raving reviews in magazines and newspapers such as Q-magazine (the magazine selected Breathe as one of the 50 best albums of 2002), Uncut and The Fly. The band did the festival route and played tirelessly. In spite of critical acclaim and good response the band did not get the airplay needed to break through in the U.K.
Breathe was released in 2003 in the U.S., the band had recorded an extra song for the U.S. version which was recorded in L.A. late in 2002 and produced by Ron Aniello. The song was a big hit in Iceland after featuring in a creditcard commercial. Leaves then toured the U.S. supporting Welsh rockers Stereophonics to promote the album. The Rolling Stone commented that Breathe was one of the best unnoticed albums of the year. The title song played in the background during an epic lovescene in teenage drama The O.C., still there was no sign of commercial success.
Now it was time to move on to the next album. Bjarni had left the band being replaced by beat virtuoso Nói Steinn Einarsson and Andri permanently joined the band. The pair had been in a post-rock band Náttfari which garnered some praise at the turn of the century when Reykjavik’s music scene was probably as exciting as it has ever been. Leaves had developed their sound considerably, arrangements were now complex and layered while instrumentation had also come a long way. Still songs like Whatever and The Spell showed the bands ability to write accessible tunes. The Angela Test was recorded in the bands studio in Reykjavik in the summer of 2004. Ian Davenport who had also worked on Breathe engineered while Marius de Vries (Björk, Madonna, Rufus Wainwright, U2, PJ Harvey og Elbow) produced. When recordings were finished in the fall the album was mixed by Rich Costey (Muse, The Mars Volta, Foo Fighters, Supergrass and Interpol). The band had now signed to London based Island Records.
In the summer of 2005 the band supported Supergrass and Thirteen Senses on tours also playing some festivals and doing a headline tour in the fall. In Iceland the band played a fantastic sold out show at NASA as well as supporting pop giants Duran Duran. The album got warm reviews in magazines and newspapers although the hype surrounding Breathe was absent. Strangely the album recieved little attention in Iceland, it was distributed by Universal worldwide. That meant it came to Iceland through the same channels as other foreign acts, still The Spell remains one of the bands biggest hits. The Angela Test is by many considered Iceland’s most underrated album to date.
Few Icelandic bands have a similar story to tell as Leaves do, the band has had some considerable success though it has not reached the heights suggested earlier on. Still the band is now 8 years old, an age few bands reach in Iceland and has developed consistantly. Listening to We Are Shadows this fact becomes obvious, the care and thought put in each song speak volumes. The quality of the songwriting along with majestic arrangements and interesting recordings make We Are Shadows worthy of being called the bands best album to date.

The band consists of:

* Arnar Guðjónsson: lead vocals, piano, guitar
* Hallur Hallsson: bass guitar
* Kjartan F. Olafsson piano, keyboards
* Nói Steinn Einarsson: drums
* Andri Asgrimsson: Guitar, keyboards

This article is about the Icelandic alternative rock band. For the 1960s American garage band, see The Leaves.

2) Leaves is also a gothic-rock metal band from Barcelona, with female vocals, in the way of The Gathering

www.myspace.com/leavesbcn

3) Czech drone/ambient artist, has a track on 'out of place artefacts Vol.1' compilation CD.

4) Leaves is also an American, self-producing pop artist from Winchester, VA that began writing and recording in autumn of 2009. Plans for an EP release of his first four recordings have been announced, and it will be available for free download in January 2011.

Ocean
Leaves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The way of the ocean
Touch my heart like fire
I cannot control you
You have deeper layers

You're alive and you're wild
When you're nearer to me
I lean forward to touch you

But you surprised me

When I lean against you
I will only fall through
Sometimes you seem to sleep
Then a storm's coming through
Fear the ocean's way

Ah should I fear you
Are you caught in anger
Gods cannot control you
Winds make you go higher

If I swim to the ground
I will need to go up
You will turn me around
When the storm's coming through

When the morning dawns bright
I admire the silveri-
ness inside you
I look into this mirror

Ocean's way

The way of the ocean
It's the waves rurled by the winds

Overall Meaning

Leaves' Eyes's song Ocean's Way is a reflection on the power and volatility of the ocean. The lyrics describe the ocean as being alive and wild, with deeper layers that cannot be controlled by humans or even gods. The singer is drawn to the ocean, but also fears its unpredictable nature. The line "When I lean against you, I will only fall through" expresses this sense of helplessness, as if the ocean could swallow the singer whole at any moment. At the same time, there is a sense of admiration for the ocean's beauty and power, as expressed in the line "When the morning dawns bright, I admire the silveriness inside you, I look into this mirror."

Overall, the lyrics suggest a sort of love-hate relationship between the singer and the ocean. There is an attraction to its vastness and power, but also a fear of being overwhelmed and lost at sea. The ocean is depicted as a force to be reckoned with, beyond human control and comprehension.

Line by Line Meaning

The way of the ocean
The natural movement of the ocean and its waves

Touch my heart like fire
Evoking strong emotions and passion within me

I cannot control you
Acknowledging the uncontrollable nature of the ocean

You have deeper layers
Recognizing the mysteriousness and vastness of the ocean

You're alive and you're wild
Personifying the ocean as a living, unpredictable entity

When you're nearer to me
Feeling a closeness and connection to the ocean

I lean forward to touch you
Showing a desire to physically interact with the ocean

But you surprised me
Being caught off guard or amazed by the ocean's power and beauty

When I lean against you
Attempting to take refuge or feel supported by the ocean

I will only fall through
Realizing that the ocean cannot be used as a stable foundation or source of security

Sometimes you seem to sleep
Noting periods of calmness and stillness in the ocean

Then a storm's coming through
Anticipating the unpredictable and potentially dangerous nature of the ocean

Fear the ocean's way
Warning of the need to respect and be cautious of the ocean

Ah should I fear you
Questioning whether a healthy fear or skepticism of the ocean is warranted

Are you caught in anger
Suggesting that the ocean's behavior can be influenced by emotions or external factors

Gods cannot control you
Highlighting the ocean's power and uncontrollable nature

Winds make you go higher
Acknowledging the role of wind in creating and intensifying ocean waves

If I swim to the ground
Considering the possibility of diving deep into the ocean

I will need to go up
Knowing that resurfacing from deep waters is necessary for survival

You will turn me around
Recognizing the ocean's power to redirect or disorient a swimmer

When the storm's coming through
Preparing for the heightened danger and unpredictability of a storm in the ocean

When the morning dawns bright
Observing the beauty and brightness of the ocean in the morning

I admire the silveri-ness inside you
Appreciating the shimmering, reflective qualities of the ocean

I look into this mirror
Reflecting on oneself while gazing at the vastness and beauty of the ocean

Ocean's way
Describing the nature and essence of the ocean

It's the waves rurled by the winds
Explaining how the ocean's movements and waves are caused by wind patterns

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER KRULL, CHRISTIAN LUKHAUP, LIV KRISTINE ESPENAES KRULL, MARTIN SCHMIDT, MATHIAS ROEDERER, THORSTEN BAUER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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