At age 5, Lo-Fang began playing violin.
During the latter years of the 2000s, Lo-Fang began teaching music to kids and performing in galleries and museums. He had been with his sister Mallory to performed as part of the Family Hemerlein, a variety show featuring musicians and comedians.
In 2011, he released an album Hot Nickels under his birth name and opened up for British folk duo Smoke Fairies in London. After performing in a a gospel in Berlin, Lo-Fang was offered a publishing contract by EMI.
Lo-Fang signed with 4AD in late September 2013. He wrote "Blue Film" as he traveled around the world to Cambodia, Bali, London, Tokyo, and elsewhere. While developing "Blue Film" from a mixtape to a full-fledged album, Lo-Fang collaborated with Grammy-winning producer François Tétaz.
He currently is the opening act for Lorde, with her picking his song "#88" as her second favorite from 2013. He also made a cameo appearance on the ABC drama Revenge.
His debut album "Blue Film" was released on February 25, 2014, by 4AD.
#88
Lo-Fang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give it up, if nothing matters
Give it up, if nothing matters
Give it up, you won't get better
Turn and run, this time I'm certain
Turn and run, if nothings workin'
Can't run away, I wont turn back
I need to know, will it ever change
Will it ever grow
The thing that I thought before was better
Now its disappeared, now its crystal clear
Now its crystal clear
Burn it up, if nothing matters
Burn it up, if nothing matters
Break it up, the glass will shatter
Tear it down, if nothing matters
Tear it down, if nothing matters
Wear it down, if nothing matters
Will it ever change, will it always feel the same
It always feels the same
Does it ever change, does it always feel the same
It always feels the same
Can't run away, I wont turn back
I need to know, will it ever change
Will it ever grow
The thing that I thought before was better
Now its disappeared, now its crystal clear
Now its crystal clear
And all of the films on the edge of my dreams,
Are shapes I created but they disrupt my sleep
And I dear road quietly from something within
Spreads quicker than the cancer that destroyed your mothers skin
And it feels like a shadow at about 5am
When the streets are so empty and the fragile cant pretend
Get me out of the sink, get me back to the trees
If this dream wasn't happening would it still feel as real
Will it ever change, or will it always stay the same
It always stays the same
Does it ever change, or does it always feel the same
It always feels the same
Lo-Fang's song "88" is a haunting, introspective track that deals with the singer's sense of resignation and a search for answers. The song starts with the repeated phrase "Give it up, if nothing matters," which can be interpreted as a plea to let go and accept things that are out of our control. However, there is a certain ambiguity in the tone, with the singer's voice wavering between hope and despair.
The second verse of the song lays out a series of possible solutions to this sense of uncertainty, with repeated commands to "Turn and run," "Burn it up," and "Tear it down." These lines suggest a desire for action and a willingness to take risks, but also a sense of futility, as the singer questions whether anything will really change.
The final verse offers a glimpse into the singer's inner turmoil, with references to dreams, shadows, and the memory of a loved one lost to cancer. Despite this darkness, the song ends on a note of tentative hope, as the singer once again asks, "Will it ever change?" but this time adds the question, "Or will it always grow?"
Line by Line Meaning
Can't look away, oh
I am captivated by what I am experiencing, and I cannot look away.
Give it up, if nothing matters
Stop trying if it doesn't make a difference.
Give it up, if nothing matters
Stop trying if it doesn't make a difference.
Give it up, you won't get better
It's not worth continuing to try, it won't lead to improvement.
Turn and run, this time I'm certain
I am sure that it is time to leave and avoid whatever is causing this pain.
Turn and run, if nothings workin'
If nothing is going right, it's best to just leave and try something new.
Turn and run, we know its hurtin'
It is obvious that this is causing pain, so it's best to leave.
Can't run away, I wont turn back
I can't bring myself to leave this situation, and I refuse to go back to how things were before.
I need to know, will it ever change
I am desperate to know if this situation will improve or if there is a chance for things to be different.
Will it ever grow
Is there potential for growth and positive change in this situation?
The thing that I thought before was better
I used to believe that what I had before was superior, but now that it's gone, everything is clear.
Now its disappeared, now its crystal clear
Now that it's gone, I can see things more clearly.
Burn it up, if nothing matters
Destroy it if it doesn't make a difference.
Burn it up, if nothing matters
Destroy it if it doesn't make a difference.
Break it up, the glass will shatter
If you damage something fragile enough, it will break into pieces.
Tear it down, if nothing matters
Demolish it if it is pointless or futile.
Tear it down, if nothing matters
Demolish it if it is pointless or futile.
Wear it down, if nothing matters
Exhaust it to the point that it can no longer continue if it is not beneficial.
Will it ever change, will it always feel the same
Is there any hope for things to be different or will it always be this way?
It always feels the same
I can't escape the feeling that everything is always the same.
Does it ever change, does it always feel the same
Is there any hope for things to be different or will it always be this way?
It always feels the same
I can't escape the feeling that everything is always the same.
And all of the films on the edge of my dreams,
All of the fading memories and imaginations that linger in my mind,
Are shapes I created but they disrupt my sleep
Are creations of my own that disturb my peace when I try to rest.
And I dear road quietly from something within
I am trying to escape something that I carry inside of me.
Spreads quicker than the cancer that destroyed your mothers skin
This thing inside of me is expanding rapidly, just like a cancer that takes over and destroys.
And it feels like a shadow at about 5am
It's a dark and heavy feeling that lingers with me, especially in the early morning hours.
When the streets are so empty and the fragile cant pretend
When things are quiet and still in the early morning, those who are vulnerable cannot hide their pain.
Get me out of the sink, get me back to the trees
I need to escape this suffocating feeling and return to something natural and alive, like nature.
If this dream wasn't happening would it still feel as real
Is this really happening, or is it just a dream? If it were a dream, it would still feel just as intense and impactful.
Will it ever change, or will it always stay the same
Is there any hope for things to be different or will it always be this way?
It always stays the same
I can't escape the feeling that everything is always the same.
Does it ever change, or does it always feel the same
Is there any hope for things to be different or will it always be this way?
It always feels the same
I can't escape the feeling that everything is always the same.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCOIS TETAZ, MATTHEW HEMERLEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Foxerrr
Can't look away, oh
Give it up
If nothing matters
Give it up
If nothing matters
Give it up
It will get better
Turn and run
This time I'm certain
Turn and run
Nothing's working
Turn and run
I know it's hurting
Can't run away
Oh I won't turn back
I need to know
Will it ever change?
Will it ever grow?
The thing that I felt before
This paradise has disappeared
Now it's crystal clear
Wow it's crystal clear
Burn it up
Cause nothing matters
Burn it
When nothing matters
Break it up
The glass will shatter
Tear it down
If nothing matters
Tear it down
If nothing matters
Wear it down
If nothing matters
Will it ever change
Will it always feel the same
It always feels the same
Does it ever change
Or does it always feel the same
It always feels the same
Can't run away
Oh I won't turn back
I need to know
Will it ever change?
Will it ever grow?
The thing that I felt before
This paradise has disappeared
Now it's crystal clear
Wow it's crystal clear
And I know that the phantoms on the edge of my dreams
Are shapes I created but they still just disrupt my sleep
An idea growing quietly from something within
Spreads quicker than the cancer that destroyed your mother’s skin
And it feels like a shadow at about 5am
When the streets are so empty and the fragile can’t pretend
Can we all rush in
Get me back into the trees
If this dream wasn't happening
Would it still feel as real?
Will it ever change
Or will it always stay the same
It always stays the same
Does it ever change
Or does it always feel the same
It always feels the same
@mrahzzz
Be me, in college. Stressed as hell, desperately making a list minute attempt at some homework I had put off, which there was really zero hope of me finishing in time, not that I was going to let that stop me from feverishly working on it as procrastinators do.
It's 12 am, and I'm sitting in my college town's blessed 24 hr coffee shop. A place that is exactly as you imagine - kind of grungy, but warm and cozy, with enough nooks and crannies to sit in - the altered upper floor of an old house, with two other restaurants on the bottom floor. I'm sitting next to a wall of windows, looking over the sleeping city. Restless college students looking for a place to work, a place to meet up for some good natured socialization. As the hours pass by, fewer and fewer people are left inside, with even fewer patrons coming in. Now it's 2 am. Inside the shop are the leftover insomniacs. Night owls, misfits, maybe a person or two down on their luck and just looking for a warm and quiet enough place for a few hours of some sleep. Maybe a fellow procrastinator or two.
The cafe is largely empty except for this small number of us, leaving a soft feeling of solidarity, but also, maybe some melancholy loneliness, exacerbated for me by the mounting pressure of my impossible task. It's important to me, but apparently not important enough for me to have gotten it done like my reasonable classmates did. 2 am. The barista has been there - they're one of us. Tonight, as on all the overnights, they are the sage. There with us, and also facilitating our liminal, in between sleepless overnight. No longer the feverish 11pm-12am mood of frenetic and happy college students, the music changes. And they chose Lo Fang.
This music was the perfect atmosphere to pull me out of my head, get me to take a breath. A glance out the window to the sleeping city. An appreciative glance at the barista, calmly busying himself with something or another as the hours of his unbusied shift tick by. And I'm back at my work.
Lo Fang will forever more take me back to that moment. There's something special in this music. While I have to say that it unfortunately is always combined with the melancholy and stress of that moment for me now, it still feels like it has inescapable relatability, and sense of distant but known otherworldliness that characterizes liminal moments like those 2 am all nighters.
@Adrian-pw8mf
I hate when people say negative things about artist going mainstream. Try to be happy an artist is becoming more successful instead trying to be some underground hipster. Have faith in an artist to make songs they like and not play to the crowd. This song is awesome, but change is unstoppable.
@jose7223898020
agree with u
@mintfudgecupcakes
+Group Think that's a very eloquent and intelligent way of putting it :)
especially the part on having faith in an artist not playing to the crowd, and how "change is unstoppable". I agree; I think experimentation should be encouraged.
@lawrencegookool1846
lkloopooosooo9
@lawrencegookool1846
lkloopooosooo98
@lawrencegookool1846
lkloopooosooo98
@jessicam3468
Literally was just sitting in my college dorm, and this song suddenly came back to me. I could only hum the melody, but finally I could piece together some words. So glad I remembered this song. Haven’t heard it since freshmen year.
@SulaimanamialuS
Was literally going through this yesterday....
@taylorbenson7274
this is probably my favorite song now because when I listen I feel so many emotions at once like how
@gwadayenne
Taylor Benson exactly!! I spent my entire day listening to it and I'm amazed by this masterpiece! so many emotions in the same music! I'm litteraly in love of this song!