Until 2009 Svanängen recorded and released four records as Loney, dear. All albums are now listed under Loney Dear on streaming platforms.
Released as Loney, dear:
The Year Of River Fontana (2003)
Citadel Band (2004)
Sologne (2006)
Loney, Noir (2007)
Released as Loney Dear:
Dear John (2009)
Hall Music (2011)
Loney Dear (2017)
A Lantern and a Bell (2021)
Atlantis (live, 2022)
All Things Go (2024)
In either his tiny Stockholm studio apartment or the basement of his parents’ house, and with a dedication bordering upon manic, Emil discreetly builds Loney Dear songs using a modest home studio set-up. The music of Loney Dear has been aptly described as “soulful indie folk with a powerful mini orchestra.”
Layer upon layer, adding instrumentation and vocals, these songs seem to bloom like time-lapse photography, depicting glimpsed scenes of modern disaffection and timeless yearning. When performing live, Loney, dear becomes the band Emil conjures alone in his home studio, and mutates into a full, five-member band complete with guitar, sax, drums, organ and clarinet, shouts and claps.
Airport Surroundings
Loney dear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got caught by the light, they were trembling in blue.
And my skin was cool, and my heart sang.
And when I said to myself that I will never go down.
When I got lost the last time, I wasn't feeling at all.
I wasn't doing no good. I had a hole in my heart.
Yes I was going so low that I was gonna give up.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
I took the fastest way down when I surrendered this time,
I wasn't feeling no good, I took the easy way out.
The last pain got away when I gave up myself.
I bought a ticket to hell when I met up with you.
I wasn't doing no good.
I had no work to be done, and the money I earned wouldn't end up too soon.
So I had the time to do wrong, I had the time to go on.
I've got a hole in my head and a hole in my heart.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
you were all that I wanted.
In Loney Dear's song "Airport Surroundings," the singer recounts a personal journey that involved desperation, giving up, surrendering, and perhaps finding redemption. The opening stanza sets the scene of the singer's current location, where he has taken his bike to the airport surroundings. He talks about getting caught by the light, which could be a metaphor for a moment of clarity or awareness that shone through his troubled state. The word "trembling" used to describe the light could signify the singer's instability, vulnerability, or emotional turmoil.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on a past experience when he got lost, endured pain, and had a hole in his heart. He had no blood flowing to his head, indicating a lack of direction or purpose. He states that he was so low that he was on the verge of giving up, but then someone enters the picture. It could be a lover, a friend, or someone who brought light into his darkness. This person becomes the focus of his thoughts and desires, as he repeats the refrain "you were all that I wanted" multiple times.
The last verse is where the emotional intensity reaches its peak, as the singer confesses that this person, who he wanted so badly, led him to make a reckless decision. He bought a ticket to hell, which could be interpreted as accepting a harmful or self-destructive situation. Perhaps he gave up himself again, surrendering to his weaknesses or addictions. Despite this, he still professes his desire for the other person, suggesting that their relationship was significant enough to overlook the consequences.
Overall, "Airport Surroundings" is a song that deals with themes of vulnerability, desperation, and self-destruction. It is a poignant reflection on how one person can be both the source of salvation and destruction, and how love can lead us down dark paths.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I took my bike to the airport surroundings.
The singer traveled to the airport area by bike.
I got caught by the light, they were trembling in blue.
The singer paused and was captivated by the blue light.
And my skin was cool, and my heart sang.
The singer felt happy and alive.
And when I said to myself that I will never go down.
The artist made a promise to themselves to never give up or let themselves down.
When I got lost the last time, I wasn't feeling at all.
The artist was lost and didn't feel anything emotionally.
I wasn't doing no good. I had a hole in my heart.
The singer was not doing well emotionally and felt like something was missing in their life.
I had no blood to my head.
The singer was feeling dizzy or light-headed.
Yes I was going so low that I was gonna give up.
The artist was feeling very down and considered giving up.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
Refers to someone the artist desired or cared about deeply, and wanted to be with.
I took the fastest way down when I surrendered this time,
The artist gave in and chose the easy way out.
I wasn't feeling no good, I took the easy way out.
The singer was not feeling well emotionally, and chose an easy way out of the situation.
The last pain got away when I gave up myself.
The artist's pain went away once they gave up or surrendered.
I bought a ticket to hell when I met up with you.
Meeting this person brought the singer emotional pain and difficulty.
I wasn't doing no good.
The singer was not doing well emotionally.
I had no work to be done, and the money I earned wouldn't end up too soon.
The singer had free time and money to spend.
So I had the time to do wrong, I had the time to go on.
The artist had the opportunity to make bad choices and continue down a negative path.
I've got a hole in my head and a hole in my heart.
The artist is feeling emotionally drained with a missing piece in their life.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
Refers to someone the singer desired or cared about deeply, and wanted to be with.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
Refers to someone the singer desired or cared about deeply, and wanted to be with.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
Refers to someone the artist desired or cared about deeply, and wanted to be with.
And you, you were all that I wanted,
Refers to someone the artist desired or cared about deeply, and wanted to be with.
Contributed by Maya W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
perhoskoira
This song must've been my favorite for over ten years. From time and time again I run into bouts of listening to it for a day or two so much that people around me associate this song with me. I find it gut wrenching but I love all about it. Thanks for the amazing tunes Emil.
Elizabeth
I saw them just yesterday on a strange cable channel, and this song just held my attention til the very end! I was so intrigued by this group that I had to find out who they were. I really like their music, and it's not even my type! Amazing voice!
Chascoso
I'm addicted to this song - I literally play this on repeat for agesss.
Zachary Nicholson
I've never heard of this band but I have instantly become a fan! Great song.
intellectuallysound
I can't wait for this album to be released! Two more days! I loved the last album, but love the new direction of this song. And cool video!
antonyms
I did'nt know they were still making music! Man, what a sweet surprise! Thanks for posting!
larashka1217
I <3 how clearly the basslines come out in all their tunes
T3cHNo10GiC
I recently heard these guys on an NPR broadcast. Norwegian band if I remember correctly. What I do remember it that great sound! I'm a new fan.
provrorsbarn
u gotta see him live...fucking brilliant
TimOfNewbury
Great track which is also on 'Dear John' CD. Loney Dear played a great set in the sunshine on the Garden stage at the End of the Road festival in September 2009. However it was difficult to make sense of some of the comments he made in between songs.