They were in middle school when their first single, titled ‘Windmill’, was released, and Polish critics went crazy over the four-piece from Krakow. Lor’s sound is full of the elements taken from their biggest inspirations, which range from indie-folk, through alt-pop, to neo-classical, from the music of Keaton Hanson, through Birdy, to Agnes Obel. They’re not sweet-looking teenagers with ukuleles. They’re mature musicians, ingenious composers, and brilliant instrumentalists who know how music should be made if it is to sound good.
What pushes their music’s depth forward, is a wide range of inspirations in writing songs. In interviews, they say that the great sources of inspiration for them are in other disciplines of art like paintings or poetry. Lor combines the structure of pop songs with the sound of classic instruments such as violin (Julia Błachuta) and piano (Julia Skiba). The voice of Jagoda Kudlińska adds exceptional magic. It’s delicate, but distinctive timbre ‘hugs’ the listener with a warm sound. Perhaps the strongest and most essential aspect of Lor’s songs, however, is the lyrics. Since the first release, Paulina Sumera was the only songwriter in the band and the only member that doesn’t play any instrument. During concerts, Sumera is a kind of storyteller. Every Lor song is like a short novel, and listeners can drift into escapism imagining what the songs are talking about, and floating to a completely different world.
Four years on from their debut single, Lor’s first album came out. ‘Lowlight’ was proof that Lor is one of a kind, producing a record that sounds more like it’s been produced by musicians with a lifetime of experience, rich in sound, and coherent in form. In 2020, Lor released an EP entitled ‘Sunlight’. In just 16 minutes, the band members demonstrate again how much progress they are making, and where they are currently looking for inspiration. The song arrangements have become more and more elaborate, but their sound seems light and even more catchy. One of the weaknesses of young artists is that they are often too focused on their idols. The Lor girls aren’t, but they can inspire many others.
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Lor Lyrics
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To them all so well today
And the solar flares dab my skin like little birds do
My feet's sore again begins right there
I follow what I′m told when they hurt the most
And the mountain hill in my shoe is just a grain of sound
In these lyrics, Lor sings about the struggles she faces in life. The storms represent the challenges she has to face and she is no stranger to them, for she knows them all too well. The solar flares symbolize the painful experiences that have marked her skin, much like how little birds can leave small marks. Lor mentions that her feet are sore again, suggesting that this is a recurring problem, an ongoing struggle that she has to deal with. She follows what she is told, even when it hurts the most, implying that she is willing to face the pain in order to overcome her obstacles. The line "And the mountain hill in my shoe is just a grain of sound" is a metaphor for how small her problems seem in relation to the bigger picture. It means that her struggles are insignificant compared to the vastness of life, but they still cause her discomfort.
Overall, these lyrics suggest that Lor is no stranger to adversity and is willing to face her challenges head-on, despite the pain it may cause her. Her experiences have left marks on her, both physically and emotionally, but they have also made her stronger.
Line by Line Meaning
Storms rage, they arrive for I'm known
I am familiar with the storms that come my way because they always seem to find me.
To them all so well today
Today, like any other day, the storms know me well.
And the solar flares dab my skin like little birds do
The solar flares touch my skin gently like little birds perching.
My feet's sore again begins right there
The pain in my feet starts from the very beginning all over again.
I follow what I'm told when they hurt the most
I always do what I am instructed to do when my feet hurt the most.
And the mountain hill in my shoe is just a grain of sound
The pain I feel in my shoe is so strong, it is like a mountain, but it is only a minor complaint that seems like a mere sound in comparison to the larger challenges I face.
Writer(s): Paulina Sumera, Julia Skiba
Contributed by Gabriel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.