In 2007, his band by the same name released their debut, "Song of the New Heart", and was considered by the French magazine "Les Inrockuptibles" as one of the best 20 new European bands . His track "Somewhere beneath this sky" won third place in the AAA category in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition, which boasted Tom Waits and Robert Smith as two of its judges.
Mazgani's brand new EP "Tell the People" was released in June 2009 via Portugal's OptimusDiscos, a free-downloads netlabel headed by Henrique Amaro, a reknowned radio DJ. It was being produced by Dead Combo's Pedro Gonçalves and featured 5 new tracks, with the single "Loving Guide".
"Tell the People" was followed by "Ladies and Gentlemen introducing Mazgani", its international release, which featured all 5 Tell the People tracks alongside five tracks from Mazgani's debut album. It was released in the BeNelux, Finland, Scandinavia, Canada and Australia.
In 2010, Mazgani released his second album, Song of Distance, which climbed into the top 20 sales charts in Portugal. Meanwhile, Mazgani and his band toured extensively in Portugal playing some festivals abroad: Eurosonic in January 2010 and Europavox in May 2010.
The international edition of "Song of Distance" as well as a return to France are being planned for September.
These Stones Used To Be
Mazgani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This grass used to be green
And this man he felt down
He knew he would
He found his way out
He knew he could
What he had to do
Building everything
Everything anew
But all was gone
Gone in the spring
But all was gone
In the mad air of spring
He could not forget
For all ends but love
His wounds have opened again
And now he's lost
And now it's too late
He ain't coming back
Although he knows the way
He did what he had
What he had to do
Building everything
Everything anew
The opening line of this Mazgani song, "These stones used to be a palace," represents the all-encompassing sense of loss that pervades the entire song. The reference to a "palace" conjures images of luxury, grandeur, and a bygone era of wealth and power. The juxtaposition of the first and second lines is significant as the grass, which used to be green, indicates how everything is dying away, and nothing is left, including the memories of the once-vibrant surroundings. This contrast between past and present is amplified when the listener is introduced to a man who struggles to find his way out after he falls.
The use of the word "mad" in "mad air of spring" is significant as it represents the chaos and lack of control that the man experiences. The idea of things being "gone in the spring" connotes a sense of loss that the man cannot recover from, and it is all-consuming. The repetition of the line "He did what he had" emphasizes the man's sense of duty and perseverance in the face of adversity. He does not give up but continues to build, even when everything around him crumbles.
The last lines of the song fill the listener with a sense of despair and hopelessness. Despite knowing the way back to what he once had, the man "ain't coming back," indicating that he is lost forever. This song represents the futility of trying to rebuild when everything has been lost, and one can never go back to what they once had.
Line by Line Meaning
These stones used to be a palace
In this place where once there stood a grand palace made of stones, everything has now been reduced to rubble and ruins.
This grass used to be green
The greenery that once covered this land has now withered away and has become barren.
And this man he felt down
The singer in the story has fallen into a similar state of despair and desolation as the land around him.
He knew he would
He was aware of his hardships and the challenges he would face, yet he continued to fight and stand strong.
He found his way out
With perseverance and determination, he was able to pick himself up and climb out of the darkness that was engulfing him.
He knew he could
He had faith in himself and his abilities, believing that he could overcome any obstacle that lay in his path.
He did what he had
He did what he needed to do in order to survive and rebuild his life from scratch.
What he had to do
He had no other choice but to act, taking the necessary steps to keep moving forward in spite of his difficult circumstances.
Building everything
He began the process of reconstructing everything he had lost, starting from the ground up.
Everything anew
He was given the chance to start afresh, to create a new life for himself.
But all was gone
However, when spring arrived, everything he had built and created was destroyed and reduced to nothingness.
Gone in the spring
The new life he had just built was taken away as easily as it had appeared - as if it were never there in the first place.
In the mad air of spring
The arrival of spring brought with it a sense of recklessness and chaos that was beyond his control or understanding.
He could not forget
Although he tried to leave these painful memories behind, he found himself unable to erase them from his mind or his heart.
For all ends but love
In the end, it is only love that remains - the only thing that can truly endure the test of time and hardship.
His wounds have opened again
The pain and trauma he had buried deep inside has resurfaced, reopening old wounds and leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
And now he's lost
He finds himself stranded and alone, with no sense of direction or purpose in life.
And now it's too late
Time has passed him by, and he realizes that he cannot go back and change the past.
He ain't coming back
He has accepted his fate and has no intention of returning to his old life, preferring to move on and start anew.
Although he knows the way
Even though he is aware of the path he needs to take, he acknowledges that it will be a difficult journey - filled with obstacles, and hardships.
Contributed by Sydney G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.