She lived in Japan for most of 1998, studying first with Kazuo and Yoshito Ohno and at Asbestos-kan, and then with Min Tanaka at Body Weather Farm. She speaks rudimentary Japanese. Returning home to Los Angeles, she recorded most of her next album, zeroone, on a Power Mac G4 and started City Zen Records to release it in 2001.
Her first three albums were solo acoustic recordings. After these, she started to play with a band. They had been called Los Cincos and were renamed Syncopation. They never recorded much together, though. She signed a contract with Sony/Columbia Records, and recorded The Golden State, culling songs from her previous albums. Mitchell Froom and Yves Beauvais helped her produce it. She recorded at the Sunset Sound Factory, and the album came out in the fall of 2002 and was generally well received by critics, though one writer referred to Mia as "jaw-droppingly pretentious". For a year, she toured the US and Europe, on her own and then with Alaska! and Lou Barlow's Folk Implosion. Sony chose at this time not to renew her contract.
The title of her 2005 album Manzanita refers to the Spanish name of a round-leaved bush with smooth, red bark and tiny, bell-shaped blossoms, that grows throughout California and the Pacific Coast. She recorded up in Lake Hollywood with Rob Campanella. Many of the songs are still just voice and guitar or piano. Brent played bass as well as some guitar and piano. On drums and percussion were Hunter Crowley, Rick Menck, and Nelson Bragg. Members of Dead Meadow and Beachwood Sparks made cameo appearances, and the entire band Future Pigeon backed her on track 6. Rob engineered all the while, came up with great ideas, and played electric guitar, piano, dulcimer and mandolin. A remix album La Ninja: Amor & Other Dreams Of Manzanita was released in 2006, featuring one brand new track, Kokoro, and a cover of The Beatles' Norwegian Wood.
As of April 2007, Mia had recorded two new albums; the first, Gea, a collection of nine new songs plus an alternative version of Kokoro, and the second, Morning Music, a collection of seven untitled instrumental compositions. Exact details of when and on which label these recordings are to be released are unknown.
Under the Sun
Mia Doi Todd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are the Salt in my Sea
The Cream in my Coffee
The Honey in my Tea
Maybe we should spend the summer
Maybe we should spend some time together
Under the Sun
I am the Ocean
You are the land
My deep Devotion
Crashes on your Sand
Maybe we should spend the summer
Maybe we should spend this Life together
Under the Sun
I am the Ocean
You are the Wind in my Sail
We drink my Love Potion
We are steep in the Gail
Maybe we should spend the summer
Baby, we should spend the winter
Under the Sun
The song "Under the Sun" by Mia Doi Todd is a love song that uses metaphors of nature to describe the deep connection between two people in love. In the chorus, Todd sings, "I am the Ocean, You are the Salt in my Sea, The Cream in my Coffee, The Honey in my Tea." The ocean represents the vastness of the singer's emotions, while the salt in the sea, cream in the coffee, and honey in the tea represent the subtle but essential parts of the relationship. The singer suggests that they spend time together under the sun, enjoying the warmth and brightness of their love.
The second verse of the song continues the metaphor, with the singer saying, "I am the Ocean, You are the land, My deep Devotion, Crashes on your Sand." Here, the ocean represents the singer's emotional intensity and depth, while the land represents the stability and grounding of the other person. The singer's love "crashes" onto the other person's "sand," showing the power and force of their emotions. Again, the singer suggests that they spend time together under the sun, experiencing the joy and warmth of their love.
The third verse uses the metaphor of wind and sail to describe the singer's and the other person's love. The singer says, "I am the Ocean, You are the Wind in my Sail, We drink my Love Potion, We are steep in the Gail." The wind represents the energy and direction that the other person brings to the relationship, while the sail represents the singer's receptivity and willingness to be guided. The love potion represents the depth and power of the singer's feelings, while the gail represents the challenges and obstacles that the two people will face together. Once again, the singer suggests that they spend time together under the sun, whether it be summer or winter.
Overall, Mia Doi Todd's "Under the Sun" is a beautiful and poetic love song that uses nature metaphors to express the depth and intensity of a romantic bond. The repetitiveness of the chorus emphasizes the consistency and permanence of their love, while the changing metaphors in each verse provide different perspectives on their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the Ocean
I am vast and powerful, a force of nature, always moving and changing.
You are the Salt in my Sea
You provide the essence of my being, the element that makes me unique and gives me flavor.
The Cream in my Coffee
You add richness and depth to my life, making everything sweeter and more satisfying.
The Honey in my Tea
You are a natural source of sweetness and warmth, nourishing and comforting me in every way.
Maybe we should spend the summer
Let's make the most of our time, embrace the warmth and light, and enjoy each other's company.
Maybe we should spend some time together
Let's take a chance on love and see where it leads us, cherishing every moment we have together.
Under the Sun
In the open air and warmth of the sun, we can be free and uninhibited, allowing our love to bloom and grow.
You are the land
You are the solid ground beneath my feet, the foundation of my life, and the source of stability and strength.
My deep Devotion
My love for you is profound and unwavering, a deep commitment that transcends time and circumstance.
Crashes on your Sand
My love for you meets resistance and challenges, but it continues to persist and push forward, just like waves crashing on the shore.
Maybe we should spend this Life together
Let's make a lifelong commitment to each other, sharing all the joys and challenges that come our way.
You are the Wind in my Sail
You propel me forward, giving me direction and purpose, and helping me navigate the unpredictable waters of life.
We drink my Love Potion
We share a magical elixir of love and passion that intoxicates us and strengthens our bond.
We are steep in the Gail
Together, we face the storms of life, weathering the winds and waves, and emerging stronger and more resilient on the other side.
Baby, we should spend the winter
Let's not just embrace the warmth and light, but also the cold and darkness, facing the challenges of life together and finding comfort in each other's love.
Contributed by Annabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Totem Tribo
Voz suave conectando boas vibrações...
Russell Goff
Such a beautiful song to wake up to on a June gloom morning.
Elisa Mar
Magic and amazing , the lyrics , the song, your voice
Kathleen Cunningham
Lovely voice, haunting song.
Don Heenan
I heard this/her on KCRW a few years ago and have searched for this hauntingly beautiful voice and song/lyrics since. Thanks for sharing yourself with me , Mia. Don
Soma Miller
Beautiful!!
Dominika
love it
Fabiano do Nascimento
Love you Mia!!
Elba Oliveira
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
karina Mirochnick
amazing :)