Richards grew up in San Francisco, the daughter of Ted and Teresa Richards, stars of the underground comics revolution. Her father created The 40 Year Old Hippie; her mother was one of the founding editors and contributors of Wimmin’s Comix in the 1970’s. “Growing up, I got the message that if you do what you love to do, money will follow, just not a lot of it.” It was a very Bohemian upbringing to put it lightly.
Richards played in school bands, but never considered music as a profession until her senior year of high school, when fate offered a unique hand. Her best friend began dating Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and Hammett taught Richards a few songs on guitar. “As soon as I knew how to play, I started writing and everything just clicked. Eventually I got a piano to expand my musical repertoire.”
Richards recorded her first demo in Hammett’s basement studio. Dave Deresinski, the then manager of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, passed the recording along to singer Anton Newcombe, who asked Richards to sing with the group. Shortly thereafter, Ondi Timoner began filming the BJM for her seminal documentary DIG! (2004). In one scene, a hiker observed the all white-clad members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and friends gathered on a mountain top location. “Excuse me,” he asked, “is this a cult or a photo shoot?” Miranda ------then candidly replied, “Honestly sir, I don’t know the answer to that question.”
Richards had since moved down the coast to LA to further pursue a music career. “I played clubs and open mics while I worked odd jobs and made demos. A mutual friend introduced me to Rick Parker (producer/musician who went on to work with BRMC and The Von Bondies), and we’ve been working together ever since.” After recording a few sets of demos, she signed with Virgin, and began tracking her debut, The Herethereafter.
The Herethereafter (credits include Jon Brion and David Campbell) enjoyed critical acclaim, and over 40 film and TV licenses that allowed her to continue playing music full time. Since it’s release, Miranda has collaborated in the studio with Tricky, Tim Burgess (Charlatans), Neil Halstead (Mojave Three), Joe Firstman, and The Shore. She joined The Jesus and Mary Chain for the West Coast leg of their 2007 tour, singing duets with Jim Reid on “Sometimes Always” and “Just like Honey.” In the fall of 2007, she toured the UK in support of a vinyl single called “Life Boat” on Sonic Cathedral; in early 2008, she supported Tim Finn (Crowded House), and in late August she supported Neil Halstead, both on solo acoustic tours. The Early November EP was released digitally November 4, 2008 on Nettwerk Records; the full-length sophomore effort, Light of X, is due for worldwide release February 10, 2009.
Light of X is moody and introspective, the kind of music to play while you’re getting dressed up at night, sitting by the phone, and waiting for it to ring. The album fairly shimmers with folk, country, psychedelic, and even classical influences. Richards and Parker assembled a top-notch group of players including Eva Gardner (Mars Volta, Tim Burgess) on bass; main drummer Keith Mitchell (Mazzy Star); Ben Peeler (Wallflowers, Shelby Lynne) on pedal steel, and Josh Schwartz (Beachwood Sparks) on guitar. Rick Parker produced, engineered, mixed the record, and played guitar; Richards composed the material including string arrangements, and played acoustic guitar, piano, and organ.
As a songwriter, Richards has an uncanny knack of finding the diamonds in the dust of every day life and the relationships within. She’s able to look at an average moment and describe it in a way that transforms it into something much more powerful, a talent evident on every tack of Light of X. The album balances Richards’ beautiful, close to the heart vocals, with music that has the wide open, spacious feel of a desert sky or an empty church. Call it Ambient Americana, or Richards’ self coined term ‘Psychedelic Chamber Folk Rock’ if you like, Light of X is an album full of love and loss, desolation and salvation, both moody and comforting.
“Courtney Taylor from the Dandy Warhols calls my genre ‘Pixie Fairy Dust Chick Music,’” Miranda Lee Richards laughs, from her home in Los Angeles. “But I think another fitting description for Light of X might be ‘Psychedelic Chamber Folk Rock.’”
Last Days of Summer
Miranda Lee Richards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These were The Last Days of Summer
Before the leaves had fallen from the trees
And the gardener claims their branches
My eyes are falling toward the ground
As my mind is wanting to make sense of it all
Well you hold on tight before that long winter night
Only the strong will survive it
The white blanket a heavenly reminder
As my eyes are falling toward the ground
As the crows are circling; a pattern has been revealed
The lyrics of Miranda Lee Richards's song "Last Days of Summer" depict a sense of inevitability as the singer reflects on the changing seasons and the approach of winter. She notes that the winds may change, but her direction remains constant, suggesting a feeling of being stuck or trapped. The impending arrival of autumn and the falling of leaves from the trees is a symbol of this change, which is further reinforced by the gardener claiming the branches. The singer's eyes fall to the ground as her mind tries to make sense of it all, indicating a sense of confusion or uncertainty.
The chorus of the song suggests that one must hold on tightly in the face of the long winter night, and that only the strong will survive. This serves as a warning or mantra to the listener, reminding them to persevere through difficult times. The singer finds comfort in the snow and the way it blankets the earth, reminding her of heaven. However, the final line of the song suggests a darker interpretation, as the crows circle and a pattern is revealed. This could symbolize death or decay, and further emphasizes the inevitability of change and the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
The winds would change but my direction stayed the same
Despite external changes, I remained committed to my path
These were The Last Days of Summer
The end of a season and a time of transition
Before the leaves had fallen from the trees
A moment in time, before everything changed
And the gardener claims their branches
A metaphor for the fragility of life and change
My eyes are falling toward the ground
A sense of introspection and contemplation
As my mind is wanting to make sense of it all
The quest for understanding and clarity in the midst of change
Well you hold on tight before that long winter night
Preparing for difficult times ahead
Only the strong will survive it
A message that resilience is key in difficult times
I would find there's comfort in the snow
An unexpected source of solace amidst the cold and darkness
The white blanket a heavenly reminder
The beauty of the new season and hope for the future
As my eyes are falling toward the ground
A continuation of introspection and reflection
As the crows are circling; a pattern has been revealed
An omen or sign of what's to come
Contributed by Ava L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jim Walker
another amazing song
Gary THE CROW
Beautiful....
Werner Spitzenberger
beautiful music, a perfect sound for the coming winter
AliGG1
just discovered her - on a repeat of "Bones" = a song called "Life Boat"
sumant
Omg isnt that song anazing.. i think i heard her years ago in a song that goes like early november.. ugh.. such a treat for the ears
Luc1purr90fur
twstrchk i discovered her on Burn Notice. The song is called The Reach. Its on Burn Notice season 6 episode 3 called "Last Rites". The song starts at about 38:00 into the episode or a little bit after.
Jess Nichole
AWESOMESAUCE!
Ethereal Catholic
Makes me think of something from my misbegotten youth.
Caryn Marderosian
Moving bittersweet exquisite...