Fortunately, that all began to change.
After having recorded and compiled their own record in 2001, the whisperings about Neva Dinova began to get louder. A copy of their debut effort found its way into the hands of respected indie label, crank!, who quickly signed the band and released the eponymous debut in 2002. The album was met with tremendous critical acclaim, including being lauded as a "Top 10 Release of 2002" by the Los Angeles Times. Though the band enjoyed one lengthy sold-out tour with Omaha heroes (and former crank! artists) Cursive, their remaining tour attempts were fraught with trouble and left the album floundering as simply a rare find amongst the musical cognoscenti; that is, until a long-standing hometown friendship catapulted Neva Dinova to the forefront of indie rock.
Neva Dinova's main songwriter, Jake Bellows, and indie rock hero Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame, had discussed a musical collaboration for years. With conflicting schedules, however, it never seemed to come to fruition. Suddenly in late 2003 Jake and Conor found themselves both in Omaha for weeks at a time. Conor and Neva Dinova with new drummer, Roger Lewis (also of The Good Life) quickly recorded six songs together, each writing three songs but playing on all six, and in mid-2004 crank! released the highly anticipated collaboration, "One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels." The release was lauded as a masterpiece and began selling instantaneously, driven by acclaim from powerful media like MTV, Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Blender, Jane, Alternative Press and many others. The record skyrocketed up the college radio and Billboard Independent charts. Suddenly Neva Dinova was on the tips of people's tongues.
Just a few months later, Neva Dinova finished recording the eleven songs for their second full length, re-released The Hate Yourself Change. From the first listen it is clear that Jake Bellows' songwriting has matured and flourished. The many who were overly impressed with Neva's work on "One Jug..." will be blown away by the new release. His uncanny ability to subtly integrate infectious melodies into non-traditional rock song structures continually sets him apart from indie rock’s numerous songwriters, as a writer who will stand the test of time. And when he belts into the power of "It's a dream" (from "The Blackest Heart"), one can't help but feel light-headed with anxious energy. And the Iggy Pop-meets-Leonard Cohen pop infectiousness of "A Picture In Pocket" will have you hitting the repeat button on your stereo incessantly.
In 2007, Neva Dinova signs with Saddle Creek Records (home of; Bright Eyes, The Faint, Cursive, The Good Life, and more). Neva Dinova is currently recording their new record/label debut. More information on the new album soon.
It's 2008, "You May Already Be Dreaming" is now out. It is an album of lush, relaxing and fluid dreams, and is now out on Saddle Creek Records. Check it out.
(SADDLE CREEK WEBSITE) Neva Dinova are treasured heroes of the Omaha music scene. Originally started as an impromptu songwriting collaboration between guitarist and vocalist Jake Bellows and bassist Heath Koontz, the two eventually got bored of their basement seclusion and decided to enlist the support of others. What they created was a five-piece musical tour de force, that includes guitarists Tim Haes and Mike Kratky, and drummer Roger Lewis (also the drummer for Saddle Creek's The Good Life). After years of playing around the mid-West, the five-piece have developed a loyal fan base and spawned an ever-expanding audience. Sonically, the presence of three guitarists has allowed for rapid development of the band's trademark sound, marked by swirling countermelody and assorted textures. It is around this musical fabric that Bellows' truly inspiring, poetry-based lyrics are centered and from where the Neva Dinova critically acclaimed signature sound has developed.
On/Off
Neva Dinova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Microphone feels so soft
No more kisses from the one I love
From the one I love
I'm out of shape
From running away too much
Seen your beauty but I can't touch
The lyrics of Neva Dinova's song "On/Off" seem to talk about a sense of confusion and loss in love that the singer is experiencing. The phrase "it's on, it's off" suggests a turbulent and inconsistent relationship where the emotions and feelings are constantly fluctuating. The line "microphone feels so soft" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's comfort zone or his place of solace where he can express himself without any hesitation or fear.
The second pair of lines, "No more kisses from the one I love, from the one I love" suggests that there was a time when the singer used to feel loved and cared for, but now that person is gone, and he misses the affection that he used to receive. The next line "I'm out of shape from running away too much" could suggest that the singer is running away from his problems or emotions and is feeling exhausted and disconnected from his inner self. The final line "Seen your beauty but I can't touch, no, I can't touch" implies that the singer is longing for someone's affection but is unable to get close to that person.
Overall, "On/Off" seems to be a song about the complexities of love and relationships, the pain of separation, and the struggle of moving on. The lyrics offer a poignant and honest portrayal of the confusing and contradictory feelings that the singer is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
It's on, it's off
My emotions are inconsistent - sometimes I'm feeling connected and sometimes I'm not.
Microphone feels so soft
The comfort of expressing my feelings through music helps me cope with my emotional turmoil.
No more kisses from the one I love
I'm going through a breakup and missing the intimacy and affection that I used to share with my partner.
From the one I love
This person was very special and important to me, and I'm still feeling the weight of their absence.
I'm out of shape
My mental state is not at its best, and I'm struggling to maintain a healthy mindset.
From running away too much
I've been avoiding dealing with my feelings by trying to escape from them instead of facing them head-on.
Seen your beauty but I can't touch
I appreciate the beauty of the world around me, but my emotional turmoil prevents me from fully experiencing it.
No, I can't touch
My emotional barriers prevent me from connecting with others on a deeper level, even if I want to.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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