1. A band from Austria / Germany
1. A band from Austria / Germany
2. A band from the United States
3. A Witch House / Hip Hop / Trap Producer from Sweden
1. Sonja Kraushofer meets for the first time Tobias Hahn, who produced the L'Âme Immortelle album "Dann habe ich umsonst gelebt". As a result of this creative collaboration and of extended talks, the idea emerges to bring forth a new conjoint project that will also involve Dirk Riegert in a pivotal role as a songwriter.
As early as 1999, Sonja Kraushofer, while on a tour with the band Christian Death, met Christian Death’s guitarist at that time, Wim Leydes. He then goes on to perform some of his own compositions for Sonja and the singer is elated. One of the pieces is entitled "Forest Song" that is featured on the debut album "Home" and that in turn leads Wim to join the band.
In autumn, the first song drafts are created. The cello assumes a central role and PERSEPHONE succeeds in winning over the instrumentalist Martin Höfert, who will later become the live-arranger of the formation.
After a half a year of preparations and elaborations of the existing drafts the first full-length album with the title "Home" is produced at the Nachtschicht-studios by Tobias Hahn and Dirk Riegert.
The artwork-artist Joachim Luetke is responsible for the visual presentation and his name is often mentioned in connection with bands such as Marilyn Manson, Dimmu Borgir, Pain and Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows.
The first album is released in January and is welcomed both by the public and the press. PERSEPHONE presents itself at fortresses, castles and other buildings with flair for the first time live, and embarks together with Janus on the very successful "Winterreise"-tour. Furthermore, the band pays tribute to the "Wave-Gotik Treffen". Martin gets supported with the cello by Holger Wilhelmi who becomes another member of the group.
PERSEPHONE devotes itself to the Nachtschicht studios to the subsequent EP-production, "Still...".
Dirk Riegert withdraws from the project.
The EP "Still..." is released almost exactly one year after the album "Home" was released in a limited edition that in turn is sold out within a short time. It includes, aside from live-recordings and a remix, a new song.
Plans for a full-length album have been made and shall be implemented now. Due to time constraints and occupational reasons Tobias Hahn is forced to cancel his participation in the production of the new album. In November the band assembles at the studio in order to record the new album "Atma Gyan" that will be released in March of 2004. For this purpose, PERSEPHONE invites Matt Howden (Sieben) and producer John A. Rivers (Dead Can Dance) as part of the team. The production concludes in January 2004.
The album "Atma Gyan" is released in March 2004 and sets the starting point of a concept which spreads over the whole of 2004. Part of this concept is a one-year-concert-cycle where the band plays only one concert per month. After PERSEPHONE already has been supported by Johannes Kramer (Doublebass, Cello) in 2003, John Abdelsayed (Percussions) joins the formation. As a special guest the band invites the highly skilled guitarist Frederik Behrens for the concerts in Krefeld and at Schloss Wernigerode. The other part of the concept is a second album which is recorded in summer. "Mera Sangeet Kho Gaya" is again produced by John A. Rivers. It is released on 6th December 2004 and completes "Atma Gyan" as well musically as thematically. The last concert finalizes the extraordinary concept about the mythological character of Persephone.
2. There is not much available about the USA band Persephone. They are from New Mexico, fronted by a transplanted Nebraska woman named Persephone. She says she is inspired by her husband and children. Persephone , according to her, has been pretending to be a rock star since lip-synching along to Abba when she was 8 years old. The album, Birth of Persephone, was self-released in 2006. The sound is a blending of jazz and folk.
Reflection
Persephone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see my face.
Is it.... is it really me?
Is this who I wanted to be?
Tear swollen eyes,
My make-up smudged.
I'm so sorry for showing my tears tonight.
Always pretending to be strong.
Hiding my grief deep inside.
Please, don't come near
And don't look at me.
'Cause no-one should see
The secrets I bear.
I'm so sorry, you saw me so weak tonight
But I can't fight back my tears.
A look in the mirror
I see my face.
Each time it cries,
The tears sharp as knives.
Makes scars all over me,
Is that what you wanted to see?
I'm so sorry for showing my tears tonight.
I was a great actor for years.
I'm so sorry, you saw me so weak tonight
But I can't fight back my tears.
When will I be able to forget?
When will my tears erase my memories?
Will my wounded soul stop bleeding?
Will I ever find redemption?
The song "Reflection" by Persephone is a heart-wrenching ballad about a woman who is struggling with her emotions and the way she sees herself. The opening lines, "A look in the mirror/I see my face" suggest that the woman is trying to come to terms with her appearance, but her tears and smudged makeup suggest that she is not happy with what she sees. She questions whether the person staring back at her is really who she wanted to be.
The woman seems to feel shame and regret for showing her emotions, and apologizes for appearing weak. She acknowledges that she has been pretending to be strong for years, but is finally unable to contain her grief. She begs the listener not to look at her, as she is carrying secrets that she cannot expose.
The chorus repeats the theme of apologizing for showing weakness and crying. The lines "Each time it cries/The tears sharp as knives" express the physical pain that the woman is experiencing. She wonders if the tears and scars are what others wanted to see, implying that she has been judged or criticized for showing her vulnerability.
The final lines of the song express a desperate hope for healing and redemption. The woman longs to forget her painful past and stop the bleeding of her wounded soul. She is searching for a way to move forward and find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
A look in the mirror
Reflecting on oneself, examining one's own appearance
I see my face.
Observing one's own facial features
Is it.... is it really me?
Questioning one's own identity, wondering if it truly represents who they are
Is this who I wanted to be?
Evaluating if the current self aligns with one's desired goals
Tear swollen eyes,
Eyes puffy and red from crying
My make-up smudged.
Cosmetic application ruined due to tears
I'm so sorry for showing my tears tonight.
Feeling apologetic for displaying vulnerability
I was a great actor for years.
Hid true emotions for a long time, acted as if everything was fine
Always pretending to be strong.
Frequently masking emotional fragility with a facade of resilience
Hiding my grief deep inside.
Suppressing feelings of sadness and sorrow
Please, don't come near
Requesting privacy and space
And don't look at me.
Preferring to not be seen in this vulnerable state
'Cause no-one should see
Believing that others should not witness this loss of control
The secrets I bear.
The undisclosed suffering I carry within
When will I be able to forget?
Desiring relief from painful memories
When will my tears erase my memories?
Hoping that tears can wipe away painful experiences
Will my wounded soul stop bleeding?
Wishing for emotional wounds to heal
Will I ever find redemption?
Asking if there is hope for personal salvation and healing
Each time it cries,
Referring to the act of shedding tears
The tears sharp as knives.
The pain of weeping is intense and cutting
Makes scars all over me,
The anguish of crying leaves deep emotional wounds
Is that what you wanted to see?
Suggesting that others might derive satisfaction from seeing someone in emotional turmoil
But I can't fight back my tears.
Unable to stifle emotions and maintain emotional composure
I'm so sorry, you saw me so weak tonight
Expressing regret that someone witnessed their emotional vulnerability
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.