“Simple and sad with a shot of scotch.” That’s how musician Sara Lov describes her simultaneously dark and angelic sound that has been also described as “honeyed” (NME), “haunting” (The Sun), and “smokey” (MOJO). The former frontwoman of Devics and current solo singer paints an apt picture of melodies that are both minimalist and poignant with heady vocals that warm you from the inside.
For a singer freshly on her own, Lov (no, the “e” isn’t missing, and yes, that’s her real name) exudes immense confidence. The artist was formerly a part of indie favorite dream pop band Devics, a critical favorite in the UK where they were famously signed to Bella Union by Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde. It is perhaps because of the success of Devics that Lov finds the idea of going out on her own exciting, if a little unnerving. “I learn every day and doing scary things makes me grow,” Lov says. “Dustin [[artist]Dustin O'Halloran, the other half of Devics] and I make wonderful music together, but like every creative person there’s always that insistent urge to write both music and lyrics for yourself, test yourself, challenge yourself.”
Lov views much of her life in a similar way – taking something frightening that could have overwhelmed others, and making it a positive influence on her life and music. At the age of five, the Hawaiian-born Lov was kidnapped by her father and taken to Israel, then Minnesota, and then ended up in L.A. at age 12 where she was raised by her uncle. “My father really encouraged me creatively,” Lov says. “The one thing I am certain of is that for most of my young life, music was the consistency and stability I had. It was my escape and my sanity.”
Perhaps that’s why Lov feels a certain nostalgia for a time in her life that most would imagine to be traumatic or marked by stolen innocence, going as far as to name her debut solo album, Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming (Nettwerk), after the idealism of youth. “As you get older it’s harder to find beauty and innocence in anything,” she says. “It’s easy to get jaded and loose your sense of idealism. So, to find that thing that brings you back to your ‘young eyes’ or that thing that makes you feel excited to be alive again even though you are seeing it through seasoned eyes... even if just for a moment, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Produced by Zac Rae (Fiona Apple, Annie Lennox, My Brightest Diamond), mixed by Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Beck), and featuring cameos from Alex Brown Church (Sea Wolf) and Solon Bixler (Great Northern), Seasoned Eyes shows steely confidence, even with Lov’s oft-shaky vocals. A cover of Arcade Fire’s “My Body is a Cage,” shows Lov’s versatility in her ability to turn an already stunning song even more gorgeous, filling out the instrumentals with cello, Ukulele, pump organ, and celesta.
On her original tracks, Lov is similarly inventive. “Animals,” which Lov describes as a breakup song, is a dramatic musical dialogue between Lov and Alex Brown Church led by jaunty, child-like guitar picking.
It’s Lov’s lyrics, though, which are the highlight of her music, and the part she is most reluctant to talk about, preferring instead for listeners to interpret on their own. On “Fountain,” over mournful strings and theatrical keys, Lov sings “Fountain, fountain, we are the same / all that anyone ever has for you are the things you reflect back to them,” and with restrained anger, “Don’t you wish you could throw your pennies back at them.”
On “Animals,” Lov reflects on what she learned from a broken relationship: “I never, never learned to swim until you came around and pushed me in”,” she sings. With “A Thousand Bees,” she works on letting go and moving on, as she sings “How sweet is the revenge when you don’t want it anymore / How meaningless the defense when you’re not fighting anymore,” over a rapidly tapped snare and swelling keys. On “Tell Me How,” she expresses, “I’m really good at getting hurt babe / Not so great at feeling good.”
For an artist who was curious about recording and performing on her own, Lov has proven she had little to be concerned about. “I had always wanted to make a solo record but I guess I never believed I could do it on my own,” she says. “I’m really glad I did it, a whole world opened up to me.” Listeners to Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming are certain to be just as pleased.
New York
Sara Lov Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to see it, to say this
what started on fourth street is finished
is finished
I came back to see it
through new eyes
and feel it
I waited all night
I had a dream you went to New York
you found new friends
you had new work
I wasn't there but I came to visit
we sat on the bridge and talked of the difference
we spoke of the long ago
promised each other we'd never get old
but that was a whole life ago
and now I'm on my own
I came here, to see it
through new eyes and feel it
I waited all night on boards by the waterside
I had a dream you went to New York
you found new friends
you had new work
I wasn't there but I came to visit
I slept on your floor watched the wind in the curtains
maybe it's enough to know
I never walk alone
I get by on my own
I'll always be my only home
I came here, I waited to see it
To say this
what started on fourth street
is finished
The lyrics to Sara Lov's "New York" are a beautiful reflection on the passing of time and how relationships change over the years. The song begins with the singer stating that she has returned to New York to see it again with new eyes and feel it in a different way. She then reminisces about a dream she had where a friend moved to New York and found new friends and work, while she visited and they sat together on a bridge and talked about the difference between then and now. The lyrics are melancholic, as she reflects on how much things have changed, but also optimistic, as she acknowledges that she never walks alone and that she is her own home.
The chorus repeats, with the singer expressing that she waited all night by the waterside, dreaming of her friend and the city itself. She recalls sleeping on her friend's floor and watching the wind in the curtains, perhaps implying that even though she is on her own now, she still has fond memories of their time together. The song ends with the singer repeating the lyrics from the beginning, "I came here, I waited to see it, to say this, what started on fourth street is finished", emphasizing the idea that something has ended, but also allowing for the possibility of new beginnings.
Overall, "New York" is a beautiful and introspective song that explores the passage of time and how our relationships and perspectives can change.
Line by Line Meaning
I came here, I waited
I arrived in this place and eagerly anticipated something to happen
to see it, to say this
to witness something and express what I have in mind
what started on fourth street is finished
whatever that commenced on Fourth Street is now over and concluded
I came back to see it
through new eyes
and feel it
I revisited the same situation with a fresh perspective and a renewed understanding
I waited all night
on boards by the waterside
I spent the entire night waiting by the water, sitting on the planks
I had a dream you went to New York
you found new friends
you had new work
I wasn't there but I came to visit
I dreamt that you went to New York, made new acquaintances, found employment, and I later visited you even though I didn't accompany you on the trip
we sat on the bridge and talked of the difference
we spoke of the long ago
promised each other we'd never get old
but that was a whole life ago
We conversed about the contrast, discussed distant memories, made a vow to remain youthful, but that was ages ago
and now I'm on my own
currently I am by myself
I came here, to see it
through new eyes and feel it
I waited all night on boards by the waterside
I came here to perceive it differently and sense it, I waited overnight beside the water on planks
I had a dream you went to New York
you found new friends
you had new work
I wasn't there but I came to visit
I dreamt that you went to New York, made new acquaintances, found employment, and I later visited you even though I didn't accompany you on the trip
I slept on your floor watched the wind in the curtains
I slept on your floor and observed the wind moving the drapery
maybe it's enough to know
I never walk alone
I get by on my own
I'll always be my only home
It's possible that being aware that I'm never truly alone suffices for me, I can manage on my own, and I will always depend on myself
I came here, I waited to see it
To say this
what started on fourth street
is finished
I arrived here, waiting to witness something and vocalize that what happened on Fourth Street is now concluded
Contributed by Kayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gaffeizil
Beautiful song, as expected, and the video compliments it very well!
lisa
It's crazy that something as beautiful as this has less than 30,000 views when Work has 480 million
Robert Cozzi
The ethereal beauty of this song astounds me. You paint a picture so well through your lyrics and convey the feeling of separation and loneliness so well..making this such a meaningful song. And this voice of yours is so good.. faved Robby
Gavin Castleton
Sara, lovely video! Congrats on this new record
maslada
I love this song =) I highly recommend your EP!
Emilio Albertoni
I heard this beautiful song the first time in Ravenna 15 years ago at your gig. I love again this song like the first time. Thank you for sharing beauty
Mar T Music
thanks a lot for another great masterpiece of music video! love this so much!
scruffle
one of my fav songs of yours, its so leonard cohen! you are amazing miss sara
midoil
Sara, your song and your 'video' is absolutely fantasticly awsome!!!!
Giovanni di Benedetto
what a beautiful song, what a beautiful voice. I love them. I really hope you come soon in Italy. Giovanni.