“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.
Touched
Sara Lov Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in her, in her
what do you mean I'm touched
it's worse, it's a curse
what do you need out there
get back in there
what about the little chair
we play piano on
piano on
paranoid secrets
little dark secrets
reasons, no reasons
some will see, some will run
do you love me, love me,
do you really love me
mean to you
sorry too
why did I, why did you
why did you
why did you
The lyrics to Sara Lov's song Touched speak of uncertainty and confusion in a relationship. The singer seems to be questioning the reasons why they are being called "touched," as if they are suffering from a mental illness. They wonder what those around them see in their partner and what they themselves need in order to feel fulfilled. The mention of a little chair on which they play piano seems to suggest a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time.
The lyrics also allude to dark secrets and paranoia, as if the singer is struggling to come to terms with something that they or their partner have done. They ask the question "do you love me, love me, do you really love me" multiple times, suggesting a fear of rejection or of not being loved for who they truly are. The final question "why did you" is left open-ended, leaving the listener to wonder what exactly the singer is referring to.
Overall, the lyrics to Touched evoke a sense of vulnerability and confusion in a relationship, with the singer unsure of whether their partner truly loves them and struggling to come to terms with their own emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
what do you see in her
What qualities or features do you see in the person you are looking at?
in her, in her
Emphasizing that the singer is examining the person closely and intently.
what do you mean I'm touched
Why are you suggesting that there is something wrong with me or that I am mentally unstable?
it's worse, it's a curse
The implications of being 'touched' go beyond a mere insult and she frames it in terms of a curse, suggesting that this label has profound effects on her.
what do you need out there
What are you trying to achieve by leaving right now?
get back in there
Imperative form to instruct the listener that they should go back to the original location or group they came from.
what about the little chair
An offhand remark or question to ask about something that is trivial or insignificant.
we play piano on
The chair is used as a platform on which to play the piano. The chair is no longer insignificant.
piano on
A repetition of the phrase to emphasize the importance of the chair as a platform for music making.
paranoid secrets
Secrets that are not just private or sensitive, but that have become irrational and obsessive.
little dark secrets
Preceded by 'paranoid,' this phrase further emphasizes the singer's fear and unhealthy preoccupation with her secrets.
reasons, no reasons
Implying that the artist doesn't know the reasons for her own secret keeping as well as raising questions about why this behavior is important or necessary.
some will see, some will run
Acknowledging that some people will respond positively to the singer's secrets, while others will have adverse reactions.
do you love me, love me,
A direct inquiry into whether the listener feels affection towards the singer. The repetition may signify a sense of desperation.
do you really love me
Reiteration of the same question in the hopes of getting a more honest answer
mean to you
A follow-up question seeking clarification for how the listener perceives and expresses their love for the artist.
sorry too
An apology or admitting fault.
why did I, why did you
A rhetorical device to draw attention to the singer's and the listener's complicity in the situation they find themselves in.
why did you
A questioning of the listener's motivations or what led to their current behavior.
Contributed by Brayden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.