“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.
Why Can't I Be
Sara Lov Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I become what you think I am
sad and empty sad and empty
why can't I be a little more like you
and I do everything
to keep from slipping
but you pull me down and
you are so strong why can't I be
and I don't even want you
but still I'm the weak one
why can't I be, why can't I be
a little more like you
cold and hard
The lyrics to Sara Lov's "Why Can't I Be" are a contemplation of the singer's emotions and her comparison to someone she admires for their strength and resilience. The first line acknowledges that the singer feels something whenever this other person is around, likely an intense admiration or envy. The following lines reveal that the singer believes that the other person sees her as sad and empty, lacking the fortitude and stability that this figure possesses. The singer wishes that she could be more like this person, which causes her to try harder to maintain control and resist their influence. However, the other person is so powerful that they ultimately pull the singer down, making them feel weak and helpless.
Line by Line Meaning
you make me feel something
You have a powerful impact on me that I cannot quite describe.
and I become what you think I am
I mold myself into the persona that you think I embody.
sad and empty sad and empty
Underneath it all, I feel depressed and hollow inside.
why can't I be a little more like you
I wish I possessed some of the qualities that you have.
and I do everything
I try my best to maintain control in my life.
to keep from slipping
I struggle to avoid falling into despair or losing my grip on reality.
but you pull me down and
Unfortunately, your presence in my life often drags me down.
you are so strong why can't I be
You possess an inner strength that I cannot seem to find within myself.
and now you are back
Although you are not always present, when you do come around, it disrupts my sense of stability.
and I don't even want you
Despite my negative feelings towards you, I cannot seem to shake you from my life.
but still I'm the weak one
I know that I am the one who is vulnerable in this situation.
why can't I be, why can't I be
Why do I struggle so much to find my own strength and identity?
a little more like you
I desire to possess some of the tough, detached qualities that you exhibit.
cold and hard
I want to be able to block out emotions and view the world in black and white, rather than experiencing the chaotic grayness that I currently feel.
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.