Inspired by the music of Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Erasure) and Jean Michel Jarre, Kevin started out at an early age composing songs and electronic music on a Commodore Amiga 500 home computer for various self-made films. His first public output arrived in 1997 with the electronic concept-album "London", on which he channeled the impressions of his impactful first visit to the British metropolis. The limited run CD-R already received an enthusiastic review from the electronic music e-zine E-lectric.
Beyond his electronic roots, his love for guitar-driven music from British bands like The Verve, Radiohead and Travis and songwriters like Nick Drake and Brian Wilson eventually lead him to pick up a guitar and become a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and singer, which resulted in the release of two Demo EPs called “Time Escape” (2001) and “Things That Fade” (2002). With the development of Slowtide as his artist name in 2002, he combined the best of both worlds, creating eclectic indie-pop music. Since then, he played live with internationally renown bands like British Sea Power, Gravenhurst, Eskobar, Treetop Flyers or The Wave Pictures among others.
The official debut album "Origins", nearly completely recorded in a bedroom, was released in January 2009 on Marchpane Records to wide critical acclaim, including album of the month awards.
August 2012 saw the release of the second Slowtide album “Solaria” (Timezone Records), an ambitious bright-shining chamber-pop record with lush string and brass arrangements and contrasting bitter lyrics about disappointed yearnings and missed opportunities.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, his early work “London” was rereleased digitally to a wider audience in November 2017.
A third album called "A Gentle Reminder" (Timezone Records) followed in November 2018, on which Kevin took a look back and breathed new life into the raw demo fragments of “Time Escape” and “Things That Fade”. The rearranged and newly recorded studio versions represent a reinterpretation of youthful ideas from a mature perspective.
Lighthouse
Slowtide Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
an old man calls, the tide is coming in
and as the waves are getting higher, swallow water more and more
I start sinking to the ground, I cannot swim
calling out for you to save me, s.o.s. what's going on?
oh, I forgot that you have left me with a feeling that was wrong
How could I assume you'd always lend the hand that helps me out
80 feet below the surface, only darkness, all I see,
is a ray of hope the lighthouse shines for me
and as my breast starts aching and I'm running out of air
I recognise it's always been there
and in this very second, how I wish that it was you
who has lit the fire for me, but you haven't got a clue
and again I find excuses for the things you said today
cause with you I had utopia, but you have gone away
The song "Lighthouse" by Slowtide conveys a powerful message about feeling lost and alone in the midst of a stormy situation. The lyrics describe an old man standing on a shore, warning of the approaching tide as the singer begins to sink in the water. The lyrics "calling out for you to save me" and "if it's you that I still count on, I will drown without a doubt" convey a sense of desperation and helplessness as the singer realizes that the person they had relied on has left them.
The second verse describes the singer at the bottom of the ocean, with only darkness and the lighthouse's light providing a ray of hope. The lyrics "in this very second, how I wish that it was you who has lit the fire for me" demonstrate the singer's yearning for the support of the person they had previously relied on. Despite this, the singer recognizes that they must forgive and move on, as they state "with you I had utopia, but you have gone away."
The song's use of metaphor and vivid imagery creates an emotional impact that resonates with the listener. With the lighthouse symbolizing hope and the ocean representing the difficulties in life, the lyrics convey a sense of longing for support during times of trouble. Overall, "Lighthouse" is a poignant and powerful song that explores themes of loss, forgiveness, and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
lighthouse in the storm standing on a lonely shore
Amidst a stormy sea, a lighthouse stands tall and firm on a desolate shore
an old man calls, the tide is coming in
An elderly individual warns about the incoming tide
and as the waves are getting higher, swallow water more and more
The growing waves become insurmountable as more water is ingested
I start sinking to the ground, I cannot swim
The individual struggles to stay afloat and eventually drowns in the sea
calling out for you to save me, s.o.s. what's going on?
The victim calls out for help, confused and unsure of their situation
oh, I forgot that you have left me with a feeling that was wrong
The victim acknowledges that their current situation is a result of their own poor choices and actions in the past
How could I assume you'd always lend the hand that helps me out
The victim realizes that they cannot always rely on others for help and support
if it's you that I still count on, I will drown without a doubt
The victim depends on someone who has already let them down and fears for their life without their aid
80 feet below the surface, only darkness, all I see,
Submerged deep in the sea, there is nothing but darkness surrounding the victim
is a ray of hope the lighthouse shines for me
The lighthouse provides a beacon of hope for the struggling victim
and as my breast starts aching and I'm running out of air
The victim's breathing becomes labored and they are reaching the end of their life
I recognise it's always been there
The victim realizes that the one beacon of hope that was always present was the lighthouse guiding them to safety
and in this very second, how I wish that it was you
The victim wishes their companion was present to save them
who has lit the fire for me, but you haven't got a clue
The victim realizes their companion never truly cared for them despite being relied on in the past
and again I find excuses for the things you said today
The victim makes excuses for their companion despite knowing the truth about their feelings
cause with you I had utopia, but you have gone away
The victim remembers their idyllic past with their companion but acknowledges they have moved on
Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.