Born in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway, the young Lerche was heavily influenced by the 80's music emanating from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as a-ha, The Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar instruction at age eight. Not satisfied with the lessons at school, Lerche experimented with original tunes on his own accord, eventually penning his first song, "Locust Girl" at the age of fourteen. While still underage, Lerche held acoustic performances at the club where his sister worked; Lerche was eventually discovered by Norwegian producer Hans-Petter "HP" Gundersen.
While under Gundersen's mentorship, Lerche was exposed to diverse music genres, including psychedelia, 60's pop, and mainstream Brazilian music, broadening his appreciation for eclectic music styles. Around this time Lerche was also introduced to Oslo-based manager Tatiana Penzo, resulting in a recording contract with Virgin Norway. With steadily growing popularity in his home country, he recorded his debut album in 2000. The album's release was postponed until Lerche fulfilled several academic requirements; in the interim, he was named Best New Act at Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys) and performed locally as a support act for major acts such as Beth Orton.
Officially released in Norway during September of 2001, Lerche's debut album Faces Down was a chart success in Norway. 2002 saw the album's international release, garnering praise from international publications and critics; Rolling Stone placed it in their top 50 albums of 2002. He embarked on subsequent tours in Europe and the United States. Lerche toured with various acts, including a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with his long-time idols, a-ha. A studio/live compilation EP, Don't Be Shallow, was released in 2003. During the same year, he would have the opportunity to tour with another of his musical idols, Elvis Costello, with whom he would tour once more in 2005.
Lerche's second studio album, Two Way Monologue, was released in 2004. The album displayed Lerche's penchant for experimentation with eclectic styles to an even greater extent than his earlier works, its content ranging from upbeat pop songs to mellow, melancholic tunes. In 2006, Lerche released his third studio album, Duper Sessions. A classical jazz album featuring original songs, as well as a cover of the jazz standard "Night and Day", it was recorded by Lerche and the Faces Down, augmented by pianist Erik Halvorsen, at Duper Studios in Bergen, hence its name.
In 2007, Phantom Punch, a rock album with a distinctly more aggressive sound than his earlier works, was released. Lerche and the Faces Down recorded and mixed the album in Los Angeles in April and May 2006, with producer Tony Hoffer. The same year, he composed the musical score for the film Dan in Real Life. Lerche and the Faces Down also made an appearance in the film itself, performing the song "Modern Nature" as a duet with actress Marci Occhino (the actual vocals were performed by Lillian Samdal). Another song of Lerche's, "Dear Laughing Doubters", was featured in the film Dinner for Schmucks; both films starred actor Steve Carell.
In 2009, Sondre Lerche released Heartbeat Radio. 2011 saw the release of his self-titled sixth studio album, Sondre Lerche.
A Dial Away
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I try to read between the lines
But I conclude another day's search with out you
an endless dial away
If it's my presence you desire
it's not these dots that you require
If it's the pain of living alone, I love you
You're just too perfect to be true
and i can't stnad talking to you
If it's too late , well maybe I'll call
If you're there
an empty dial away
I wish that we could all know
better than now so we wouldn't so dumb
And I wish something would happen soon
so we'd avoid such embarassing calls
How about if I told "hmmm....frankly"
how about if you said "this calls for some action,
come let's go"
I understand that I'm the one
who should call you up and sound like fun
Maybe I'll get you, maybe I won't
but just know
I'm no more than a dial away
In Sondre Lerche's song "A Dial Away," the lyrics speak to the frustration and longing that can arise in a long-distance or disconnected relationship. The singer tries to decipher the meaning behind their partner's words and gestures, but ultimately feels like they are always just out of reach. The repetition of "an endless dial away" highlights the physical distance between the two individuals and the difficulty in bridging that gap.
The lyrics suggest that the singer's presence is desired by their partner, but it is not enough to solely communicate through written or digital means ("it's not these dots that you require"). The pain of being alone is emphasized, expressed through the declaration of love being only "a meaningless dial away." This highlights the impersonal nature of phone conversations and the longing for more intimate connection.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of frustration and the feeling of being held at arm's length from the partner. The singer suggests that their partner is "too perfect to be true" and expresses their dislike for talking to them. However, there is a glimmer of hope as the singer contemplates making a call, suggesting a desire to bridge the distance and reach a state of connection. Ultimately, the song conveys a sense of longing, frustration, and the bittersweet reality of being just a phone call away.
Line by Line Meaning
I try to make sense of your words
I attempt to understand the meaning behind what you say
I try to read between the lines
I attempt to find hidden meaning in your words
But I conclude another day's search without you
Yet, after searching all day, I still haven't found you
an endless dial away
Always just one phone call away from reaching you
If it's my presence you desire
If you long for my company
it's not these dots that you require
Text messages or written communication is not enough for you
If it's the pain of living alone, I love you
If you're feeling lonely, I want you to know I care
a meaningless dial away
Just a telephone call away, although it may seem insignificant
You're just too perfect to be true
You are so incredibly amazing, it almost feels unreal
and I can't stand talking to you
and I find it unbearable to have conversations with you
If it's too late, well maybe I'll call
If it's getting late, I might decide to give you a call
If you're there
If you happen to be available or reachable
an empty dial away
Just a lonely dial tone away from reaching you
I wish that we could all know better than now so we wouldn't be so dumb
I desire for all of us to have more wisdom and intelligence to avoid making foolish mistakes
And I wish something would happen soon
I hope for a significant event or change to occur in the near future
so we'd avoid such embarrassing calls
so we can prevent making uncomfortable or awkward phone calls
How about if I told 'hmmm....frankly'
What if I were to express my honest thoughts or feelings
how about if you said 'this calls for some action, come let's go'
What if you responded with enthusiasm, suggesting we take action and go on an adventure together
I understand that I'm the one
I comprehend that it's my responsibility
who should call you up and sound like fun
to initiate the phone call and be entertaining
Maybe I'll get you, maybe I won't
Perhaps I will succeed in reaching you, or perhaps I won't
but just know
but always remember
I'm no more than a dial away
I'm just a phone call away, waiting to connect with you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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