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.
Side Two
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Side two was about the tortured young and old
Side two will show you how it's meant to be
You'll see a blizzard and you'll leave
Side two will show you how it's meant to be
We're dying now
He helps us out
But I know, oh I know
Who wants to know the names of those
who lived through execution, collecting votes?
You'll see a blizzard and you'll leave
Side two will show you things aren't what they seem
We're dying now
He helps you out
It is so sad to see what will become of me
But I know, oh I know
Who wants to know about all those
who placed their voices in a killing force?
Side two was about the tortured young and old
The lyrics to Sondre Lerche's song Side Two explore themes of the troubled human condition, and the hopelessness and despair that can manifest in our lives, whether young or old. The opening lines question who wants to know about these "tortured souls," setting the tone for a song that reflects on the challenges and struggles we face as individuals and society as a whole. Side two then becomes a metaphor for a way out, a path towards understanding and acceptance.
The lyrics suggest that this "side two" will show us how it's "meant to be," but it's not clear what this means. Perhaps it's an aspiration towards something better, or a recognition that there is a deeper truth that we need to uncover. The subsequent mentions of a blizzard add to the sense of confusion and disorientation: the blizzard is a force of nature that can obscure our vision, but it can also represent the chaos and confusion that we feel inside.
The repeated references to death and dying add to the melancholy mood of the song, and the sense that there is something fundamentally broken and irreparable in the world. Yet there is also a glimmer of hope, as the lyrics suggest that there is someone who can "help us out," and that although it's "so sad to see what will become of me," the singer still holds on to a sense of knowing and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Who wants to know about these tortured souls?
Who is curious about the individuals who are going through a lot of emotional pain?
Side two was about the tortured young and old
The second half of the album is about the struggles faced by the young and old people who are going through mental or emotional distress.
Side two will show you how it's meant to be
Listening to the second half of the album will help you understand the right way of dealing with hardships or emotional pain.
You'll see a blizzard and you'll leave
The album is so emotionally overwhelming, that it will take your breath away and leave you in a state of shock.
We're dying now
We are struggling with immense pain and are barely holding on to our lives.
He helps us out
But, we believe that there is someone who understands our struggles and is willing to help us in our times of need.
It is so sad to see what will become of me
It's depressing to think about what the future holds for us, knowing that we may not recover from our current state of mind.
But I know, oh I know
Despite the sadness and hopelessness, we hold on to the belief that things can get better, and we can overcome our struggles.
Who wants to know the names of those who lived through execution, collecting votes?
Who is interested in knowing the identities of those individuals who were put through the ordeal of being executed, while others saw it as a way to gain political mileage?
Side two will show you things aren't what they seem
The album's second half tries to uncover the hidden truths behind what appears to be, by exposing the reality of the people's motives and showing them to be different than what they present themselves to be.
He helps you out
Even though it might not be apparent, there are always people who are there to support you and lift you out of your struggles.
Who wants to know about all those who placed their voices in a killing force?
Who wants to find out more about the individuals who used their voices to encourage or support the act of killing or causing harm to others?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SONDRE LERCHE VAULAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertocatalancarvajal4384
COME TO CHILE
@benjomein
You're the best Sondre! <3
@hyeseungify
his musics are as nice as could be..
@rocketshipgogh
I can't help but wonder what its about.