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.
Suffused With Love
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It shouldn't be this bad
He's spitting as he says "Hi"
I catch fire
So fortunate for you
You were free to choose
That's not enough to keep me from yelling
As he yells 12 PM
But no one's running late
They're all airheads
Cause he is on the move
And these virgins talk about groove
And make it sound so credible
Oh tonight's suffused with love
Don't spend all your time
It's only hit and run
Why spend all your time
Making someone else's dream?
You always meet these girls
Penetrating eyes
And tentatively I require names
But he is on their minds
Young, lost occupied time
vanishes, unfortunately
Can I have learned eyes?
I knew you'd hesitate
I pictured this unfortunately, no
We haven't got the time
For he is in our minds
Just about enough to keep me on the outside
Is tonight suffused with love?
Don't spend all your time
It's only hit and run
Why spend all your time
Making someone else's dream?
The lyrics of Sondre Lerche's "Suffused With Love" describe the singer's observation of an intense and chaotic scene at their workplace. The first stanza describes a heated conversation between two individuals, where one is yelling and spitting while trying to greet the other. The singer captures fire, perhaps implying that they feel disturbed by the intense emotional display. The second stanza depicts a shivering woman, possibly overwhelmed by the aggressive behavior of a man who is yelling at the group about the time. The singer notes that despite his intensity and aggression, the coworkers are lazing around, chatting about trivial things, and making everything seem more casual than it actually is. The chorus, repeated twice throughout the song, asks if tonight is suffused with love, perhaps sarcastically, given the discordant emotions described in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard him yell something
I overheard him screaming, unclearly phrased
It shouldn't be this bad
This situation ought to be better than it is
He's spitting as he says "Hi"
He's angrily and incoherently greeting someone
I catch fire
I feel both excitement and discomfort
So fortunate for you
It's lucky that you can choose your own path
You were free to choose
You had the liberty to make your decisions
That's not enough to keep me from yelling
That alone won't prevent me from shouting
She shivers at her desk
She quivers with anxiety in her workspace
As he yells 12 PM
He shouts and glowers like a tyrant, menacingly
But no one's running late
Despite his warning, nobody's tardy
They're all airheads
Everyone's forgetful or absent-minded
Cause he is on the move
He's urgently and quickly making moves
And these virgins talk about groove
These inexperienced people lecture about style
And make it sound so credible
And they deliver their instruction convincingly
Oh tonight's suffused with love
This evening is filled with affection
Don't spend all your time
Don't use all your efforts in one area
It's only hit and run
It's only brief and casual
Why spend all your time
Why devote all of your time
Making someone else's dream?
Helping someone else achieve their ambition?
You always meet these girls
You always encounter these intriguing women
Penetrating eyes
Their eyes are probing and intense
And tentatively I require names
I timidly ask for their names
But he is on their minds
But he is the one they're thinking about
Young, lost occupied time
Youthful, overlooked busy moments
Vanishes, unfortunately
It disappears, regrettably
Can I have learned eyes?
Can I have wise, informed perception?
I knew you'd hesitate
I guessed you'd be unsure or indecisive
I pictured this unfortunately, no
I imagined something adversely, possibly not
We haven't got the time
We don't have sufficient time
For he is in our minds
Because he dominates our thoughts
Just about enough to keep me on the outside
Almost enough to prevent me from being included
Is tonight suffused with love?
Is tonight characterized by love?
Don't spend all your time
Don't dedicate all your energy in one area
It's only hit and run
It's only fleeting and superficial
Why spend all your time
Why expend all your time
Making someone else's dream?
Assisting someone else in fulfilling their aspirations?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SONDRE LERCHE VAULAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sondra Olden
Wonderful!
ElixTRCSCC02
i love it!! :D
austin islam
it's like three songs in one
luanavvvvvvv
Thank you!
m c
:)