Her independently released second album "Monday's Ghost" (2008) stayed at the top of the swiss charts for several weeks and caught the attention of critics abroad. The Guardian described her as "Laura Marling, Beth Orton and Björk in one folk-rocking package".
The Swiss singer spent parts of her youth abroad, living in England and Germany. Her cosmopolitan biography is reflected in her multilingual songwriting. While most songs are in English or German language, each album contains one song in a Swiss German dialect. Her third studio album 1983 (2010) also includes a cover version of Noir Désir's Le Vent Nous Portera in French language.
Hunger has always worked in a collaborative spirit, and her many musical interests have led her to a fascinating geographic and personality mix. While she had recorded her solo début "Sketches On Sea" at home in just a few days, her latest album "The Danger Of Light" evolved over three sessions abroad. In Los Angeles she was joined by Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, PJ Harvey), Nathaniel Walcott (Bright Eyes) and Steven Nistor (Danger Mouse); in Montréal Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire), singer/songwriter Mark Bérubé, Brad Barr (The Barr Brothers) und David Payant (A Silver Mt. Zion) jammed along. That last session from Hotel2Tango-Studio in Montréal is included on the Deluxe Edition of her latest release.
Rapidly gaining a reputation as an electrifying live performer, Hunger has been sharing stages with some of Switzerlands’s most successful artists, like Erik Truffaz, The Young Gods, Kutti MC or Stephan Eicher and appearing at locations such as Olympia in Paris, Miles Davis Hall at the Montreux Jazz Festival or the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury Festival.
The musical directions of Sophie Hunger are limitless, from traditional folk songwriting bathed in jazzy moods to soul balladry. Her musical universe is very flourished, nourished by an exceptionally fragile yet mature voice as well as an ability to cross genres. For Sketches On Sea, she collaborated with a great number of musicians, from a trombone player to a flamenco guitarist. Sophie’s technical prowesses can lead her anywhere and allow her to do things that nobody else could get away with.
Sophie Hunger also contributed the soundtrack to the documentary "Zimmer 202" and the movie "Der Freund" by Micha Lewinsky.
Sites: SoundCloud, Vimeo and Facebook.
Breaking The Waves
Sophie Hunger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking back was through the door
Had I come to give you more
I'm not quite sure what this is for
Ho, ho, ho
On the threshold I would break
Away for you to name the case
Are you bored with what you do
Ho, ho, ho
Give me a second time from afar
I am no experiment
Give me a second time from afar
I could be your empire
In every look of yours there's depth
Is it for me or for the rest
It is love that makes you soft
Or whatever day you're shaking off
In every word of yours there's hope
Are you fighting for my vote
Or is it your romantic side
That cannot just stay unsatisfied
Give me a second time from afar
I am no experiment
Give me a second time from afar
I could be your empire
In Sophie Hunger's "Breaking The Waves," the singer appears to be reflecting on their performance and relationship with their audience. The first stanza describes leaving the stage without an encore and wondering if they should have given more. The phrase "Ho, ho, ho" could be interpreted as a sarcastic or self-deprecating laugh. The second stanza references the threshold, which could represent the boundary between the performer and audience. The singer asks if the audience is bored and if they are simply there to entertain.
The chorus seems to offer a plea for a second chance. The singer declares that they are not an experiment and asks for another opportunity to prove themselves. They suggest that they could be an "empire," perhaps a reference to a successful career.
The third stanza focuses on the audience's reactions to the singer, specifically their "looks" and "words." The singer wonders if the attention is specific to them as an individual or if it's simply part of the performance. They acknowledge the power of love to soften and the possibility that the audience is either trying to gain their favor or simply expressing their romantic tendencies.
Overall, "Breaking The Waves" seems to explore the complexities of performing and the relationships between performers and their audiences. The song invites the listener to consider questions about authenticity, power dynamics, and the search for meaningful connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I left the stage without encore
I chose to not come back for an encore performance
Walking back was through the door
The way I left was simply by walking out the door
Had I come to give you more
I wasn't sure if I had more to offer in my performance
I'm not quite sure what this is for
I am unsure of the purpose or meaning behind this experience
Ho, ho, ho
Perhaps an ironic or sarcastic laugh, a cynical expression reflecting on the situation
On the threshold I would break
At the very edge, I feel like I could lose control
Away for you to name the case
You hold the power here, it's up to you to define what's going on
Are you bored with what you do
Do you feel uninterested or uninspired with your current activities
Am I just entertaining you
Perhaps I am simply a source of amusement or distraction for you
Give me a second time from afar
I'm asking for another chance, but from a distance or in a different context
I am no experiment
I am a real person, not just a test or trial for someone else's benefit
I could be your empire
I have the potential to be something great, a source of power or success for you
In every look of yours there's depth
I can sense that there is something more profound or meaningful behind your gaze
Is it for me or for the rest
I wonder if your depth of feeling is directed towards me specifically, or if it's a more general quality
It is love that makes you soft
Perhaps your tenderness or vulnerability is a result of your feelings for me
Or whatever day you're shaking off
Or maybe it's just a temporary mood or state of mind that you're trying to overcome
In every word of yours there's hope
Your words give me optimism or a sense of possibility for the future
Are you fighting for my vote
Are you trying to win my favor or support in some way
Or is it your romantic side
Perhaps your words are driven by your emotional or idealistic tendencies
That cannot just stay unsatisfied
You have a desire or yearning that cannot be ignored or unfulfilled
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.