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.
Sliver Lane
Sophie Hunger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
True love stays away, wunderbar
Spent all of my savings, impossible to stop
He said, "Water falls in love are met, but turn back"
Sliver lane, sliver lane
I'm back again, I'm back again
A sliver lane, sliver lane
Ha-ah
Ha-ah
No need for a flashlight
No need for a plan
I remember the ride like the back of my hand
This is where I came from
Where I had been made
Make my way back for this fatal relax on your trail
Sliver lane, a sliver lane
Back again, I'm back again
A sliver lane, sliver lane
My old friend, my old friend
'Cause you got me marching
You made me move
Shadow boxing, wanna know
On top of a roof, yeah
You got me talking
You know the truth
You're speechless, crazy
Built to mine, priest without a tooth
You got me walking
You made me smooth
Like a satellite plastic ping pong ball
Bouncing down at you
Sliver lane
I'm back again
In "Sliver Lane," Sophie Hunger reflects on her struggle to find true love. Despite her commitment to finding love, she cannot see it and feels she has given it her best effort. True love remains elusive and "wunderbar"(amazing). She has even spent all her savings on love to no avail. The lyrics describe a man who tells her that the waterfalls of love meet before turning back, implying that love always seems promising but ultimately does not work out. However, Sophie finds solace in a familiar place, Sliver Lane, which represents her past, where she has come from and where she was made. She feels that being there will lead her to a "fatal relax on your trail," a sense of peace that will bring her closer to her true self.
The repetition of "sliver lane" reflects the nostalgic feelings that Sophie experiences when contemplating her past. The imagery of "shadow boxing" on a roof, "like a satellite plastic ping pong ball bouncing," adds a surreal element to her memories. The phrase "priest without a tooth" is an oxymoron, which adds a whimsical tone to the lyrics. Sophie talks about how she felt empowered by someone, who helped her move forward, opened her up to speaking the truth, and made her feel smoother.
Line by Line Meaning
So I cannot see it, I gave it my best shot
Despite my best efforts, I cannot see true love.
True love stays away, wunderbar
True love is elusive and desirable.
Spent all of my savings, impossible to stop
I have given my all to pursue love.
He said, 'Water falls in love are met, but turn back'
Although waterfalls of love exist, they can be treacherous and require reflection.
Sliver lane, sliver lane
Returning to the place of childhood memories.
I'm back again, I'm back again
I've returned after leaving something behind.
My old friend, my old friend
The familiar lane is a dear friend.
No need for a flashlight
The road is so familiar that a light isn't necessary.
No need for a plan
The journey is natural and doesn't require planning.
I remember the ride like the back of my hand
The memory of the route is strong and well-established.
This is where I came from
The lane is symbolic of the singer's past and origin.
Where I had been made
The lane is where the artist's identity was formed and developed.
Make my way back for this fatal relax on your trail
Returning to the lane brings a sense of fatalistic relaxation.
You got me marching
Love has inspired the singer to move forward.
You made me move
The catalyst of change was the love interest.
Shadow boxing, wanna know
The artist feels the need to fight and understand.
On top of a roof, yeah
It feels like it's possible to do anything because of love.
You got me talking
Love has unlocked the singer's voice and vulnerability.
You know the truth
The love is genuine and authentic.
You're speechless, crazy
The artist is overwhelmed to the point of incoherence.
Built to mine, priest without a tooth
The love interest is an enigmatic and fascinating figure.
You got me walking
Love has enabled the artist to keep moving forward.
You made me smooth
The love has eased the singer's way forward.
Like a satellite plastic ping pong ball
The journey has a sense of unpredictability and playfulness.
Bouncing down at you
The journey is directed to the love interest.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Emilie Welti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marques
So high you can not see it
Gave it my best shot
True love stays away
When you're not
Spent all of my savings
Impossible to stop
He said water falls
And love will never turn back
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
I'm back again
I'm back again
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
My old friend
My old friend
No need for a flashlight
No need for a plan
I remember the ride
Like the back of my hand
This is where I came from
Where I had been made
Made my way back
For this fate to relax on this trail
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
I'm back again
I'm back again
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
My old friend
My old friend
'Cause you got me marching
You made me move
Shadow boxing, wanna more
The top of the prove, yeah
You got me talking
You know the truth
You're a speechless crazy pantomine
Priest without a tooth
You got me walking
You made me smooth
Like a satellite plastic ping pong ball
Bouncing down at you
Sliver Lane
I'm back again
Stefan
Best female artist. Great live performer.
Héctor Sandoval
Wow
Christopher Young Gnomery
Definitely up there as one of my favorite artists. Btw beaker is my favorite muppet.
Thotola
How inspired a song ! ! ! ! Up to that change in intensity and energy (from 0.59 and a second time from 2.10 and on) that provides diversity but not complexity. It is harmonious from first to last second.
Marques
So high you can not see it
Gave it my best shot
True love stays away
When you're not
Spent all of my savings
Impossible to stop
He said water falls
And love will never turn back
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
I'm back again
I'm back again
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
My old friend
My old friend
No need for a flashlight
No need for a plan
I remember the ride
Like the back of my hand
This is where I came from
Where I had been made
Made my way back
For this fate to relax on this trail
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
I'm back again
I'm back again
Sliver lane
Sliver lane
My old friend
My old friend
'Cause you got me marching
You made me move
Shadow boxing, wanna more
The top of the prove, yeah
You got me talking
You know the truth
You're a speechless crazy pantomine
Priest without a tooth
You got me walking
You made me smooth
Like a satellite plastic ping pong ball
Bouncing down at you
Sliver Lane
I'm back again
Tom Tom
Big love and all my supports for you Sophie !! Free hugs and congratulations
Chris Ehmke
Danke Sophie, deine Stimme hat wieder meinen Tag gerettet.
"When all else ist lost, you still can listen to Sophie Hunger"
Bob Brownbear
Einfach wundervoll <3
Esther M
❤🔝🔝
Monika Minder
Wow! Der beste Song auf dem Album. Meeeega!