The band initially recorded demo recordings at Sam Bentley's home and Rasmussen's university. Encouraged by friends, they released homemade EPs and gained traction with their single "Bloom" in 2010. The band performed extensively in Australia and New Zealand, including opening for acts such as Hungry Kids of Hungary and Passenger.
The band initially gained attention with their single "Bloom" in 2010, leading to extensive performances in Australia and New Zealand. In 2011, they recorded their first EP, "Woodland," followed by the release of the EP "Young North" in 2012. They toured nationally and opened for acts like Josh Pyke and Boy & Bear. Following the tour, the band did a small run of shows opening for UK band Bombay Bicycle Club in January 2013.
Their debut full-length album, "States," was recorded in 2013, and they embarked on a national tour in Australia. They also toured internationally, including the United States and Canada. The band gained exposure with song placements in Grey's Anatomy and released their second album, "Twelvefour," in 2015. It was a concept album written between midnight and 4 AM.
In 2018, they released the albums "On the Train Ride Home" and "On the Corner Where You Live," with the latter recorded in Connecticut with producer Peter Katis. They embarked on an extensive tour and were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIA Music Awards.
In August 2020, the band announced their fifth studio album Roses, a collaborative album of duets. The album features Julia Stone, Lucy Rose, Rosie Carney, Aoife O'Donovan, Nadia Reid, Maro, Amanda Bergman, Ainslie Wills, Lydia Cole and Gena Rose Bruce. The album was released on 12 March 2021.
In May 2023, the Paper Kites announced the forthcoming release of their sixth studio album, At the Roadhouse, scheduled for release on 1 September 2023.
The Paper Kites' musical style has evolved over the years, incorporating elements of folk, fingerstyle guitar, harmonies, and moody soundscapes. Their versatility and influences from various genres have shaped their musical direction.
Tin Lover
The Paper Kites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Screaming all day long
And I don't know how we
Fall into these holes
When the cold is over
Pull me out the ground
And I don't know how we
The lyrics to The Paper Kites' song Tin Lover are rife with imagery and metaphorical language that is open to interpretation. The opening lines suggest a place of tranquility and repose – "where we rest with water" – but the lyrics immediately pivot to a jarring contrast between peacefulness and tumult, as the water is "screaming all day long". This image of turbulent water can be interpreted as a metaphor for a relationship or a mental state that is in turmoil.
The next two lines are perhaps the most enigmatic in the song – "And I don't know how we / Fall into these holes". It's unclear what the "holes" refer to – perhaps they're literal potholes that the characters in the song keep stumbling into, or perhaps they're symbolic holes that represent some sort of emotional or psychological pit that the characters can't escape from. The repetition of "I don't know how" emphasizes the sense of confusion and helplessness.
The final two lines of the verse introduce a note of hope – "when the cold is over / pull me out the ground" – but it's not entirely clear what "the cold" refers to. It could be a literal cold season or location, or it could be a metaphorical coldness or emotional distance between the characters. In any case, the idea of being pulled out of the ground suggests a rebirth or renewal, and the repetition of "I don't know how we fall into these holes" emphasizes the sense of mystery and confusion that the characters feel.
Line by Line Meaning
Where we rest with water
Our resting place is near a body of water
Screaming all day long
Expressing our emotions through loud cries throughout the day
And I don't know how we
Lack of understanding of our situation
Fall into these holes
Frequently end up in these difficult or challenging circumstances
When the cold is over
Referring to a tough period which has now passed
Pull me out the ground
Asking for help to move on from a difficult situation
And I don't know how we
Still unsure of how we got into this situation
Fall into these holes
Continuing to struggle with difficult circumstances
Contributed by Gabriella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.