The easy path attracts a lot of people.
Melbourne based singer-songwriter Ali Barter is not one of them.
In these on-demand times of overhyped pop idols and dubiously talented Internet sensations, Ali possesses the natural chops to have garnered instant attention years ago. But the classically trained soprano, with a decade of choral experience, abruptly quit music in her late teens to become a self-proclaimed 'ragbag' and itinerant world traveller.
Having been exposed to a pantheon of 20th Century musical genius in her upbringing - Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Patsy Cline - she credits the brilliant, notoriously tortured Cat Power with providing the spark that re-ignited her original passion.
Raised by a Buddhist mother and a Catholic father in a Jewish neighbourhood (all whilst attending a Methodist school), she found herself craving the 'sense of community' she observed in all the above religions. At long last, in the late 2000s, she 'found it in music' - the timeless last refuge of the vagabond since time immemorial. As a result; the stakes were always going to be too high for taking short cuts.
Ali embraced the hard graft of the generally glamour-free open-mic circuit. She threw herself into the solitary interior enterprise of writing her own songs and painstakingly practicing her own unique style of guitar playing, recording her debut EP 'Trip' in 2012 with local producer MATIK. The EP caught the attention of national radio broadcaster triple j and earned Ali a coveted spot at the 2013 Laneway Festival in Melbourne, and from there she built her following up and down the east coast of Australia, sharing the stage with acts such as The Rubens, Cloud Control, Alpine, High Highs and Holy Holy.
Ali's clear, pure tone has a habit of elevating every note she sings, evoking comparisons to a long list of acclaimed singer songwriters - the afore-mentioned Cat Power, but also Sharon Van Etten and Bat For Lashes.
Now, with her follow up single (a reintroduction, if you like). Entitled 'Community', with it's rolling groove and dusky vocals, this is a rousing, jangling confession; as Barter says, it is a 'surrender to everything that we use to feel a part of the world'.
‘Community’ is taken from Ali’s new EP of the same name which was co-written and produced by Oscar Dawson (one half of folk/rock duo Holy Holy). After meeting in early 2013, the pair performed around Melbourne and embarked on several east-coast sojourns. During this period, Dawson fell in love with the songs, and so the pair began a far-reaching creative collaboration. Says Barter, ‘…I would start playing one of my songs, and Oscar would start playing along… and it was like the other half of the song would just appear. It was like the missing piece of the puzzle.’
Far Away
ali barter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underneath all the sand there are diamonds
People walk in a trance, they never listen
They're a mess, they're a slave to the rhythm
Spent too much money on coffee and cigarettes
I've never felt so far away
Spent too much time on freeways and internet
I've never felt so far away
Lost my mind, now I'm stuck on the sidelines
Wanna play with the cool kids all the time
People talk??, they never listen
I'm a mess, I'm a slave on a mission
Spent too much money on coffee and cigarettes
I've never felt so far away
Spent too much time on freeways and internet
I've never felt so far away
And when I'm all alone
It's like the Twilight Zone
I've never felt so far from love
And when I'm all alone
It's like the Twilight Zone
I've never felt so far from love
And when I'm all alone
It's like the Twilight Zone
I've never felt so far from love
Spent too much money on coffee and cigarettes
I've never felt so far away
Spent to much time on freeways and internet
I've never felt so far away
In Ali Barter's song "Far Away," she describes feeling lost and disconnected from the world. She compares herself to being stuck on an island, isolated from others, and feeling like she's lost her mind. Despite the beautiful scenery, she feels like she's missing out on life because people are too busy being caught up in their own lives to truly see and listen to one another. The lyrics suggest an overwhelming sense of longing and a search for meaning.
The lines "Spent too much money on coffee and cigarettes / I've never felt so far away / Spent too much time on freeways and internet / I've never felt so far away" reflect the constant distraction and addiction people have to their vices and technology. These distractions can cause people to disconnect from the present and miss out on what's around them. The repetition of the phrase "I've never felt so far away" reinforces the feeling of loneliness and disconnection.
In the chorus, Barter uses the metaphor of the "Twilight Zone" to describe her feelings of being far from love. The Twilight Zone, a popular sci-fi TV show from the 1960s, was known for its eerie and unsettling stories that explored the human condition. By using this reference, Barter compares her feelings of disconnect to the otherworldly and unsettling themes of the show.
Overall, "Far Away" is a reflection on the modern world and the feeling of being disconnected from those around us. It highlights the importance of being present, listening to others, and finding meaning in our lives beyond our constant distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost my mind, now I'm stuck on this island
I feel disconnected from the world and isolated in my own thoughts
Underneath all the sand there are diamonds
There is value within myself, even if it's hard to see at the moment
People walk in a trance, they never listen
Others around me are too caught up in their own lives to hear what I have to say
They're a mess, they're a slave to the rhythm
Others are struggling to keep up with the demands of their lives and are being controlled by their routines
Spent too much money on coffee and cigarettes
I have been trying to soothe my worries with temporary fixes
I've never felt so far away
I am feeling emotionally distant from others and from myself
Spent too much time on freeways and internet
I have been distracted by things that are not meaningful and have spent too much time on things that don't truly matter
Lost my mind, now I'm stuck on the sidelines
I feel like an observer in life rather than an active participant
Wanna play with the cool kids all the time
I am seeking validation and acceptance from others
People talk??, they never listen
Others are too busy talking to really hear me
I'm a mess, I'm a slave on a mission
I am struggling and feel controlled by my own goals and aspirations
And when I'm all alone, It's like the Twilight Zone
Being by myself makes me feel lost and confused
I've never felt so far from love
I am feeling disconnected from the love and support that I need
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.