They have released three full length CDs, one EP and one single. They are most widely known for the song "Duvet", which was used as the theme song for the anime series Serial Experiments Lain. As a result, they are fairly popular among anime fans worldwide; in particular, they performed in a live concert at the anime convention Otakon in 2000.
Their first full-length album was released in Japan in 1998 and titled "The Race Of A Thousand Camels." In 2001, the album was released in North America under the name "Twilight." It contained extra songs not found in the initial Japanese release.
After long delays by Pioneer's record label, bôa set up their own record label, "Boa Recordings", in 2003 and began recording their new album, "Get There", released in February of 2005.
The band is currently on hiatus until further notice.
(Note that bôa is not to be confused with the Korean pop artist BoA.)
bôa was formed in 1993 by original drummer, Ed Herten. Ed had played in several bands including "Delirious Groove", from whom he recruited Paul Turrell (keyboards) and "Draggin' Bones", from whom he recruited Alex Caird (bass). Ed had also been to school with Steve Rodgers, who soon joined bôa on guitar and vocals.
"Fran", an early song penned by Ed and Paul, had a chorus which lent itself to a female vocal. Steve's sister, Jasmine Rodgers, then just 16 years old, was persuaded to record a vocal on an early recording. This happened a number of times until Jasmine was eventually persuaded to become a full member of the group.
bôa actually started out as a funk band and soon recruited Ben Henderson, who had played in the band "Doctor Sky" with Alex, on saxophone.
1994
After several months of intensive songwriting and practicing, bôa played their first gig at "The Forum" in London. The gig was the first of many great live successes (and a few early disasters!)
In summer 1994, Ed left the band to concentrate on his studies, but remains a good friend of the rest of bôa to this day. After a couple of drummers were tried out but, for one reason or another, didn't work out, bôa found themselves with a gig to play and no drummer. Alex persuaded the drummer of yet another ex-band, "Chapter 6", Lee Sullivan, to help out. Lee's debut was a great success and he soon became bôa's permanent drummer.
Ed's laid back feel had worked perfectly with bôa's early funk songs. However, Lee brought a more powerful, rocky feel to the band and the songs naturally followed suit. Consequently, saxophone became somewhat surplus to requirement and Ben switched to guitar.
1995
This was a good year for bôa - they played many successful gigs including a short tour of the South of England which ended in two performances at the Glastonbury festival, where they were chosen as the focus of a TV documentary about the festival that was shown on the London art/music magazine show, "Shift".
The members of bôa were so pleased with the way the band was going that Jasmine delayed studying for a degree, Alex dropped out of his and Paul quit his full time job as a computer salesman (he didn't like it much anyway!) and moved to the spiritual home of bôa, the incredible town of New Malden.
1996
A relatively quiet year for bôa in which they received considerable interest from British record companies but no actual offers of deals. Salvation came in the unlikely form of an offer of a deal from Japanese company, Polystar Records, which bôa signed.
In December, bôa went into Red Bus Studios, London with producer Darren Allison (who has also worked with Skunk Anansie and The Divine Comedy) and recorded three songs: "Twilight", "Deeply" and "Elephant".
1997
Production of the bôa album was delayed by Polystar but the remainder was recorded in September at "Monnow Valley Studios" with producer Neil Walsh. It was mixed at PWL studios (Manchester) in November by Neil Walsh and Jason Barren.
1998
The bôa album was finally released by Polystar in the second half of the year under the dubious title "Race of a Thousand Camels" (inspired by a dream of Jasmine and a computer game written by Paul). Jasmine and Steve went to Japan to promote the release with some TV and radio appearances though the rest of the band were not invited by Polystar. Polystar also failed to fulfil contractual obligations to release the album in America and Europe. The song "Duvet" was released as a single.
1999
Despite to this day owing money to bôa, Polystar finally did something to help rather than hinder the band when they secured the use of the song "Duvet" as the theme tune to Serial Experiments' anime "Lain". This led to DJ Wasei remixing "Duvet". The show won several awards in Japan and has become hugely popular with anime fans around the world, most notably the USA. This web site suddenly became inundated with notes of appreciation for the song "Duvet". Paul and Alex wrote to Pioneer-USA, distributors of Lain, and discovered they too had received many enquiries about bôa.
Meanwhile, bôa were working with producer Stuart Epps and recorded some new material including an acoustic version of "Duvet" and the song "Drinking". The "Tall Snake E.P." was released in Japan featuring all three versions of "Duvet" and two songs ("Little Miss" and "Two Steps") than had been intended as B-sides of further promotional singles in Japan that Polystar had failed to release.
2000
Ben left bôa to concentrate on his other band, "Moth", in which he plays with his wife, Tina.
2001
bôa's debut US album "Twilight" was released on March 27th 2001. bôa played a mini-tour of Los Angeles in April and hope soon to perform a promotional tour. They are well on the way to completing a second album. The future looks bright....
Paul Turrell
Sadly, after much soul-searching, Paul has deciced to leave the band in order to pursue other interests. We wish him all the best and ask you all to wish him congratulations for his wedding to Jai-un and further congratulations for their forthcoming little one!
In August, bôa were tempted away from songwriting for a moment when they were invited to play at the Animefest in Dallas, Texas where they were treated to a fantastic audience and good Texan Beer, all in all a good one.
2002
bôa were scheduled to record their second album for Pioneer but due to a series of re-shufflings in the record company the album has been delayed for the moment. bôa, however have enjoyed writing more and more songs, only stopping for a break in June when Alex went to Australia for a couple of months travelling and Jasmine went to the Far East.
In September bôa supported Bad Company on their UK tour playing in Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Birmingham,Sheffield, Nottingham and York. The tour was brilliant and bôa are back in gigging mode and planning many for the next year!
2003
BOA record the new album in Southampton, England. The album is entirely self-funded and the band set up a record label, Boa Recordings.
2004
The album is then mixed and mastered and finally titled Get There!
2005
Boa have finally accomplished what they set out to achieve.
Originally, this was just a simple wish like all bands to record the next set of songs that all musicians feel compelled to write. However, like all bands again, Boa met with a series of delays and eventually decided that doing it on their own would be the best course of action.
As a result, a record label, Boa Recordings was set up and Get There was recorded, mastered and is out on the 1st. We wish to thank all of you for waiting so patiently and supporting us so marvellously.
Wasted
bôa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I think I may be failing
'Cause I aim too high, when I'm feeling low
Should be what I'm trying to do
Is to get my way back through
But I don't know how and I end up feeling
Wasted – feel nothing
Wasted – feel nothing
Wasted
Wasted all the strength I had
To make myself feel underground
And I don't know how
'Cause it keeps me open
Waiting for a new beginning
To free me from the one I was and I know I've been
'Cos I don't feel clean
I've wasted – feel nothing
Wasted
Wasted – feel nothing
Wasted
Maybe all I have to do is
Is to find my way back through
And to see the light that comes from you
And maybe all I need to feel is
Is that I can really fly away and I have my wings
And I'm aiming high
I've wasted – nothing
Wasted
Wasted – nothing
Wasted
I've wasted
Wasted
I've wasted
Wasted
I have wasted...
I have wasted...
I have wasted...
The song "Wasted" by bôa is a reflective piece that touches on themes of self-doubt, loss of motivation, and the struggle to find one's way back to a better state of being. The repetition of the word "wasted" in the chorus highlights the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward. The opening lines suggest that the singer may be trying too hard and setting their expectations too high, leading to feelings of failure. They acknowledge that they should be working on getting back to a better place, but they do not know how to do so and end up feeling "wasted."
The next verse continues with the theme of feeling stuck by discussing how the singer has used up all their strength and energy in trying to make themselves feel better, but they have not succeeded. They are waiting for something or someone to come along and provide them with a new beginning, to free them from the person they were and the negative feelings they are experiencing. The line " 'Cause it keeps me open" could refer to the hope that something will happen to change everything, and it is this hope that keeps the singer from shutting down completely. In the end, the singer realizes that they need to find their way back through to a better place, to see the light that comes from someone else, and to aim high. They no longer feel "wasted" but instead have a sense of purpose, hope, and possibility.
Overall, the song "Wasted" is a poignant reflection on the struggles of life and the importance of finding one's way back to positivity and hope. It acknowledges the difficulties of this journey but also emphasizes that it is possible to feel better and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I've been trying too hard
Perhaps I've exerted myself too much.
'Cause I think I may be failing
Because I believe that I might not be succeeding.
'Cause I aim too high, when I'm feeling low
Because I set lofty goals for myself, even when I'm not at my best.
Should be what I'm trying to do
I ought to focus on attempting to accomplish.
Is to get my way back through
To find my way out of this predicament.
But I don't know how and I end up feeling
However, I'm uncertain of how to do this and end up feeling unfulfilled.
Wasted – feel nothing
I feel empty and unproductive.
Wasted
I've squandered my time and energy on something unproductive.
Wasted all the strength I had
I've exhausted all the power and energy at my disposal.
To make myself feel underground
To make myself feel down and depressed.
And I don't know how
And I'm not sure how to change that.
'Cause it keeps me open
Because this mindset keeps me vulnerable.
Waiting for a new beginning
Waiting for a new start.
To free me from the one I was and I know I've been
So that I can escape who I used to be and who I presently am.
'Cos I don't feel clean
Because I feel unclean and unworthy.
Maybe all I have to do is
Perhaps all I need to do is
Is to find my way back through
To find a way out.
And to see the light that comes from you
To recognize the positivity that emanates from you.
And maybe all I need to feel is
Perhaps all I require is to feel
Is that I can really fly away and I have my wings
That I'm capable of soaring and possessing my freedom.
And I'm aiming high
And I aim to succeed.
I've wasted – nothing
I have not wasted anything.
I have wasted...
I have squandered...
Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aly
on Twilight
i love this song sm