In 1992, musicians Boh Runga and Andrew Maclaren moved to Auckland from Christchurch. Eventually with other musicians, initially guitarist Joel Haines they formed stellar* in 1994. Originally a three-piece ,they wrote their first single "Ride". This featured in a short film Headlong by Simon Raby. The band in its initial form didn't last. Later Runga and Maclaren came across bass player Kurt Shanks and reformed the band as a four piece.
In 1998 the band signed on with Sony music NZ, later that year they released their first commecial single What you do (bastard). 1999 saw their first album release Mix, then the second-highest selling NZ album ever.
The band officially disbanded in 2010 after releasing their greatest hits compilation.
Slowburn
stellar* Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a wall you can't breach
With pretty words they sound absurd like
Cheap philosophy
I stepped through it clean
And the scars show no more
What's then was the and now is when I
Smiles are made of accolades that don't
Belong to me
Slowburn slowburn
All the while you learn
Slowburn
All the while
Believe me when I say
It's a hard pill to take
My second skin is wearing thin my
Polished visage aches
It's not the fact I'm a part of that
It's the thought I'm part of this
Behave like someone-else and I'm doing
It naturally
One way is not enough but I keep it to
Myself
They're for no one else
I keep it to myself
I keep it to myself
Slowburn
In the opening lines of the song "SlowBurn," the singer talks about a wall that cannot be breached by pretty words that sound like cheap philosophy. It is not clear what this wall represents, but it is something that is beyond the reach of words alone. The singer then admits that they were able to step through this wall, and the scars of the experience no longer show. The past is gone, and the present is where they choose to focus. She then talks about how her smiles are made of accolades that do not belong to her, which implies that she may be pretending to be someone else to fit in.
The second verse emphasizes the pressure to conform and act like someone else to be accepted, but this is not natural. It is like wearing a second skin that is now wearing thin, and it hurts. The singer is not concerned about being part of the group; it is the thought of being part of it that is disconcerting. She keeps different parts of herself to herself because one way is not enough. And finally, the refrain of "SlowBurn" is repeated, emphasizing the learning process and the need to take your time.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it from me
Believe my experience
There's a wall you can't breach
There are limits to what you can accomplish
With pretty words they sound absurd like Cheap philosophy
Hollow language is unconvincing
I stepped through it clean And the scars show no more What's then was the and now is when I Choose to ignore
I've moved on from past difficulties and don't dwell on them
Smiles are made of accolades that don't Belong to me
People's praise doesn't truly apply to me
Slowburn slowburn
Things take time
All the while you learn Slowburn All the while Believe me when I say
Learn from the process of waiting
It's a hard pill to take My second skin is wearing thin my Polished visage aches
Putting on a facade is difficult and is taking a toll
It's not the fact I'm a part of that It's the thought I'm part of this
It's not about being part of something, but feeling like I belong
Behave like someone-else and I'm doing It naturally One way is not enough but I keep it to Myself
I try to fit in, but it doesn't always work
They're for no one else I keep it to myself I keep it to myself Slowburn
I don't feel the need to share everything and am content to wait
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.