A cat-and-mouse chase across Europe. From the forests of Latvia, via Riga and Tallinn, to the open ground of Dartmoor, winding up languishing in a cell at Shepton Mallet prison.
The story
Inspired by Nick Cave’s duets with Kylie Minogue and PJ Harvey, Glasgow-based Dora Lachaise and Jonni Slater decided to collaborate. Their first joint single, Sign on the Door, was sparked by Jonni’s love for Cold War era novels and films, with his character on the run from Dora’s determined agent of the law. The track is co-produced by James Sanger (Keane, Dido), who invited the duo to come and work with him at his recording studio in northern France.
Dora Lachaise‘s haunting vocals take centre stage in her dark and otherworldly music. She is inspired by Victorian cemeteries and the visual arts. Her solo work has been played by BBC Introducing in the West, BBC Upload, and Amazing Radio UK and USA.
Jonni Slater paints dark scenes with his warm, husky vocals, vintage keyboards and cinematic production. He won first place at the Sensoria Scoring Contest of 2020 and has subsequently worked on the short film “SWAT”.
Sign on the Door is the first single from Weather Balloons, Dora and Jonni’s forthcoming EP with accompanying short films. They’ll launch the EP with an immersive experience of live music and film at The Old Hairdresser’s in Glasgow on 8 June 2023.
For fans of: Joan As Police Woman, Ainslie Wills, Nick Cave and Chris Cornell.
Lyrics
Dora:
There’s no sign on the door
There’s a crack in the window
Never been here before
But I know that you are here
Jonni:
And I wait for you
Senses sharp
Can never close my eyes
And when I run
I will melt into the nigh
An empty room
And I was never there
Dora:
Not this time
You won’t get away
You’re the pins on my map
You’re the year that’s behind me
You’re the face in the photograph
You smile just to defy me
Jonni:
And you’ll never know
How close I’ve been
I faced you in a crowd
Turn my head
Held my nerve and walked on by
A heartbeat
And I was never there
Dora:
Not this time
You won’t get away
Jonni:
Whatever separates me from you
An ocean or a door
I’ll always be one step ahead
Towards what’s coming for us all
Dora:
There’s no sign on your door
There’s no light through your window
Credits
Words and Music: Dora Lachaise and Jonni Slater
Produced by: James Sanger and Jonni Slater
Recorded at Vibey Studios and 79Wave Studios
Mixed by: Jonni Slater
Mastered by: Nick Cooke
Dora Lachaise: Vocals
Jonni Slater: Vocals, Dulcitone, synth, acoustic guitar
Ian Bostic: Drums
Jonni Slater and James Sanger: Omnichord