Don’t misinterpret the calls for a lover not to wake up, it might be the disconnection from reality they really need. 

Aijā starts off sounding like something made by a bunch of kids filled to the brim with sugar, messing around with the drum settings on electronic keyboards in a music lesson. As relatable as that may be for younger generations, it really stifles the song before it gets going, and makes the message it offers difficult to unpack. 

If you’re willing to dig a little deeper and give the song a chance, you’ll realise the beauty and altruism in the lyrics Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis sings. We live in a world of darkness, pain and misery, and falling asleep to the sound of a lover’s lullaby is the sweet escape many might crave. Aijā is a reflection of that in true form. Being oblivious to the world in the hours of sleep is the most comfort many feel. 

The soft, alt-rock composition is melancholic and indicative of the story. The guitars don’t roar, instead they hum in tandem with Zitmanis’ wistful vocal melody. 

I didn’t understand Aijā when I first heard it, and I fear that its lack of immediate clarity may be its downfall at Eurovision. Nevertheless, Sudden Lights have crafted something beautiful out of the harsh realities of modern living.