Wow, FAWM has come around quickly! Vowed I wouldn’t overthink things this year but yet again I’ve got myself bogged down in production and finessing with my first track - hopefully I’ll get a few done a little quicker as we move.
Honestly, I’m super proud of this. Last year I tried to move away from safe ground and was writing a lot of synth pop and clean funk.
This time out I wanted to start with a bang with a funk rock track (with a twist) and foreground some guitar riffs. I played a gig last week for the first time in years so wanted to bring that buzz of live music into my guitars and vocals.
Last year I exclusively used a Fender Jaguar - this track is all about my Gibson Les Paul.
Lyrically this went all over the place but only came together in the last few hours. It started off being about a first date (you can still read that inspiration into some of the final lyrics), but I couldn’t find a chorus melody or words to get it right.
So- it’s ended up with a number of themes rolled together, with a kind of sci fi metaphorical thing going on. Make you own mind up what it’s about, I’d love to hear your interpretations. I loved writing and recording this, I hope that comes through in the final product.
Guitars: Gibson Les Paul
Amp: Supro Blues King 12
Pedals: Strymon Deco and Flint, 1981 Inventions DRV, Boss DS2,
Bass: Yamaha 5 string
Mic: SE X1a
MacBook Pro with Logic Pro X
Time is ticking and it’s getting near
Hold your breath and don’t give in to fear (that ain't wise)
I wonder if you’ll make it back this time
And now we’re go for launch so count it down from five (four three)
You been away, you travelled far and wide, it got my attention
A one way trip to Mars is quite the alibi - ain’t that right?
Tell me are you ever really satisfied
What if I built a castle for you in the sky
Bring me back a little souvenir
Racing faster than the speed of sound
To give you back your hand me downs
Did I mention that I thought you wore that well?
Once or twice
Though I think I’ll be passing on the kiss and tell
It’s oversharing
Now astrology was not the thing for me
And though I asked you, you never took up the offer of astronomy
Bring me back a little souvenir
From when you last shed a tear
A Martian sunset in a perfect sphere
Racing faster than the speed of sound
Give you back your hand me downs
Left out in the lost and found
Someday I’ll see you around
@chipwithrow Mar 2022
Yeah! That's some guitar shredding. I dig the wall of guitar sound playing such a chill funk groove. Also noticing the sweet bass - I'm considering getting one.
This song is the whole package, and sounds awesome in headphones!
@plushbaby Mar 2022
Love the intro, it sounds like the first song on a new album, a new dawn, rather than a sunset. Particularly like the beat and the off-kilter impression it creates.
I like the little distorted muted strum before the guitars roar in, and what a roar it is! It feels like you're really embracing the old Les Paul, and enjoying the soloing. Not that it overawes, you've done a great job of using the guitar pyrotechnics sparingly.
The 'are you really satisfied' line is a lovely melody, and the 'high' behind the castle in the sky line is a nice touch. And the meloncholy of the final line sounds mournfully accepted - I like it!
@nadine Mar 2022
Bitcrushed beats on a bluesy alt rock song? Ok that's new. Funny that you wrote a song about your guitar. Another strong song. Man, your FAWM has been very good. Chapeau. #tit4tat
@coolparadiso Mar 2022
some really interesting changes and sounds here! Great guitar. i se the change in lyrical pursuit but that could just be metaphor. like the way it comes back to resolution #tit4tat 1 (of 3 only)
@pumpkinhead Mar 2022
As funky as rock funky ever was. Nice sound of your Les Paul. That used to be my favorit sound digging Thin Lizzy for years. Cool intriguing vocals on the love theme. I was expecting a massive guitar solo with a fade after "someday I'll see you around" but I was wrong. Great work nether the less. You should be proud.
Peace
@adforperu Feb 2022
some real angular playing in that intro that all fleshes out for that kick in with the killer solo. Definitely getting some US alt-rock vibes from this, so you explore more ideas that a lot of those 90's bands tended to do
@splittybooms Feb 2022
This took my ears in several different directions, and they all led to somewhere very cool.
That intro leading into that unique almost whimsical repeating riff - totally unexpected.
And speaking of that melody you're doing there - THAT is so friggin cool sounding along with the vocals. And when you bring it back at 2:03 with whatever you got panned in the far left, that's like candy.
Awesome guitar playing! The actual guitar sounds great, too. Loving the jamming on it after the first verse - what a way to bring in the meat of the song; sounds SO good!
Also love the vocal "aaah" panned to the left.
Great ending, too.
I definitely get the intergalactic spacey feel from the lyrics.
@ddd Feb 2022
Really love the other-worldly feel throughout this.
Superb guitar playing and a very strong vocal performance. A great discovery!
@andrea Feb 2022
I actually loved the lyrics. And the guitar - yow! The rest is gravy. This is a great listen.
@paulh1237 Feb 2022
That opening dissonant synth is great, and then the funk kicks in! Great vocals and huge guitar.
@n1742 Feb 2022
fabulous first song for this year. that red hot guitar solo hits us like a freight train with lovely melodic ideas. I'm very envious of the bass line and the tone of it is exquisite. that last chord changing to major just says it all. great mix as always.
@ampersandman Feb 2022
Wow, lots of details to appreciate in here: Funky groove, trippy electronic sounds, amazing bass line, beautiful chord changes, and of course that HUGE lead guitar! Congrats to a strong start to FAWM.
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
That synthy electronic opening evokes a Martian landscape right off the bat. Then those funk rock guitars hit, and whoa! Great bass and vocals too. A very cool track all around. So good to hear from you again this year!
@dreamscuba Feb 2022
I really enjoyed this track. Vocals are great. A very good sci-fi vibe. The guitar sounds killer though the Supro.
@cblack Feb 2022
When that guitar kicks in... Daaaamn! That is really nice. Your voice is great, but the lead guitar is my favourite part.
Great song overall! Glad I listened. :)
@zecoop Feb 2022
"All about the Les Paul"
WHAT ABOUT THE GOLD FOILS?!?!?!!!
Anyway...
Incredible tones throughout, obviously, as expected. Loving that I saw a tune pop up from you. This is a jam with a serious groove. Love it all. Cool as heck and could listen to this all night. Oh, and there's a super cool lyrical bit there too. Well done top to bottom.
@mikeb Feb 2022
Great lead guitar sound, and he whole mix balance is is very polished. Reminiscent of the early Bowie sound.