Rich: I'm so fortunate to have someone as talented and genuine as Serene to collaborate with. It's been a pure pleasure. It's such a treat to create music with Serene. I love how she took my original guitar track and developed into this wonderful song. Thank you Serene!!!
Serene: Rich sent me this gorgeous guitar track in my fave d minor and I listened while coming home from work one night. It was dark and the words and melody came quite quick.. sometimes we get ourselves into a tunnel where all we can see are our own worries and anxieties about not being good enough or living up to conceived expectations.. it's important to have faith and trust in the process but boy is it hard! Listening to the final track this morning definitely got me quite emotional. Thanks for being an awesome collaborator and friend Rich and for always having faith in me!
Feeling My Way © Serene Sunderland 2022
We will never know what the future holds
Opaque as the night, haze like a morning fog
Feeling my way through the dark
Trusting in an unknown force
It carries me when I am lonely
And I believe in the courage I've got
To see the end in the start
Finding my way by the stars
I've found a love that holds me
I’ll be OK, keep walking on they say
might not always enjoy the ride
But I’ll hold on anyway
Feeling my way through the dark
Trusting in an unknown force
It carries me when I am lonely
And I believe in the courage I've got
To see the end in the start
Finding my way by the stars
I've found a love that holds
Me through the dark
Find my way by the stars
All of our nights break into a dawn
Feeling my way through the dark
Trusting in an unknown force
It carries me when I am lonely
@wobbiewobbit Mar 2022
beautiful collaboration. i agree it sounds like a real together performance. the words are lovely and big and anthemic within such a gentle arrangement. really enjoyable listen
@jonmeta Mar 2022
You each seem to be in your sweet spot. Guitar & voice are both so expressive and free in the emotions they convey. It’s remarkable that these are separate performances because it sounds like a live-in-studio collaborarion, with the give and take of two performers inspiring and energising each other.
@radiobenedetto Mar 2022
@serene123 your voice sounds amazing. The melody is compelling throughout but the chorus is particularly catchy and your voice suits it perfectly. @richaaaay it takes a great chord progression to inspire great melody and that's what makes this collab work so well. I like the use the rhythmic right hand finger style . . . as you know I'm a fan of that technique myself. Great lyrical imagery as well "Opaque"," fog", "haze", "finding my way by the stars"," through the dark." "Trusting in an unknown force." Wonderful artistry all around on this!
@fearlessflight2014 Mar 2022
The chorus of this song really hits me where I am right now, the exquisitely gentle guitar ticking away under the soaring vocal is the perfect vehicle for such vulnerability. Congrats on another beautiful collab!
@elainedimasi Mar 2022
Soulful and sincere.
@nahlej381 Mar 2022
That reverb sounds magical. The guitar is a perfect accompaniment for serene’s incredible vocal stylings. You guys need to do a full record…and let me produce it lol mega talent on this collab. Serene you could sing the phone book and I’d be enthralled
@gm7 Mar 2022
Yes I love that John Mayer guitar playing(awesome),...so clear and spot on! AND then that voice!!!!! ..OMG i was mesmerized and captivated for entire 3.39mins. @serene123 I am in awe! I can't listen to another song unless I listen to this again. This is not just a collab..this is colossal!!
@tjeff Mar 2022
Thanks so much for providing some background on how this came together in your liner notes! Tasty guitar playing, and gorgeous vocals! Perfect balance. I love that subtle 2 & 4 percussive hit. I love that bridge, such great contrast and yet it fits perfectly. Wow, fine, fine track!
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Wow. This is spectacular. So happy to find you guys, even now after FAWM is officially over. This is a beautiful collaboration. The singing, the words, the guitar. Great work.
@abudabard12514 Mar 2022
Man, I do love when we commit to the dominant chord. I like this tune a lot. Like I'd fully listen to this in real life. Y'all got some real nice magicks. Have youse done a full length record together yet?
@jayjay Mar 2022
Really great song. Vocals amazing. Guitar playing very sympathetic. I would have raised a few parts in the mix as they disappear occasionally but all in all a wonderful song and astonishing vocal performance. #tit4tat
@chrismyth02 Feb 2022
I love that guitar. Serene sings this wonderfully - bluesy, smooth, awesome. Shades of Natalie Merchant but you make it your own. A great collaboration.
@pippa Feb 2022
This is absolutely gorgeous. I'm so glad you recommended it. I'd love to play it on KOPN, but I can't see how to download it. There's no download button. I wrote you an email ([email protected]). It might well go into your spam folder. Can you check?
@oaksnprairie Feb 2022
I especially like the phrasing, how lines can be cut short, or extended into the next stanza.
@oswlek Feb 2022
Of course this would be great. Dminor is the saddest of all keys, after all. :)
Oh my, the hairs on my neck stood up on "find my way" at 2:08. And they had already been upright! But they found a way to reach higher.
Guys, this is really, really good. Like, if I didn't know better I would think you were the hot new understated act touring the country. The guitar playing is sublime, so clean and well articulated. I'm going to guess it isn't a comp of 100 different takes because it feels very organic. And Rich has a way of finding his way (see what I did there?) through some lush melodic valleys. It's rarely I-IV-V, and it's always sweet.
And what can I say about Serene? Her voice is pure perfection. It's a soothing balm for my ears and my heart. Sometimes I think Rich is navigating different keys just to see if she can keep up. And she never misses a beat. My goodness.
Great lyric writing, too! Can't forget that!
Total homerun. Grand slam, even. I'm in awe.
@paulharrison Feb 2022
So cool...great guitar feel and groove and beautiful lyrics and vocals! It took me a while but I'm glad I found your collaboration treasure chest of fine, fine music!
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
The lyrics and vocals carry this message so authentically—this is lovely, Rich & Serene. The production, guitar, and vocals are beautiful! #tit4tat
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Oh I like Dm as well! Very philosophical lyric, age has freed me from most of these concerns , gotta be something good in getting old! Guitar is so strong and allows the vox to meander where it wants. Very nice indeed!
@serene123 Feb 2022
Rich you are very good at guitar, seems impossible. from Reuben ( Remember me?)
@chroes Feb 2022
So beautiful. The vocals are so soft and clear over the beautifully played guitar. The lyrics are evocative and relateable at the same time. The small pauses and slips into minor harmonies here are everything!
@n24 Feb 2022
Wow, this really stands out. The guitar and vocals are so well matched. The vocals are so soft and lush, I love the defiant lyrics, the sentiment of perseverance through the dark night. A really amazing track and a wonderful collab. Great work both :)
@kristi Feb 2022
Wonderful song. I like how the guitar has an uplifting feel throughout and the lyric is deep but essentially positive and triumphant. Serene your vocal is beautiful and the way you phrase things is unique and ear-catching. Great collab!
@nadine Feb 2022
Such a pleasure to hear you. The guitar playing is soooo cool and I could die for these complex and soulful phrasings of Serene. How I wish to nail these super sparse arrangements like you two. Hats off!
@davidtaro Feb 2022
You two are like a superhero duo. Just such a perfect fit. I’m on to listen no 3. Admiring equally the soulful vocal stylings (I don’t know the technical term but the little runs/flourishes you do on certain words is properly virtuoso stuff), and then the cool guitar work, some cracking hammer ons there! The song has a very anthemic feel, and very universal lyrically. Could be your first hit guys! Loved this one :)
@andrea Feb 2022
It's a lovely guitar track. Love the way it spoke to you. @serene123, your voice is sublime. All around wonderful vibe to this song - like a hug. Another wonderful collab from you guys!
@tukayandryan Feb 2022
Wow! This is such a beautiful collab. Your voice is absolutely gorgeous @serene123 . Love they way it has the chance to soar above the guitar. Nice use of space and pace too. Lovely guitar too @richaaaay. This is such a great listen.
@trebled Feb 2022
Amazing how a great guitar track and a beautiful vocal can make such a ‘complete’ song. Nothing else needed here. Perfect!