'Rainy Nights', performed for Playstation London a few years ago. I wrote this song as my ode to London. The London I love.
Rainy nights in London town
Don't know if he's crying cos I'm looking at the ground
There's a sea of umbrellas floating away from me
A dusty chessboard in an old shop window
A red and white Cheshire on a high brick wall
There's a million faces in a million streets and me.
I LOVED writing this song! x
“To children, the world and everything in it is new,
something that gives rise to astonishment.
It is not like that for adults.
Most adults accept the world as a matter of course.”
Jostein Gaarder
Life changed again a few weeks ago with the arrival of our darling Liora. What a cataclysmic blessing children are, and we don't for a second take for granted the epicness of the occasion.
The newness and mysticism of childbirth is in no way dimmed the second time around. In fact the sensing that this is an unquestioning miracle is much more apparent. More notably, the realisation that there is a design to this thing we call life, is all the more undeniable.
Even more miraculous is the stretching of my hearts capacity to, in an instant, love another human being so completely and so all encompassingly, that I would do the greatest, or most difficult thing in a nanosecond, should this little life require it.
Second time around, sleeplessness, thankfully hurts a little less...albeit marginally.
Second time around, I am all too aware how fast the days fly by, and how much these little ones change in every 24 hour timespan. There is hardly enough time to commit the moments to memory, therefore soaking up this precious newness with my eyes and heart wide open is a vital necessity.
I'm all to aware that in a heartbeat, all I'll be left with of this time are the countless photos taken, and the gloriously fuzzy memories of these momentous, sleep deprived days.
x
This is a REAL throwback. All the way to 2007, and the launch of Truths and Tiny Tragedies. I was so nervous, not sure how I got the sound to come out of my mouth in a manner that didn't scare everyone away, but I'm grateful it did. Grateful for all the support that night. Grateful to share my recording to a sold out show. And grateful that all the hard work came together to create memories I'll cherish forever.
As I look forward to future musical moments, and make plans to share new music, I'm thankful for my history. When faced with new challenges and daunting experiences, ones history becomes a great source of encouragement. Positive historical experiences say that if I've done it before, I can do it again.
I'll be sharing more throwback Thursdays of the musical variety over the next few weeks, so please feel free to check back for more!
x
I love love love new music, especially new UK music.
It's especially fun to be a part of the creation process. You make something, let go of it, time goes by, and somehow it's grown wings and become something even more beautiful.
The forthcoming album from Annastasia Baker has done just that. Last year I was asked to be a part of a small team to write the debut album for this X-Factor contestant and Time2Shine winner. It was abit of a jump to go for it, as Ava was about nine months old, and I would have to bring her with me to the sessions. The team, old friends of mine, were fine with that, and it turned out that Ava was at the perfect age to come along. Not yet walking, happy to sit with me, absorb her surroundings and take frequent naps! There's no way she could come along now! The toddler phase is real people, my girl needs constant attention and stimulation, and it would just be unfair to have her cooped up in a studio for hours on end. Also writing Gospel music was another jump for me as I had never written music for this genre, but again the challenge was fun & rewarding.
So here's the first single 'Pass it On' from Annastasia's album, You Turn. The track is a fun, uplifting song about the cycle of love: giving love, receiving it, and giving it away again. It features Joshua Rogers, who's vocal gymnastics are craaazy, and he really adds something special to the song, in my opinion.
My favourite lyric :
Enveloped inside a hug
You can find the greatest love
Though it's not such a big thing to do
It's like the story of a mustard seed
Grows into a great big tree
You never know what love's gonna do
A cover of my song 'First Love' has also been included on the album, have a listen.
Like what you hear? Pre-Order the album.