February/March 2022
wellbeing through music
+ Interviews
MINDFUL Melody
Zane Williams Gloria Anderson Tebey
Hardy
ISSUE 10
Top 10 Songs about Nature, Sounds that Heal and Relax, 'Tick, Tick...Boom!' Review, The Sonic Ranch, Lyrical Life Lessons #3 - George Strait....And More!
Hey there! I recently turned 23, which means I can no longer spontaneously start singing “I’m feeling 22” in my best Taylor Swift voice (actually, that's a lie, I'm definitely going to keep doing it regardless). I’m a huge fan of Country, Hip-Hop and EDM, but I’ve also got a guilty soft spot for One Direction. I recently finished a Buddhism & Hinduism Masters degree at the University of Oxford, and previously studied Philosophy & Theology there as an undergraduate. During this time I worked as Music Editor of two student publications, and I also started a blog over at www.maximoco.com, on which I’ve published album reviews, interviews, and some more general musical musings. My first foray into the relationship between music and mental health was in my Self-Help Songs blog series, where I’d pick a song that has an especially helpful message and discuss the meaning behind it. The more I studied Buddhism, the more I realised that most Buddhist practices and philosophies are aimed towards one goal - improving our mental health. This provided the inspiration for my blog’s 30-Day Happiness x Music Project, which combined a Buddhist step-by-step process of how to improve our mental wellbeing with a song that embodied each teaching. Two of my main passions in life are writing and music, and it’s been a long-term dream to start a magazine, so I’m incredibly excited to have co-founded Mindful Melody with my best friend, David. My favourite artists are Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Travis Scott, Florida Georgia Line, Kanye West, Avicii, Zac Brown Band, Drake, and Luke Combs...to name a few (!). When I’m not listening to music, I’m either out playing golf, over-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or wondering why it’s so quiet…
Maxim Mower
Contents
David Dawson
Introducing...Us!
3
Zane Williams talks The Wilder Blue, sticking to his own path... and treating problems like aliens!
4
Music Mental Health and Me #10: David - My Dream Band Line-up
7
Hardy talks about his hopes for 'Hixtape Vol 2' and being country as hell!
9
Top 10 Songs of Nature
12
Lyrical Life Lessons #3 - 'Give Me More Time' - George Strait
14
Talented Country Singer-Songwriter Gloria Anderson talks Cars, Memories and Music
16
Spotify Recommended - Help or Hindrance?
19
Quote of the Issue
21
The Sonic Ranch: Midland's origin-story digs up their roots and strikes gold
22
Tebey Interview - From Canada with Love
24
Sounds that Heal and Relax: The Music of Mindfulness - Guest Post by Vytautas Vaitkevicius
27
'Tick, Tick… Boom!' Review: The Musical of Honesty, Humility and Heart
29
Hi, I’m David and along with my more talented and better looking (no I'm not bitter) best friend Maxim I co-founded this magazine. I have always had a passion for music and played instruments from a young age but when I was 12 I settled on the saxophone and with it played in multiple groups within and outside of school. Through an amazing band I was in I was fortunate enough to perform at the Royal Albert Hall twice and go on a tour to Spain. I also did work experience as an army musician and just about got involved in music in any and every way I could. I studied music throughout school and also had a keen interest in History, Philosophy, Ethics and English but, as it was my passion, music is the one I followed through to University. As well as performance modules, in uni I would also study modules focused on music psychology, musicology, film music, music journalism and the music industry. Bored yet? So, music has been a big part of my life, but so is mental health. Although I didn’t really know it at the time I suffered depression through my later years at school, I knew the way I was feeling wasn’t right but was unable to put any sort of label on it. Whilst at uni, although overall a positive part of my life for many reasons, I began to suffer more and more and finally went to the doctors where I was diagnosed and put on medication for depression. After five or six years I have finally realised that the journey is not one with an end as such, but more of a bumpy ride filled with ups and downs. Whilst the ride at times may be more difficult than others there is no way that we can fix the road, but only better prepare ourselves for when the ride isn't so comfy (maybe a new set of springs!). When I'm not working or writing I'll probably be playing football, Xbox or watching the US version of The Office on a continuous loop.
Hey Zane, thank you for taking the time to talk today! One of my favourite songs of the past few years is ‘Dixie Darlin’ - that song epitomises everything I love about Country music. The storytelling, the harmonies, the steel guitar, the bittersweet feel of it. It’s also particularly interesting because it tells that classic story of love lost to the rodeo, but flips the traditional tale around so that it’s the woman leaving the man, rather than the other way around. What inspired this song? Well, it wasn’t my life, for sure… I’m glad, because it’s a pretty tragic tale! …It is a tragic tale, isn’t it! I came up with the chorus first, and then wrote this story to go with it. I’ve always felt like rodeo women that ride the horses seem very independent and capable, like if you can control an animal that big and take care of it, then you don’t need a man, you don’t need somebody telling you what to do! They got it all on their own. Like you said, a lot of times it’s the other way around, but there are just as many women in rodeos as there are men. I’m sure that some of them are free-spirited travellers that don’t want to settle down, so I just went down the rabbit hole of imagining what kind of story would go along with that, and thinking what real-life situations I hadn’t really heard too many songs about. Nature is a big inspiration on The Wilder Blue’s debut album. I think, personally, there’s something spiritual about just being in the great outdoors, away from all the noise. What draws you to nature in your songwriting? When I was a kid, we moved around a lot, but for a little while I lived in West Virginia, and I had a friend who lived in a wooded area with lots of trails. I remember one time I was by myself, I must’ve been 12, and I was hiking on this trail all alone, and I just remember being still and listening to the hills, the trees, the noises of the woods and forests, it just seemed so meaningful to me. I felt such a connection to the land and living things, and that stuck with me. I’m not a guy that gets out all the time in nature, but I definitely feel like it’s in my genes - in my nature! - to connect with all of it. Nature can pull you out of yourself and make you realise it’s not all about you, and make you think of the bigger picture. It’s like there are those woods, there are the ducks doing their ducky thing today, and this woodpecker’s over here doing his thing, and it’s all going on whether you’re happy or sad. I have to ask you about another of my favourites from the album, ‘The Eagle’. When I listen, it sounds like an epitaph dedicated to rural, small-town living, which is perhaps being crowded out by the hustle and bustle of cities. But it also feels like there’s something more going on, especially in the hook - “Does an eagle feel when he’s flying, that his way of living is dying? Does he wish that western wind would blow him far away? If it could, would it matter anyway?” What’s the meaning behind this? Well, it seems to me that the onward rolling of technological progress is unstoppable. I live in a city called McKinney, and it used to be 15,000 people that lived far away from Dallas, with just fields in-between. Now, McKinney has 200,000 people and it’s completely connected to Dallas, with suburbs and shops the whole way. So I was stuck in traffic one day here and I was seeing condos and apartments going up and I was feeling a little left behind by the frantic pace of change in the world. Then a hawk swooped over my hood and went up and landed on a telegraph pole, and I watched him looking down on the Sam’s Club parking lot and the plastic bags floating in the breeze. I thought, ‘Surely he feels the same way I do’, and I just wondered what the hawk was thinking as it looked down at all that concrete and all those cars. He was probably just looking for a rat! But I think that even if you could escape to some far-off place in nature, the change is still going to come for you no matter what. A couple of The Wilder Blue songs are criticisms of the modern obsession with work and productivity, particular ‘Work to Do’ and ‘Company Man’. There’s a great lyric in ‘Work to Do’ - “If I had a minute, well I might be blue, but I ain’t got time, I got work to do”. Being a professional artist is in itself a rejection of this way of life. Was it difficult to take this decision to choose this more creative but perhaps less traditionally ‘stable’ career path? Yeah, it has had its challenges, but I honestly think it would be harder for me to have a real job! Whatever challenges come my way doing my own thing, at least I have this feeling that I’m proud of what I’m doing and I’m free to make my own decisions. My success or failure is up to me, it’s not up to somebody in some office somewhere to decide whether I get the opportunity or not. The few ‘real jobs’ I’ve had - for a while I was a staff songwriter in Nashville, for example - I just had a very low tolerance for being part of any kind of corporate machine where it’s political and there are all these rules… That ‘Company Man’ song, that’s me being real, I can’t handle it! I can’t be told how to dress and how to cut my hair and how to talk and all that stuff. I’m not even that much of an outlaw or anything - I want to do the right thing, but I want to do it because I want to do it, not because somebody told me to! I’m willing to put up with the uncertainty and the long hours in return for not having to deal with some lame boss telling me what to do. Hill Country dropped in 2020, and since then the band has released a handful of singles. What’s the next step for The Wilder Blue? We are dropping our second album on March 25th! The first album came out right around the time when the pandemic kicked off, and all of our gigs got cancelled, so we didn’t know how we were going to pay any of our bills. We didn’t spend any money promoting the album, we just put it out there. Even so, it did pretty well - Luke Combs tweeted about it, some Zane Williams fans got a hold of it, and some Texas radio stations played it. The new album is just as good, if not better, and we have a budget now to spend on promoting it - and hopefully our gigs won’t all get cancelled! The other thing too is, compared to where we were in 2020, we’ve had a couple of years to get our live show tight, and so the silver lining and the blessing is that in this two year period we’ve been touring together we’ve gotten a lot better. Because our music is pretty ambitious! You’ve also released a lot of awesome solo work, and I was curious as to what inspired you to take a step back from this and form The Wilder Blue? I think I should’ve done it a long time ago. It’s the band I’ve always wanted to have, but when I was young I was mainly doing solo stuff, just me and a guitar. Then later, when I moved to Texas, I was playing honky-tonks and dance-halls, I put together a band - so I didn’t have a band until I was thirty. Over time I kind of felt like I’d hit a ceiling as far as how good I could be by doing it all myself. I was doing all I could just to not get worse, and I needed to get better. So the band thing solves a lot of those issues for me, because basically what I did was I went and found exceptional people and then offered them equal ownership of it with me. Everybody has equal creative input. I definitely lucked into getting the right guys, we get along great - knock on wood - and we don’t have the ego issues that a lot of the guys have when they’re young. We just want to make great music and make it sustainable, so I’m pretty excited about our future! (Without changing his expression) This is my excited face. (Laughing) I’m a pretty laid-back dude, but trust me, I am excited! Both in your solo work and in The Wilder Blue’s material, there’s a classic Texas feel to it, and being a huge fan of the King of Country myself, would you say George Strait and his neo-traditional Texas sound has been an influence on your own style? Oh yeah, for sure. I moved to Nashville in 1999 because I wanted to make 90’s Country - I wanted to be like Alan Jackson, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, Clint Black, Trisha Yearwood, The Chicks, Reba McEntire… that was my jam! But I found out as I went through the process that I’m just not quite as Country as all those people. Sometimes I write songs and they don’t come out sounding very Country, and then sometimes they do. That’s one thing I do love about The Wilder Blue, there’s room for all kinds of diversity in our sound. Those guys all bring their own tastes, and it’s definitely less traditional Country than George or Garth - it’s kind of its own thing. I love all genres of music and I like to experiment around, but I do think at the end of the day the thing I keep coming back to is just trying to write a great Country song. I definitely think George is one of the best, if not the best ever, at that - I listen to him all the time. Your solo song, 'The Circle of Life' is so poetic and there’s so much wisdom carried through it. I love the lyric - “Now Darlin’ when I’m gone it’s ok to cry, Time is the friend that will dry your eyes, you’ll write brand new words to the same old songs, ‘Cause the circle of life goes on.” When I hear these philosophical songs, I often think the artist sounds like they have it all figured out, which is reassuring to listen to - it’s like you’re giving the listener advice on how to live. But do you ever find it difficult to follow your own song’s advice? I think I’m pretty in sync with the message that’s in my songs, as far as the big picture goes. The way I think about my kids or my wife or my life or my career, I really am just thankful for whatever I have, and I understand that I could lose it at any time. I’m middle-aged, my grandparents are gone, my parents are getting old, and my kids are growing up, and when you get to that phase you start to realise that you’re living out your story, but then your kids have their own story, and then their kids will have their story, and the cycle continues. That’s what I was thinking when I wrote the lyrics, “You’ll write brand new words to the same old songs”. My little girl just got a hamster - well, I had a hamster when I was in fourth grade, and when you see her holding it and cuddling it, you think, ‘I know what it feels like to have that connection for the first time with an animal’. It’s different because they’re a different person and it’s a different time, but we do go through a lot of the same stuff. Sometimes in specific short-term situations, I find myself getting frustrated, and I’m not very proud of that. On my song, ‘The Big Picture’, I say, “I take it out on the people who love me, it's easy to do when you lose sight of the big picture”. I do find that I’m not as kind or as patient as I wish that I were in those moments. But I’m working on that! I read a book a while back called The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F***. Well, in a nutshell, what the author says is that happiness is not a lack of problems, happiness is the feeling that you get when you’re making progress on your problems. I thought that was interesting, he was basically saying that even if you become rich and get all the things you ever thought you wanted, there are still going to be problems. Stuff’s still going to break down, you’ll still have health problems, you’re still going to struggle with your weight, you’ll have an argument with your beautiful supermodel wife…! The point is, you’re never going to get to the stage where you have no problems. But when you make progress on a problem, and you know that it’s a little bit better today than it was yesterday, that gives you a feeling of satisfaction and a good solid self-image that is sustainable. Sometimes when we’re on the road, I’ll play some Halo on the Xbox on our bus. You’re killing aliens, and as soon as you kill all the goddamn aliens, the spaceship comes in and drops down a whole bunch more aliens - and then you’ve got to kill all those aliens! And then, when you’ve killed literally all the aliens, the game is over, and you get another game… so that you can kill more aliens! The point is, that having zero aliens to kill is no fun. What’s fun is making it to the next level. That’s what those video games give you, it’s that sense of accomplishment that you did something. Sometimes I look at my to-do list as aliens to kill. You’re always going to have struggles, but those are all aliens to kill. And it’s actually kind of fun, because when you’ve killed them all it's boring and there’s nothing left to do! What are your favourite three songs with a theme of mental health? 1. The Dance - Garth Brooks 2. Feeling Good Again - Robert Earl Keen 3. I Hate Everything - George Strait The Wilder Blue is out on March 25th and available to pre-order now!
Maxim chats to Zane Williams about The Wilder Blue, sticking to his own path…and why you should treat your problems like aliens
"I was feeling a little left behind by the frantic pace of the world"
Photo by Caleb George on Unsplash
Growing up as a football fan I’ve often sacrificed the back page of a school exercise book for the formation of my dream eleven football team. Many a debate has been had over the years about who should be in the line-up and it still continues to this day. Realistically, it’s not something we will ever have a definitive answer to, but it’s always fun to dream up magical midfield combinations in your head and live in a fantasy world where Gerrard and Lampard do in fact play well together. It’s also a sure-fire way to spark heated debates with your pals and the easiest way to split generations, with your grandparent’s team looking a bit England '66 heavy while your own is more of a Premier League all-stars showing. As much as I love a football debate, and mainly winding up Man United fans, this is neither the time nor the place. What if, however, we take the same principle and apply it to music? The band to end all bands – a star line-up of musicians coming together to form the greatest super group ever known to man. As with the football dream team, it is likely to cause arguments as everyone has very different tastes, genres and styles – but at the risk of opening myself up to intense criticism, I thought I’d have a go myself and offer an open invitation for you to do the same. The formation I will be using is as follows: lead guitar, bass, drums, keys, singer, producer/DJ, songwriter, and I’ll open up a spot called ‘other’ in case having an accordion or something tickles your fancy. Lead Guitar – Jimi Hendrix I’m sure Brian May will be devastated, but even he has in the past conceded that Hendrix is the best. Coming out of rock and roll in the 50s, the guitar had been famously used in a fairly conservative way – strumming rhythmically through a selection of familiar chords. Hendrix didn’t seem to think that way – getting wails, screams and roars from his guitar, sometimes all at the same time. He used the instrument in a way that at the time was unique and has paved the way for a lot of electric guitar playing today. He provided so many iconic guitar moments too – the shredding of the US national anthem at Woodstock to protest the Vietnam war or the iconic intro to ‘Voodoo Child’. Having Hendrix in your band would mean that your guitar could be as wild and creative as you can imagine. He was also a fine vocalist so could provide back-up and harmonies wherever necessary! Bass – Paul McCartney Often the most under-appreciated part of the band, it is a lot more difficult to pick an all-star bassist than it is a lead guitarist – however, Paul offers a strong showing. Known more for his singing, writing, piano, guitar and just about everything else there is no doubting that Paul McCartney is one of the most talented musicians of the last 100 years, but his bass playing isn’t really what he was known for. He did however play this role for The Beatles, and they did alright so he must have been good! It would feel wrong to put together an all-star band and not include this pioneer of the British Invasion era of pop. Paul’s talents in just about every other spot in the band present him as a great addition as a versatile team player. Drums – Phil Collins Another versatile inclusion, but an icon of drumming nonetheless. The biggest compliment I can pay Phil Collins is that despite years of record sales, acclaim and adoration he is still underrated. Whilst you may know Phill Collins for some cheesy 80s pop tunes or that bit from ‘In The Air Tonight’ the man is an absolute genius. Having read his autobiography, it becomes apparent that there was a thirty year period starting somewhere in the 70s where just about every piece of successful music had Phil’s stamp on it, whether as a producer, singer, pianist or drummer. The man started playing prog rock with Genesis, made a successful solo career in pop and then in his later years decided to pull together some of the best jazz musicians in the world and drum in his own swing band. The man is a musical genius and one of the most gifted drummers of all time. I also love his singing - whilst less iconic than his drumming, ballads like ‘Against All Odds’ demand high levels of vocal power and skill and he made them look easy. If you’ve got a spare moment, I’d recommend watching his performance of ‘In The Air Tonight’ at Knebworth in which the man perches himself on the edge of the stage and sings to hundreds of thousands of people, before taking a leisurely stroll up to his kit sitting down just in time for the iconic fill. Cool as they come. Keys – Duke Ellington This was a tough one, but it was really only a matter of time before I injected some jazz into the line-up. Duke Ellington is one of the the greats of jazz piano and a quick listen to his laidback yet technical solo at the start of 'Take the A Train' should have you convinced. If his piano playing wasn't enough for you he was also the leader of his own swing band, widely recognised as one of the greatest of all time and iconic for a more laidback swing feel than other bands were offering at the time. He is truly a great and can offer his skills as both a pianist and a leader into my dream band. A special mention goes out to Scott Joplin, the pioneer of ragtime piano, who was my number two pick. You may think you've not heard of him but go on YouTube and listen to his music, particularly 'Maple Leaf Rag' and 'The Entertainer', I guarantee you've heard those! Singer – Elvis Presley & Hannah Reid Speaking of lead vocals – the spot with the most candidates and that will likely cause the most debate. I did have to cheat and put two in, but I feel a male and a female would offer more range and depth to the group. I think Elvis speaks for himself. A beautiful man with a beautiful voice and one of the most naturally gifted performers of all time. The king of rock and roll can tenderly vibrato his way through a powerful ballad as well as he can blow away fast rock and roll tunes. Elvis’ voice remains unmatched to this day and his natural charisma makes him the perfect front man. An icon of mine for as long as I can remember, this really wasn’t a tough choice, despite how many legendary male vocalists there are. After putting so many legends in the band it felt time to include something more modern. This is an inclusion that for me comes from pure talent and voice alone rather than status. It would have been easy to throw Adele in there, and don’t get me wrong she has a superb voice, but in music today, in my opinion, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who sings as beautifully as Hannah Reid. The vocalist for London Grammar, Hannah’s voice is absolutely haunting. I’m a big fan of the group but it was Hannah’s voice that drew me in. I explicitly remember hearing it for the first time and being blown away, such was the ineffable quality of her sound. A big call to make for such a highly contested spot, but I’m very happy with my decision. Producer/DJ – Dr Dre This is a tough call. Dr Dre is an absolute legend, his contribution to rap music stems from the 80s and since then everything he has touched has turned to gold. From producing hits with N.W.A to rapping on them himself, to discovering and producing for up and coming artists such as Eminem and 50 Cent, and even starting his own headphone company. The man is a true legend and his eye for detail, sample selection and experience all give him more than enough on his CV to warrant an inclusion. My main concern now is considering how the group would come together. Having worked mainly in rap and hip hop music it’s tough to see how Dre would work with this particular band I have concocted, but I’d be interested to find out. Songwriter – Bob Dylan This really is a tough one – and considering the songwriting talent already scattered throughout the group we could have left this spot vacant. Bob Dylan is a perfect fit for me though. A prolific songwriter and an unrivalled lyricist, Dylan has often been described as more of a poet than a performer, and has even won poetry awards for his songs. His musical talent was never what made him great, but we’ve already got plenty of that in the line-up, so I’m happy for Bob to sit with a pen writing verses before passing them on to the rest of the band. Other – Saxophone – Leo Pellegrino This is my band and I was always going to include a saxophone. Leo Pellegrino really is one of a kind; the bouncing baritone player of ‘Too Many Zooz’ fame is a unique performer - and I don’t just mean his outfits. Underneath all the dancing and funky basslines you can tell that Leo is an extremely technically adept saxophone player and having seen various pieces of his work is equally as effective in a jazz or swing setting as he is in a funk or dance tune. He can also make some really weird and wonderful noises that he somehow seamlessly fits into his music. I implore you to watch his performance of ‘Moanin’ at the BBC Proms 2017. Letting Leo loose in the middle of a song for a sax solo is bound to produce some insane results and his natural charisma and dancing make him as entertaining as anyone. He would be the unique cherry on top of my dream band line-up. I was also tempted by Lindsey Stirling, whose unique style of music puts her incredible violin playing at the front and centre of EDM and dubstep songs. So that's my line-up - interesting to say the least, but full of great talent. I would be intrigued to see how the egos would fare in a band made up almost exclusively of stars used to having their own names in lights. How would Bob feel being asked not to sing? How would Phil feel being pushed back to the drum kit? How would Jimi and Paul feel standing back whilst Elvis and Hannah share the spotlight on centre stage? Based on talent alone though, even excluding the reputations of these artists, I think we could be looking at one of the best bands of all time, in my humble opinion obviously. I'm sure you've been scoffing all the way through this at some of my selections so I'll open up the floor for you to have a go yourself, it's a lot tougher than you think!
Music, Mental Health and Me #10-David: My Dream Band Line-Up
"I definitely lucked into getting the right guys. We don't have the ego issues that younger bands can have."
Hi Hardy! Thanks so much for talking to me today! You recently released ‘Hixtape Vol 2’ - what was the inspiration behind a second instalment of this project? For lack of a better term, I just really wanted to do it again - you know, bigger and better! The first one resonated really well with everybody. It’s a cool thing that no-one had ever done before and I just wanted to do another one. We had a batch of songs and a lot of people that wanted to be on it and we just shot to the moon! ‘Hixtape Vol 2’ is different from Volume One in that you don’t actually feature on all of the songs. As the visionary behind the project, what influenced this decision? I had talked to my label and we thought how cool it would be if ‘Hixtape’ kind of became its own artist – its own collaborative thing. There will be times in the future where I might not be on a single song and that’s fine. The goal is to create a collaborative record that gives people the opportunity to hear collabs that they probably would never hear. I just think it’s something different and something cool and I would love to see the fans fall in love with it even if I’m not on a single song, that’s the goal. I was a little worried that fans would be a bit confused this time around that I wasn’t on every single song but they really weren’t, it’s been resonating really well and they completely get it, which is exciting because in the future we can push it even further. Having released your album ‘A Rock’ in 2020, is there a big difference in the process for producing a solo album and a big group project like this? And if you could pick one – which would you say you enjoy making the most? My own record is more fun. It’s my passion and my vision and what I want to say as opposed to ‘Hixtape’, which, in theory, is more fun, it sounds more fun, it’s full of lifestyle songs and partying. But I would definitely choose my record. ‘Hixtape’ songs are fun, they’re about drinking and smoking weed; my record is deeper, it gets into love and storytelling like in ‘One Beer’ with a guy and a girl and getting pregnant at a young age. It’s got more depth and there’s more thought gone into it. ‘Beer with my Buddies’ is relatable for a lot of people with the message that we work Monday to Friday, then spend the weekends doing things we didn’t have time to do during the week, and that all we see on the TV is bad news when really we just want to be relaxing with a cold beer and good company! In a life that can feel so hectic and overbearing, how important do you think it is that we make time to go and get a cold one and chill out? I think it’s very important, man, life is truly short and those moments are moments that everyone needs, we need a psychological release whether it’s at the end of the week or the end of the day. Spending time with friends over alcohol - or not - but just having a good time. ‘One of Y’all’ is an expression of your pride in being country to the core – and really connects you to your fans. How important was it for you to do this? I think that it’s very important to let your fans know you’re one of them. I come from the same type of town that they come from and I still to this day think that you could drop me off in any of those towns and I could blend in. Me singing that song and telling them, I think they appreciate that and like you more knowing you’re one of them. ‘Goin’ Nowhere’ is a great song and a classic country anthem. Lots of people can drown themselves in worries about the future, careers or over-complicated life decisions. Whilst being happy with what we’ve got is a staple of country music it’s something a lot of people struggle with. What advice would you give to people who are so busy over-complicating things that they can’t appreciate the simple things in front of them? Appreciate it, because it could always be worse! Your living situation or whatever it is, in most cases it could always be worse. If you didn’t have a country upbringing and you want to get out there and experience that a bit, go do it, man! Rural and country life is very slow and simple but I like to think that people are a lot happier when they live that kind of life. If that’s something that you’re interested in then someway, somehow, get out there and try to live it a bit, it’s good for you! The fine lines between musical genres today is becoming ever finer and in the past you’ve spoken about your love for rap and hip hop and your previous work with Nelly. In the future could you see yourself doing more hip hop collaborations, and who would be the dream to work on a project with? I would love that man! I love hip hop, I even feel like there are small parts of my music that have a bit of a hip hop aspect, especially some of the songs I’m writing now. I would love to collab with - everybody says this answer - Post Malone. That would be amazing. I’m a big fan of Jack Harlow, he’s actually become kind of a buddy of mine. Machine Gun Kelly is doing this really cool rock and roll thing now, and I truly feel like I’m doing a very similar thing. A lot of hip hop right now is very rock and roll, I think that’s really cool. If anything, a collab like that would be very fitting. I hope it happens one day. Maybe something to look forward to on ‘Hixtape Volume Three'! Finally, one thing we ask all of our interviewees is to name their top three songs that relate to mental health. What would be your top three? 1. Hurt – Nine Inch Nails 2. Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2 3. Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
HARDY
Photo by John Matychuk on Unsplash
On his hopes for Hixtape Vol 2 and being Country as hell!
Make Sure to Listen to Hixtape Vol. 2 On All Streaming Platforms Now!
life is truly short and those moments are moments that everyone needs, we need a psychological release whether it’s at the end of the week or the end of the day. Spending time with friends over alcohol - or not - but just having a good time.
3. Beautiful World Kenny Chesney
An epic song with an all star cast – this 2019 release by Lil Dicky took on a more serious tone than his usual music; although there are still a few jokes slipped in there. With inclusions ranging from Zac Brown to Justin Bieber this song actually didn’t gain as much traction as you would expect and that is a great shame because the message is so vitally important. Accompanied by a blockbuster music video the song calls to remind us that this is our planet and we need to do what we can to protect it. There is also a slightly tongue and cheek call to arms for all the nations across the world to come together in order to make a real difference.
Whilst not as deep rooted in nature as the others I’ll make an exception due to the fact that it is an absolute classic. A song we can’t help but sing along to, this tune is Denver’s love song to his home out in the countryside. Reminiscing of memories made and being in awe of the beautiful scenery this tune is another one of those reminders to be appreciative of the simple things in life. Singing about blue water, sunshine and a clear night’s sky it is apparent that Denver doesn’t feel home unless he’s amongst nature! This song, although already a classic, is certainly memorable for fans of the US version of ‘The Office’ in which Dwight and Andy begin trying to impress Erin and outdo each other with their performances of the song before finding friendship and common ground in the music. Iconic.
Although not as deep or powerful as some of my other inclusions this for me is still definitely an anthem of nature – and what it means to us. In typical reggae style the song is about simplicity and happiness. The chorus ‘sun is shining, the weather is sweet, makes you wanna move, your dancing feet’ is all about the good vibes we get when the sun is out. Whilst it’s easy to reminisce with rose coloured spectacles now that it is winter, there is something magical about a bright summer’s day and what it does to us. Spirits are lifted and life feels good. In the verse there are lyrics about new days and rising which just underline that message that life is sweet and we have to appreciate each day. This song tells us that there is a lot to be thankful for, and that sometimes the key to happiness can be just to enjoy some of the simple things, like when the sun is shining.
I’ve made no secret of how much I love Jhene Aiko’s ethereal, haunting voice, and on ‘Magic Hour’ these are used to maximum effect. The whole song is dedicated to the moments in the day that arrive just after sunrise and just before sunset, when magnificent oranges and purples and reds are scattered across the sky. I always think there’s something spiritual about these periods of time, and Aiko captures the transience and fleeting beauty of this. The track never sits still, and it flits through the refrain and verses without any clear structure, but that just adds to the freedom of it all. There’s a cacophonous burst of sound and energy near the beginning, which to me represents the sunrise, before finishing with the delicacy and stillness of an almost a cappella vocal, epitomising the soothing effect of the sunset.
1. Magic Hour Jhené Aiko
6. Sun is Shining Bob Marley and The Wailers
Country has a history of its stars aligning and forming Avengers-style supergroups, with The Highwaymen, The Pistol Annies and The Highwomen all comprising icons of the genre. The trio of Parton, Ronstadt and Harris is a contender for the best of them all, with their intricate harmonies weaving together beautifully, not to mention the lyrical mastery that they consistently showcase. ‘Wildflowers’ epitomises this, as the three artists tell a metaphorical story of a flower being destined to grow in the wild, rather than in the familiar comfort of the garden (“I hitched a ride with the wind and since he was my friend/I just let him decide where we’d go/When a flower grows wild it can always survive/Wildflowers don’t care where they grow”). An inspirational message delivered with that trademark Dolly twinkle.
5. Wildflowers Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
10. Truth to Power OneRepublic
It can be so easy to take little notice of the condition of the planet, and in fact as individuals it can be quite frustrating. After all, we can make small changes in our day to day lives but the power really lies with the corporations who use plastic by the ton and pour oil into the oceans. Realistically we all need to be aiming to change for the better and protect the planet, and this song is a harrowing reminder of this. Personifying the Earth as a frail and elderly person dear to your heart really hits home for a lot of people and puts a relatable twist on a topic that we can often feel so separated from. It serves as a hard-hitting warning that our planet won’t last forever and we need to do everything we can to help it. Beautiful.
This is a prime example of a great message coming together with a great melody, without either having to be sacrificed. This song revolves around the theme of someone getting repeatedly knocked down by the trials and tribulations of life, before delivering the optimistic hook, “Losing is only a sign/It’s only a sign that you really tried”. Then AlunaGeorge underlines that, even though things often seem to go against us, at the end of the day they always find a way of working themselves out, and we often look back and see that the tough experiences helped to make us who we are. Last issue, I wrote about adopting the mentality that the universe is rigged in your favour and that it’s all fine-tuned to help you; a similar idea is conveyed through the natural imagery in this song - “Why would I replace the sky? Why would I recreate that perfect blue? What would I change it to?”
2. What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
Our Top Ten Songs of Nature
9. Where The Green Grass Grows Tim McGraw
In classic Kenny Chesney fashion, this is an ode to all of the beauty and wonder we can experience from simply kicking back in the wonderful outdoors. It’s a celebration of the little joys in life, and whether you’re strolling round a city park, sitting beside a campfire in the woods, or out on a boat in the middle of an ocean (and if you are, just know I’m envious!), this song emphasises that we can all experience the healing power of nature wherever we are. Particularly during the winter, I’ve found that making an effort to spend some time outdoors each day, even if it’s just for fifteen minutes, has had a really positive effect on my state of mind - otherwise, if I’ve just been indoors all day, I feel more agitated and cooped up. My favourite lines are - “To see a full moon rise and a sunset fall/Being out here in the middle of it all/Sometimes it feels good to feel so small/ In this big old beautiful world”).
7. What Would I Change It To Avicii ft. AlunaGeorge
Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash
4. Take Me Home, Country Roads John Denver
This has become a staple Country anthem, with McGraw even referencing it himself in one of his more recent songs. Thematically, it centres around escapism and the classic Country aspiration of pulling out of the rat-race’s traffic-jam and heading down a backroad towards a slower, more simplified way of life. While McGraw sings quite literally that “I'm gonna live where the green grass grows, watch my corn pop up in rows”, for me the appeal of this song lies in the message of going at your own pace and not living by someone else’s standards - especially when that might involve running yourself into the ground. This symbolic place ‘where the green grass grows’ will vary from person to person, depending on your personal dreams. Personally, I see it more as a mentality than anything, where you have your sights set on what’s important, rather than on all the noise and hurry that can sometimes crowd out the things that matter.
8. Earth Lil Dicky
Life moves so quickly these days, especially in the age of the internet. Information and bad news dominate our days and sometimes it can feel like too much. We often get so consumed by stresses; work, money, a lack of time, we never really get a chance to appreciate some of the amazing things around us. This song is a perfect reminder to take a second and enjoy what we have. The simple nature around us, whether by design or accident, is an absolute miracle. Louis’ growling voice on this iconic tune can be the reminder that we all need to just pause for a second and be thankful, and that even though it may not always seem it, it really can be a wonderful world.
In a life full of complications sometimes it feels like we don't take enough time to enjoy nature, so we put together our top ten songs to reignite your love for the planet and all its wonders! David & Maxim
Stream 'Give Me More Time' using the Spotify code below
'Give Me More Time', George Strait
Maxim Mower Following on from last issue’s ‘Don’t Blink’ by Kenny Chesney, for this edition I’ve chosen another Class-A tearjerker. I’ve spoken before about how the powerful storytelling that lies at the core of Country music often makes it perfect for delivering a moving, heartrending message about life, love and loss - and everything in-between. Although not one of his best known songs, George Strait’s ‘Give Me More Time’ epitomises this. It opens in media res with a farmer desperately pleading with the local banker for more time to balance his debts. “A banker and a farmer Discuss the bottom line It ain't rained and all the crops Are dying on the vine Give me more time You gotta give me more time” Hazarding a hesitant guess, I would say that the majority of you reading this are neither bankers nor farmers. But even though this might not be directly relatable, you can’t help but feel sorry for the farmer who finds himself in such a helpless situation, and it starts the song off on a sorrowful and perhaps slightly uneasy note. “That farm's been in my family Going on a hundred years We've pulled through hard times before With blood, sweat and tears Give me more time I need more time” This mood continues when the listener is plunged into a completely different scenario, this time involving a failed proposal. Strait builds out the vocals and introduces more instrumentation here, compared to the minimalistic introductory verses, all of which add to this heightening sense of angst and worry. “Two lovers at a table Candlelight and wine One's looking for an answer The other one can't find Give me more time You gotta give me more time” The situations Strait takes us through all revolve around the feeling of needing just a little extra time, whether it’s for improving the crops or finding a ‘yes’ from one’s partner. But what I find interesting about both of these situations is that, arguably, more time won’t solve either of the problems. If the crops are ruined, then - based off the extensive knowledge I gleaned from watching one episode of Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm - they’re not going to improve any time soon and they’re effectively a lost cause. Equally, if something feels off about the relationship at that point, then even if you’re given a few additional days to think things through, this most likely won’t change that gut feeling that something just isn’t right. Of course, these are generalisations, and perhaps a little more time would help in some of these instances. To put a more positive spin on these scenarios, these attempts to buy time that I described as desperation could instead be seen as examples of defiantly clinging onto hope, when all else seems to be failing. And there’s always something inspiring and deeply human about holding onto hope. However, the most poignant ‘lyrical life lesson’ of this song, in my opinion, can be found in the final verse. Strait has just reached his crescendo, crooning philosophically about the various ways in which we misuse the limited time we’re given: “Some have barely any Some too much on their hands Some would give anything To have it back again” Then, for what I would say is the most tragic scenario of them all, he pulls it all back in and sings gently over a sparse piano track: “A patient and his doctor Meet behind closed doors You’re kidding me? How could this be? I'm only 24 Give me more time You gotta give me more time” It might seem corny or trite seeing it written out, but for me at least, every time I hear these lyrics, it hits me how we just never know what the future holds. I sincerely hope that this last scenario isn’t a relatable one for you, and it thankfully isn’t for me. But even so, whenever I listen to this song it just emphasises to me how, whatever frustrations or worries or stresses I might be feeling at that particular time, it could always be a heck of a lot worse. And that’s not to trivialise the problems we do have, because we’re all going through things that might at times feel like the worst things in the world. But personally, ‘Give Me More Time’ feels like a reset button. It wakes me up out of whatever stress-fuelled trance I might be in, and reminds me that, hey, you’re lucky to be alive. At the end of the day, there’s nothing more valuable than time, and this song reminds me to go out and spend mine on the important things in life. Or, in other words, it reminds me that I should spend my time listening to as many George Strait vinyls as possible…!
Lyrical Life Lessons #3
"Looking back on it, I feel like it was a time when I was really discovering who I am and speaking my mind! I think it’s important, and I encourage anyone to do it because it is empowering, once you finally get something off your chest or speak your mind."
Gloria Anderson Cars, Memories and Music
Hi Gloria! Thanks so much for talking to me today! You recently released 'The Moment', what was the inspiration behind this song? It must have been in 2018 back in Texas, I was going over to my neighbour Amanda Rollert’s house, I was in high school at the time, and I was delivering her some popcorn! I remember when I pulled up she was standing in the driveway, I thought she must be so excited for this popcorn! It turns out when I started talking to her that she had this piece of paper with her, and she told me her son was getting married in March the next year. She said she was trying to find a song to dance to for their mother and son dance and she couldn’t find one. She couldn’t find something that did what she wanted to, so she just jotted down what was almost like a poem at the time. She came to me because she knew I was writing songs and asked if I wanted to do this with her. I said yes, I thought it was the coolest idea ever. By the time I got back to my driveway (we lived very close together) I’d already sung through the verse and the chorus. It’s a really special song to me, especially because of how organic it happened and I’m really close with their family. I ended up playing it at their wedding too! The story of the song is interesting in that it focuses simultaneously on a very small moment in time, and also over many years, the chorus focusing in-depth on the first moments with their child, hearing the heartbeat and holding them close, whilst in the verses talking about how fast they grow up, saying before you know it they're 12, then 23. Why did you decide to structure the song in this way, always returning to 'The Moment' in the chorus? I remember when I read through the lyrics, she had the verses, so that would be the first verse and the second verse, and she had basically what ended up being the chorus - those were the three paragraphs she had structured out. She had never written a song before and I was 17 at the time and I didn’t really know what I was doing either. When I read through it and read the ‘growing up looks good on you’ I thought that sounded like the end of the chorus, that sounds like something you would say to whoever you’re singing to over and over again. As a country singer-songwriter I always tend to default to storytelling, so of course I wanted to start with when he was born then build to when he was growing up. The last verse, I gave her a call and said how would you feel if we added this at the end talking about the moment you will be dancing and bring it full circle and close it out. I guess that’s how the structure came about. You released ‘Like She Does (The Car Song)’ at the end of last year. The ‘sad ending’ of the song, although it comes right at the start, is that this car that is attached to so many memories, emotions and good times is now sat in a junkyard. The song works on two levels in talking about an actual car and could also be a metaphor for losing someone close to us. Does the song have a deeper meaning behind it, or is it the memories of a car you’ve actually owned? When that song was inspired, I was dating someone at the time and he had an ’01 Nissan Pathfinder named Kathy! I had written the song back then and it was inspired by his car because he had to sell it to a junkyard. He ended up selling it for 200 bucks I think. I brought that idea to my friend Meg McRee and when we sat down on her back porch I really told her I want to focus on all these memories you make in a car, especially as I was a military kid so I moved around all the time, six times before the seventh grade, so I really connected to that feeling he had when he had to sell that car because my sister and I had been in the back seat of our family’s car multiple times travelling miles across the country. I guess it’s tied to that, and we are no longer dating but it’s still a special song to me because we connected in that, in the car way! The song takes comfort from the fact that the car knows you and everything you’ve been through, with the line ‘no one knows me like she does’. How important do you think it is that we surround ourselves with these types of companions, whether a car, dog or human, that we feel really know and understand us to our core? I would definitely say it’s important. It’s something I realised after the fact, I didn’t sit in my car and think when I was seven, “Wow, this car knows how I behave when my sister steals my snack from me in the backseat!” It was more looking back on all those memories and I wanted to think if I was a car or a dog or something like that, what would they see? How was I a part of their life? It’s an interesting thing while writing because it’s a self-reflection thing. When Meg and I were sitting together I remember us just talking about what we actually do in a car. Well, we cuss! When someone cuts us off we are going to say cuss words, so it’s probably heard every cuss word you’ve said. Just blasting music and being with friends, it kind of turned into a song more about the journey of life than just the car. I think it’s important though because it really helped me reflect on how I behave while driving, and what other people can see from the outside! It’s a bit of a running joke in music that all the greatest songs have brackets in their title! I think a lot of us can relate to seeing cars as more than just machines as it feels like you go through so much together – it may seem like a silly question given the topic of the song, but why did it feel important for you to include ‘The Car Song’ as the suffix of the title? Honestly, I think it’s because when I played it out loud for the first time, I don’t remember the first place I played it, but people started referencing it as ‘The Car Song’. Even my friends would say “Hey, play the car song!’ I had to look back and think, it is called ‘Like She Does’, but people from that perspective that are just hearing ‘Like She Does’ might think it’s a girl or someone else, although people do reference their cars a lot as a she or her. I just wanted to put that in the side because that’s what people who know me call it so I thought it was a sweet token for them, you know, this is your song, this is ‘The Car Song’ - you guys know it! You also released ‘Yours’ in 2021. Although on the surface a sad story of unrequited love, I also see it as a bit of an anthem of resilience. The line ‘I’m in love with you and I don’t care if you say it back’ is delivered with so much confidence and power! In society it often feels tough to let go of our emotions or be honest about how we feel. How important do you think it is that we can harness some of the spirit from this song and be braver when expressing ourselves? I learned a lot from that song and when I was writing it. I didn’t want to write a sad song, I wanted it to be empowering. I have gotten mixed comments like people asking why it’s so sad, and it’s not meant to be! It’s a ‘this is how it is’ thing, and I don’t need to hear a response from you because this is how I’m feeling and I’m being honest, you can take it or leave it. Sometimes that’s what you need to do to feel better. Looking back on it, I feel like it was a time when I was really discovering who I am and speaking my mind! I think it’s important, and I encourage anyone to do it because it is empowering. Once you finally get something off your chest or speak your mind, a lot of the time the other person may not even know. It’s important and can be a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders. I love the sound you have in all of these songs – they have a beautiful atmospheric feel, especially ‘Like She Does (The Car Song)’ which includes the beach sound effects which are a great touch, especially as it ties in with the story in the lyrics. I can see that you’ve got an awesome Dolly Parton poster behind you and I’ve read on Spotify that a lot of your musical influences come from your parents and their music on long car rides. Which artists would you say have had the biggest effect on your music as a writer and performer? That might be hard because I grew up on Dolly Parton with my mum! I used to horseback ride when I was little and every time we went out to the bard she would play ‘9 to 5’ and that’s what we jammed to. In high school when I started really getting into writing I listened to Lori McKenna a lot. I love how she described her world and I’ve always strived to do the same through my own lens. I love her stuff. Dolly is the queen, but they’re so close together for me! Which of those two would you want to collaborate with the most? I think for that I’d choose Dolly. I would love to just get coffee with that lady! She’s incredible and I feel like she just has a lot of wisdom and a good heart. I’ve listened to podcasts about her, and people always say don’t meet your heroes but everyone says about Dolly that you want to meet her because she’s exactly how you would imagine her to be! So yeah, Dolly! Can you tell us any big plans you’ve got for 2022, and anything we should look out for as fans? My biggest plan, and at the top of my list right now, is to play a lot of live, full band shows. I’m really excited to get back into that, or really start doing that, my first full band show of all my music was last June. I finally got a band together and I’ve been playing here in Nashville, but I really hope to get down to Texas and start playing some full band shows down there, that’s my biggest thing. In terms of releasing new music, I do have a plan for something but I’m not trying to rush it, I really want to get it right. I’m not sure when that will be! Finally, one thing we ask all of our interviewees is to name their top three songs that relate to mental health. What would be your top three? 1. Humble and Kind - Lori McKenna 2. Found A Love - 7 Hills Worship 3. Crowded Table - The Highwomen
Listen to 'The Moment' on all streaming platforms now!
Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash
As a music lover I always wear it as a badge of honour when you recommend a song or artist to someone and they enjoy it. Sometimes on long car journeys my brother and I take it in turns to queue up songs on his Spotify and I’ll admit to dashing not so subtle side glances his way to see how he reacts to my songs. The high of playing a song that is liked is only opposed by the low of having your recommendation skipped or insulted – a level of betrayal even Zayn couldn’t comprehend. Thankfully Spotify has taken much of that burden for itself, allowing the algorithm to play the risky game of slipping in new suggestions open for your judgement. In fact, most widely used entertainment platforms these days share a similar big brother style function that analyses your every move in order to present something new; Netflix; TikTok, YouTube and Amazon Prime, to name a few. The real consideration is whether this function is useful or not. I’ll start this off by being positive and sending some kudos Spotify’s way. I’d be lying if I suggested that there weren’t a handful of songs on my playlists that hadn’t appeared to me as recommendations. In fact my car has an annoying bug of sorts in which when I select to shuffle my playlist it automatically defaults to a selection of music based off of my playlist. Whilst frustrated by this at first, I actually enjoy it now. It’s quite exciting to be skipping through all of my usual selections then have something pop up I’ve not heard before, and it's a great way to introduce you to more music. Besides, we all get tired of listening to the same things over and over again, and I’ve found plenty of new favourites from this welcomed fault. When you think about it, it seems kind of foolproof, doesn’t it? There will always be exceptions, but identifying the key elements of the things you love and using that to make suggestions is fundamentally so clever. You like chocolate – why not try Dairy Milk? You like Dairy Milk – why not try Galaxy? Spotify is handing you things on a silver platter – throwing music at you left, right and centre that you’ve never heard of, but on paper fits directly into your specific taste. It’s great for artists too, and it is no secret that getting some sort of backing from Spotify or an inclusion on a branded playlist is a huge deal when releasing music. If Spotify didn’t make recommendations, you would be listening to the same music over and over again, sticking with the artists you like or the albums you like; only really trying something new when one of your old favourites comes up with a new release. It’s great for artists with established fan-bases but not so good if you’re just starting out. Now though, with Spotify at their backs, their music is being presented to people - the right people. Instead of some carpet bombing ‘throw it and see what sticks’ campaign, their music is recommended to people who statistically like similar music and similar artists. You’d imagine the percentage of people who take notice of a song they haven’t heard that fits specifically into their taste is much higher than if it were to be presented to listeners with no interest in that kind of music. So, surely helping you hear new music and helping artists get their music out is a good thing, right? Well, not always. The first issue is that music doesn’t happen in an algorithm; it’s a subjective art with complications and opinions. As a sports fan we’ve seen it a million times, teams should win on paper, players should do well on paper, that shouldn’t ever happen on paper. These predictions, whilst serving a purpose, can so often be wrong because sport, like music, is unpredictable. The thing with songs is that every one is so unique, even those that sound similar. They all come from a different place, a different emotion and with a different delivery. As a listener too it is so difficult sometimes to define what you love about a song; barring those with iconic moments if I flicked through my playlist I’d be hard pressed to pinpoint specifically what I like about the music – is it the vocals, the hook, the lyrics, the production? If I can't tell you, how is Spotify supposed to make recommendations based on it? Therefore, to take what feels like a corporate marketing strategy and apply it to your playlist seems like it could have so many flaws. We’ve seen you like Liverpool, a Premier League football team based in Merseyside, why not try Everton? The other negative was also one of the positives. To quote myself from earlier ‘You like chocolate – why not try Dairy Milk? You like Dairy Milk – why not try Galaxy?’ Whilst before I was revelling in the simplistic brilliance of the logic of this, I will now use my artistic pompousness to change the tone. Just a tad uninspired, isn’t it? Yes, I do like chocolate, I do also like Dairy Milk and Galaxy – but occasionally I do enjoy vegetables, or chicken. Whilst Spotify may often be on target with a lot or their suggestions, the whole thing has a fundamental flaw in that it is based off of what you already like. Whilst it may introduce you to new things, how new will they be if they are just slight variations on what you already enjoy - like a Dairy Milk fan trying Galaxy. The issue with this is that your horizons would never expand. Your taste would become denser as it got packed with more content, without ever really growing. So, what about vegetables, or the chicken? People’s tastes are so broad and fluid, and that is one of the brilliant things about art, but also a huge obstacle for the recommended function. Sure, I may love Drake but that doesn’t mean I love every Drake song, or every rap song. It also doesn’t mean that I don’t like The Smiths, or the soundtrack to Moana. It also doesn’t mean that all I want to listen to right now is Drake, or that I am in the mood for Drake right now. I do like Dairy Milk, but right now I’m craving a Nandos. So as is tradition with my articles my conclusion is that I don’t have a conclusion. I think the most telling thing is that, gun to my head, I’d vote to keep the recommended feature. I like how it directs you to new things and keeps you in the loop with new music without you actively having to go and look for it. I like how it knows generally what you like and gives you more of it – after all, who doesn’t want more of what they like? Sure, music is subjective and taste is fluid, and just because you like one thing doesn’t mean you would like the other, but Spotify recommendations aren’t there to dictate to you what you do and don’t like, but instead to gently let you know about something you may, or may not, enjoy. And whilst Spotify recommended may not do much for broadening your horizons outside of your existing taste, they do have a collection of fine playlists to match mood, genre, function and even season to do just that.
Spotify Recommended: Help or Hindrance?
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Released early last year, The Sonic Ranch acts as the soundtrack to the accompanying CMT documentary that explores Midland’s very first studio sessions as a band. Formed off the back of a chance meeting at a wedding, Jess Carson sent a few songs to Mark Wystrach, and they decided to head to Texas’ famous ‘Sonic Ranch’ studios to record them. Cameron Duddy went with them primarily as a videographer, but soon found himself playing bass on the tracks - and the rest, as they say, is history. Midland are now a household name in Country music on both sides of the Atlantic, having performed fairly regularly in the UK as well as in the States, so watching their genesis unfurl before your very eyes in the Sonic Ranch documentary makes for fascinating viewing. So often, we only see the finished product - even when we’re presented with a ‘new’ artist with their first radio single, this is very rarely their actual first single. By this point, they’ll have already spent years honing their sound and ironing out any creases through local gigging and trial-run releases (hey, that rhymes…). In the Midland documentary, it’s surprising hearing a pre-moustachioed Mark Wystrach - the band’s lead vocalist and resident heartthrob - talking about how he’d given up on music in order to pursue a more ‘realistic’ career path. Or catching a glimpse of Cameron Duddy fishing in some dusty overalls, as he shrugs and talks about how the trio don’t really know where this new venture is heading and whether it’ll work out. As ridiculous as it sounds, I often find myself falling into the trap of thinking stars have always been stars. But this documentary does a great job of highlighting both the buzz and anxiety of uncertainty, and it’s actually quite inspiring to watch, because you can’t help but watch these regular guys kick ideas around, and think that whatever dream it is that you’re striving for in life, it’s achievable. The divide between the successful and the less successful isn’t as wide as it sometimes appears. Aside from offering this refreshing insight into the early formations of the band, it showcases a new side to their music. Prior to The Sonic Ranch, Midland’s albums have been heavily polished, full of swagger and inevitably guided by the demands of mainstream Country radio. And don’t get me wrong, they’re great projects - but on ‘The Sonic Ranch’, there’s a stripped-back tenderness and rugged authenticity that we haven’t seen before. For most of the twelve tracks, there’s a continuous, almost hypnotic, backing track that meanders along steadily like a Texas highway, with Wystrach’s languid drawl drifting in and out like landmarks passing by the window. This is particularly true of the opening two tracks, beginning with the truckers’ anthem, 'Fourteen Gears', followed by the rodeo ballad, 'Cowgirl Blues’, and on both of these the distinctive beats meld perfectly with the lead vocals. We also get a version of ‘Cowgirl Blues’ sung by Jess Carson rather than Wystrach - while Wystrach’s vocals are inevitably stronger, this nonetheless makes for an interesting addition, and contributes to the overall ‘demo-esque’ feel of the project. We see Folk and Bluegrass influences introduced on the catchy euphoria of ‘Worn Out Boots’ and the energetic levity of ‘Texas Is The Last Stop’. These juxtapose the warm melancholy of songs like ‘Fool’s Luck’, a quietly hopeful track that again cruises peacefully along over an uninterrupted guitar loop. ‘Whiskey’ follows in the same vein, featuring an understated but irresistible hook, and a lighter feel than ‘Fool’s Luck’, despite the comparative heaviness of the forlorn lyrics. The album closer, ‘This Town’, is another downtempo jewel, and acts as a despairing rebuke of the classic Country line (“There ain’t nothin’ in this place, worth pullin’ off the highway to see”). I’d love to see the band giving more album-time to slower tracks like these in future, which benefit from there being no overseeing producer trying to artificially jazz them up. I generally subscribe to the view that if it’s a struggle to think of my favourite song from a particular album, then it either means the album is quite terrible, or it means it’s quite brilliant - The Sonic Ranch is certainly the latter, in my book. ‘Will This Life Be As Grand’, which again finds Carson taking on the lead vocals, began as a song that I’d skip past, but over time has blossomed into one of my favourites. It’s an easy, kind-hearted song that could happily sneak onto a 70’s playlist and no-one would bat an eyelid. The Sonic Ranch is an album to lose yourself in, with each track staying true to the endearingly untreated feel of the project. Aside from being an escapist dream, when coupled with the documentary of Midland’s humble beginnings, it acts as a gentle but effective nudge of motivation to mentally check into your own ‘Sonic Ranch’, and chase whatever hopes and aspirations you might be harbouring. As far as Midland’s own journey is concerned, with The Sonic Ranch and the smooth brilliance of their more recent The Last Resort EP, they seem to be getting better and better with time. Watch this space.
MM Review
Photo by Matthew Bennett
Hey Tebey, thanks so much for taking the time out to chat today! As well as being a Country music fan, I’m also a keen golfer, so I’m excited to ask you about your annual Tebey Golf Classic fundraiser, which raises money for mental health charities. What inspired you to start this? I’ve been pretty open about my struggles with mental health - probably more than I should! I feel that, in whatever position of ‘celebrity’ I might have, it’s important to raise awareness for something that’s near and dear to my heart. Depression and anxiety are things that I live with every single day. This golf tournament also benefits a local shelter for people who need it, and a lot of the times it’s single mothers with children, who’ve left an abusive relationship. The money goes to a lot of different places in my home town. Did you have any reservations about speaking up about mental wellbeing because Country has not historically been comfortable with this, despite being a genre that often revolves around heartbreak and pain? Not really, because in Canada we have 'Bell Let’s Talk Day’, which is massive. This hashtag gets created and then for every retweet they donate a dollar, or something crazy like that. It ends up being millions of dollars that they give to bespoke mental health awareness organisations. It’s such a big deal in Canada, everyone knows about it and everyone talks about it. That was one of the reasons why I didn’t feel any reservations about being honest about my mental health struggles. This yearly event has done such a great job of normalising mental health issues, because it used to be very taboo, and in some cultures it still is. Back home, it wasn’t nearly as hard for me because we’ve been rallying around that cause for such a long time. When you moved from Canada to Nashville at a young age, did you find there was a different culture surrounding mental health, or did you find it was still a comfortable space to open up? My personal struggles with mental health didn’t really surface until my early twenties, so when I moved to Nashville at sixteen I wasn’t really suffering from any type of condition that I knew about. Obviously, there are huge cultural differences between Canada and the Southern US, so that adjustment was one of the hardest things. The music business is very hard on mental health, regardless of who you are and how successful you are. It’s pretty ruthless, and I think that’s why you see a lot of actors and songwriters speaking up about mental health issues - there’s something about the arts and mental health that kind of go hand in hand. You’ve written for some very high-profile artists, such as One Direction, Cher and Flo Rida. Was it nerve-wracking making the leap from songwriter to solo artist, or did it feel like a natural transition? I’ve always written songs in different genres of music since I started. When you’re writing Country music it’s very different to writing Pop music, so you kind of have to put on two different hats. In the beginning, I would go over to the UK or to Sweden and I’d be writing Pop songs, and every once in a while the melody that I threw out in the room was probably a little more Country than it should’ve been. You incorporate some really refreshing pop and dance influences throughout last year’s The Good Ones EP. Have you experienced any pushback from Country traditionalists about challenging the genre’s boundaries in this way? Yeah, absolutely - I definitely get flack every once in a while from trolls on the internet! It used to bother me, but it doesn’t bother me much anymore. People are entitled to their opinions. I’ve always just done whatever I’ve always wanted to do - I don’t like being put inside a box, and you can definitely hear that on the EP. I just want to make great music. Sometimes we have songs that have a little bit of an EDM vibe, sometimes we make more urban-leaning Country music, but I think now more than ever that’s acceptable. A couple of years ago, you founded your own record label. What motivated you to take this step, and what do you hope to achieve with Jayward Artist Group? It just felt like a natural progression. I’ve been in the game a long time and I’ve learned a lot over the years, and I just wanted to put some of that knowledge to use. I love developing artists. There’s nothing better than hearing an artist for the first time and getting excited, it’s like finding a diamond in the rough. We had a great launch with Matt Lang, who’s done some things in the UK, and he’s really taken off in Canada. It just felt like the right time. You’ve performed a number of shows in the UK, and were set to come over for C2C 2020 - but we all know what unfortunately happened there! Do you have plans to return soon - Covid-permitting, of course? Yeah! I’d say there’s a very good chance I’ll be at C2C this year… Hopefully we can also play a couple of shows down in London and in the UK in general. I may head into Europe, I’m not sure yet. Breaking into the UK market in particular is one of the highest things on my list, I know there’s a market there for Country music. You’ve had success with The Shires and Ward Thomas and artists like that, but that still is a very British type of Country music, in my opinion. What I do is very, very different. When we played the Buckle and Boots Festival, which we headlined last summer, our show was just so different to everything there, because we’re bringing that Nashville style of Pop-Country to the UK. You recently dropped your new single, ‘What Was I Drinking’ - will this be part of a larger project? Yeah, that’s going to be the first single off a new EP! Who are your main musical influences? That’s a tough one! When I say I have the most eclectic taste in music, it’s true. I really do love everything, and I always have. On the Country side of things, definitely Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, and even back in the day when I was growing up it was George Strait and Garth Brooks - those are living legends! But I was also influenced by artists like Boyz II Men and Maroon 5 - I’m a huge Adam Levine fan, he’s a hell of a singer, and a great songwriter. You can stream Tebey’s latest single, ‘What Was I Drinking’ on all platforms now, and watch him live at C2C in March!
From Canada with Love Rising star Tebey on going global with his exciting New Country sound
You’ve felt it before – music can provide all kinds of incredible experiences. A favourite song lifts your spirit. A violin concerto makes you shed a tear. A swoosh of wind through a stretch of the forest brings comfort to your worried mind. As it turns out, specific sounds can have properties of healing and restoration. That means, if you’re looking to explore a new wellness modality, you came to the right place. Noise Pollution Can you remember what song they just played in the supermarket? Did you pay attention to a car alarm in the distance? We are constantly surrounded by sounds so often that we turn our brains on autopilot and choose to ignore the sonic environment. Yet even unconscious noise build-up can have a range of unwanted mental health effects. In a study published in BMC Public Health, researchers found that residents of Danish townhouses experienced ‘an adverse impact on a broad range of physical and mental health symptoms.’ The factor that triggered the stress response was simple exposure to a loud neighbour’s noise. Perhaps this story can serve as a hint about the source of your anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Is There a Way To Escape It? Yes! And even better! By connecting to nature and exposing ourselves to natural sounds, we can go beyond offsetting the negative influence of noise pollution. A healthful alternative goes a long way in battling “learned helplessness” and healing the brain. Certain sounds with specific tones, frequencies, and vibrations can relieve stress and anxiety, promote a sense of calmness and create a joyful attitude towards life. A study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine showed that an hour-long sound meditation could reduce tension, fatigue, anger, anxiety and depression. At the same time, it can strengthen one’s sense of spiritual well-being. Who is Sound Healing For? Sound healing can be practiced by anyone. We are slowing down the breath and heart rate on a physical level, allowing the mind to enter a safe, quiet state. On a spiritual level, the more relaxed we are in body and mind, the better we can connect to ourselves, others, and a higher power. Until recently, sound healing was regarded as something you could only experience at a particular studio in an expensive neighbourhood. However, today it is widely used at home with the help of a range of tools. Now, this revolutionary new self-care practice can be an option for everyone! What Does Sound Healing Look Like? Sound can be used in a variety of ways to promote healing. Sound therapy typically integrates solfeggio frequencies, tuning forks, singing bowls and gongs into practice. Here are some standard techniques: Listening Meditation As we practice meditation, sounds are bound to be part of the experience. Instead of focusing on sensations or mantras, we bring our awareness to sounds in listening meditation. You may find it pleasurable and rewarding to settle into the present moment while paying close attention to nature's soundtrack, especially if you go outside and experience these sounds firsthand! For meditation, the goal is to notice sounds without getting caught up in identifying or assessing them. You’re not trying to discern whether that birdsong belongs to a robin or a downy woodpecker. Instead, relax and let go, noticing the sounds of nature and allowing them to act as your allies. Gong The Gong is one of man’s oldest therapeutic instruments. This holistic vehicle powerfully impacts your mental health by bringing peace and relaxation to your otherwise overwhelmed mind. It is hard to say what it looks like for everyone since each person’s spiritual odyssey is unique. Still, gong users can have a range of experiences from visions to creative solutions, epiphanies, and even psychedelic journeys. The healing sound re-tunes any spiritual disharmony within us. You may experience a range of emotional reactions such as laughing, crying, feeling scared or angry, and anything in between. However, most people feel a sense of bliss and peace afterwards. Singing Bowls Singing bowls are instruments that produce different healing and relaxing tones, depending on their size and material. You play them by striking them or swirling their perimeter using a wooden mallet, taking care not to get too close to the instrument. Using singing bowls requires a degree of mindfulness, intentionality and consistency. Your goal is to better understand the sounds you and your instrument can produce together. The sound of singing bowls harmonises and allows deep relaxation of both sides of the brain. It encourages stress relief on all levels and the elimination of toxins from the body. After sound therapy, the mind is clearer, and our emotions are calmer. Tuning Forks Tuning forks stand on the principle that everything in the universe is made up of vibrations. Sound healing is possible because our bodies are not solid. They have their own rhythms, vibrations, and harmony - illness signals discord in the body’s natural frequencies and tune rate. Using tuning forks allows us to synchronise natural cycles, which helps us to find our balance and homeostasis. Homeostasis is fundamental when healing the body, mind, and spirit. The sound-waves of tuning forks caused by the vibrations travel deep into the body and its energy, affecting human physiology. The forks stimulate the physical energy field of the body and promote healing and inner harmony, helping to connect the body, mind and spirit. Solfeggio Frequencies Solfeggio frequencies use specific sound patterns to stimulate the brain. These special vibrations help your brain waves reach a frequency with many benefits. This form of music is often used for transformational purposes and can help one deal with fear and change and awaken one’s intuition. The 5 commonly used Solfeggio Frequencies: 396 Hz – Liberating Guilt and Fear 417 Hz – Undoing Situations and Facilitating Change 528 Hz – Transformation and Miracles 639 Hz – Connecting Relationships 741 Hz – Awakening Intuition Conclusion Our bodies, minds, and souls naturally strive towards balance and contentment. But instead of surrendering to our inner needs, we let external stimuli and noise take over. Sound healing is a relatively simple way to achieve a better state of harmony and make your life more enjoyable. There is little risk to listening to music, so why not begin searching for the sounds that work for you? Find out more about 'Mindful Souls' at eu.mindfulsouls.com
Sounds that Heal and Relax: The Music of Mindfulness
Photo by Juan Chavez on Unsplash
This is a guest post by Vytautas Vaitkevicius, a regular writer for Mindful Souls
"The music business is very hard on mental health, regardless of who you are and how successful you are."
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration." - Nikola Tesla
Photo by Magic Bowls on Unsplash
Tick, Tick… Boom! The Musical of Honesty, Humility and Heart
Often, we feel like so much of our lives depends on successes and failures – where we work, where we live, how much money we have and so on. It is easy to forget to stay true to what really matters to us the most – and nothing is more of a champion of this than the 2021 film ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ Based on the musical of the same name by Jonathan Larson, the plot itself is somewhat meta, and the only musical of its kind that I have seen. The plot of ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ as a musical and a film is actually the story of Larson writing the musical he wrote before ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ It isn’t acted out with props and scenery but instead takes place with Jonathan and a piano, accompanied by a few other musicians and singers, delivered as if some sort of speech; only intertwined by Larson’s brilliant songs. I could spend a long time talking about the performances of the actors - and Andrew Garfield is brilliant in this - but for me the standout thing was more the message. The main thing I love about the musical is that it is so honest – there is no glamourisation of what is happening and we are just presented with the raw and emotional truths. I have often written in the past about how being in your twenties is supposed to be fun but is actually filled with pressure and angst and no other story I have seen portrays it better than this one. In spite of failing relationships and a lack of money, Larson is clinging on to his dream with every last fibre of his being, determined to make it as a writer. During this time he has seen his group of talented and creative friends give up on their hopes, opting for stable jobs to try and save up some money having become frustrated with a life of small apartments and living week to week. The most prominent two are Larson’s long time actor friend, Michael, and dancer girlfriend, Susan, who choose to take a corporate advertising job and a teaching job respectively. Amongst this, Jonathan finds himself weighing up his own motives. The film is laced with Jonathan’s repeated mantra that others had already hit huge success by the time that they were his age, and as the days pass by to his 30th birthday he feels as if it may be all too late. Whilst seeing people his age buy homes, get married and have kids we see Jonathan begin to question whether maybe it is time to pull the plug, and he comes close, even attending a focus group at his friend's advertising company. The title; ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ is the perfect commentary on Jonathan’s position in more ways than one. The first of which is his 30th birthday. Having constantly reminded himself of people who are successful in their twenties it seems that this day on the horizon is almost a deadline for Larson, a finishing point decided in his head whereby if he wasn’t successful then he never would be. The second is the writing of the final song. The musical Larson is working on is the labour of nearly a decade and is one song from being completed. Having agreed to do a presentation of the finished project Larson has little time to complete this song. Despite this, he finds himself in a block of sorts and as the presentation gets closer and closer and he is still unable to write, the pressure mounting in his head becomes destructive as he lets relationships fall by the wayside in desperate search of inspiration. The third is really the overview of the whole story - the ticks of inspiration before the explosion. This can apply to a couple of parts of the musical – for example, Jonathan’s desperate search for the final song before it suddenly hits him during a swimming session he took to calm down; or perhaps the wider view of the plot overall. The ticks representing the impending doom whilst Jonathan slaves away at his musical, before the boom signals the ultimate failure of his project, despite its appreciation by the audience at the presentation. Of course, Larson does go on to be a success (hence this musical) but just focusing on the arc of this particular project, the title fits perfectly. Although a very different situation, I found myself throughout the whole film relating to Jonathan and his dilemmas. After all, it would be easy for him to quit and pursue a boring corporate life, get himself a nice apartment and live sensibly ever after, but this isn’t what he loves. His passion is writing musicals and despite the pain, poverty and heartbreak it seems to bring him, he just can’t bring himself to let it slip. Knowing who Larson is I knew he would write more plays, but even so, the musical still had me doubting. After the failure of his first project, I really found myself believing he may just quit, even though I know it not to be reality. Aside from the sensational music, I think that’s what I loved so much about this musical and film. It isn’t costumes, sets, make-up and high drama. It’s just honesty. A situation that is quite unique, but a feeling that many of us have been through or will go through. The persisting dilemma between passion and predictability, love and labour. The pressure of seeing people younger than yourself succeed, feeling like time is running out when really it isn’t. Of course, the real tragedy of this musical is that for Jonathan and his friend it was. Having tragically passed before ever getting to see the opening night of his huge success, and the musical after this one, ‘Rent’, I found myself wondering at the end. Jonathan never got to see his own victory, live in the glory or finally be able to live comfortably from the fruits of his labour; but if he were able to live his short 35 years the same way again – pursuing his dream and devoting himself to his passion – I’d say that he probably would. Michael presents another side to the story; a talented actor who spent his best years working in a corporate job he didn’t like to make ends meet. Neither is better or worse than the other, and some people’s dream is to be in a corporate environment, but the fact that it was clear that this was not the case for Michael is what makes it more tragic. With this in mind, and with the start of yet another new year, maybe our resolutions should be to chase that goal, pursue that dream or take a few more risks. We all have different dreams but it’s important for all of us that we give them a chance.
Photo by Alberto Bigoni on Unsplash
Mainstream Sellout - Machine Gun Kelly(March 25th) Trying to fill the boots of his brilliant album 'Tickets To My Downfall', MGK (with help from Travis Barker) is once again releasing a new project. After the last project MGK really is the man of the moment; especially with his relationship with Megan Fox and appearance in the NBA alll stars celebrity game in his hometown of Cleveland (Go Cavs!) The ball is in his court, can he make it a double double or will his second rock album be a turnover?
Where We Started - Thomas Rhett (April 1st) After last year’s stripped-back and introspective ‘Country Again’ album, Rhett looks set to return to his trademark uptempo, pop-infused sound on ‘Where We Started’. Keep an eye out in particular for ‘Death Row’, a moving, spiritual ballad written with FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Russell Dickerson after talking to and performing for some of the prisoners.
Mental Health Contacts If you need assistance with your mental health please follow the link below to find a list of contacts and organisations that can help you
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www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression /mental-health-helplines/
Albums to look out for...
Coming Next Issue ERNEST Brent Cobb Machine Gun Kelly's 'Mainstream Sellout' Review